Gingerbread cookies: one treat, two versions… (for you and for your dog!)

Gingerbread has many fans, including our canine friends. Since sharing our cookies with our dogs isn't recommended due to their generally high fat and sugar content, we’re also proposing a recipe that’s perfect for your furry friend. 

The ingredients and preparation are similar enough, so the cookies and biscuits can be made at the same time. However, be careful not to substitute any ingredients. The ingredient list and preparation steps for the dog biscuit recipe are shown below. 

Gingerbread cookie recipe (for people)

Ingredients

• 3 cups stone-ground white whole wheat flour
• 4 tsp ground ginger
• 4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup coconut oil or butter (coconut oil is best for your dog)
• 1/2 cup molasses (blackstrap molasses is best for dogs) 

Other ingredients to omit from the dog biscuit recipe

• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup maple syrup 

Preparation

1. In a bowl, combine the flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
2. In a small saucepan, heat the coconut oil or butter, brown sugar and molasses, stirring until the butter is melted and the brown sugar is dissolved.
3. Pour the syrup over the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon.
4. Add the egg and mix until the dough is soft and no longer sticky.
5. Remove the dough from the bowl and shape it into a disc with your hands.
6. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
7. Preheat the oven to 350 °F.
8. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
9. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/8 inch (3 mm). 
10. Cut out cookies using a cookie cutter, then place them on the first baking sheet, spacing them apart.
11. Bake for 10 minutes in the centre of the oven, or until the cookies are lightly golden and firm. Let them cool completely on a wire rack.
12. Use the scraps and any leftover dough to make a second batch. 

Gingerbread dog biscuit recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup stone-ground white whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup oat flour (added to the recipe)
• 3/4 tsp ground ginger
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp turmeric (a spice that replaces cloves and nutmeg)
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
• 1 tbsp blackstrap molasses
• 1 tbsp honey (instead of brown sugar)
• 4 tbsp water (instead of maple syrup) 

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 °F.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
3. Gently stir in the wet ingredients with a wooden spoon until a ball of dough forms.
4. Knead by hand.
5. Roll out the dough to a thickness of 6 mm (¼ inch).
6. Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
7. Bake at 350 °F for 22 to 25 minutes. 

TIP: After 10 minutes of baking, if your biscuits are puffing up too much, poke them with a fork.

How to store homemade gingerbread?

Gingerbread cookies will keep for 4 to 5 days in a metal tin or airtight container in a cool, dry place. You can also store them in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Handle them carefully to avoid breaking them.

To give them as gifts or to decorate your home, present them in a pretty glass jar tied with a ribbon.

The cookies can be frozen once baked to keep them fresh longer. You can also freeze the balls of cookie dough (mixed but not yet baked). You'll just need to bake them when you're ready. 

The advantages and disadvantages of homemade dog biscuits

Store-bought biscuits are often less nutritious and less flavourful than homemade ones. This applies to those we eat and to those for dogs. We've therefore carefully selected the ingredients to produce biscuits that are both delicious and healthy. As an added bonus, the three spices we've chosen have desirable properties. 

Ginger is packed with antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties that improve blood circulation and heart health. Cinnamon, a must-have at this time of year and a favourite with dogs, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties. It's also good for the heart and helps regulate blood sugar. Finally, turmeric also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, in addition to boosting your dog's immune system. 

GOOD TO KNOW: Always check the ingredient list of any food products you use to prepare your dog's meals. Make sure they don't contain any additives that are toxic to dogs.

Also, avoid using gingerbread spice mixes. They often contain allspice and nutmeg, which are not recommended for dogs.