Looking to give back? Consider baking some treats to donate to your local animal rescue or shelter. A small gesture like this can bring a lot of joy to animals in need while spreading the holiday spirit.
Celebrate Cookie Exchange Day, and actually everyday, with a little extra love for the furry members of your home or community!
Before you grab your baking ingredients and spring into cooking action, remember to get a parent’s permission before using any kitchen equipment—every superhero needs a trusty sidekick for safety! And always check with the pet’s owner to make sure it’s okay to share your treats with their furry friend. Superheroes always play it safe and thoughtful!
Pumpkin Banana Dog Treats
- 1 very ripe banana
- 1/2 can pumpkin puree
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
To make the treats:
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
In a large bowl, using your hands, mix the banana, pumpkin and honey. Add flour and baking powder and work into a dough mixture. If it seems too wet, add a little bit more flour. It should be a dry dough. Roll this mixture out in a little flour and cut into desired shapes.
Place on a baking tray covered with parchment paper. Bake the treats for 10-12 minutes until they appear lightly golden.
Let the treats cool on a wire rack, then store them in a jar with a closed lid.
🐾 DOWNLOAD THE RECIPE Pumpkin-Banana Dog Treats
Tuna and Catnip Cat Cookies
Your finicky feline will love these cat cookies! They include some of a cat’s favorite flavors, such as tuna. Here’s what you’ll need to make these treats:
- 1 can of tuna (in water, NOT oil)
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon of fish or olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of dried, crushed catnip
To make the treats:
Preheat the oven to 180°F.
Drain the tuna, crumble it well, and mix with the egg in a large bowl. Add the fish or olive oil and continue mixing to combine ingredients. Incorporate the catnip and flour, alternating until well mixed. When it is no longer liquid, knead the dough with your hands and form a compact ball. Let dough stand for 5 minutes.
Roll the mixture out to about 1/4″ thick and cut into desired shapes (that are a good size for cats!). Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 10-15 minutes. Baking time will depend on the desired texture of the cookie. For a soft treat, bake for less time. For a crunchy treat, bake longer. Let cool before offering to any of your feline friends!
Store these in an airtight container.
🐾 DOWNLOAD THE RECIPE TUNA-Catnip Cat Cookies
Horse Peppermint Kiss Treats
Horses love peppermint! Here’s what you need to get started on these treats:
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats (not quick cooking)
- 1 cup whole wheat or all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots or apples
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 1 small, ripe banana (mashed) OR 1/2 cup applesauce (preferably sugar free)
- Peppermints or mini peppermint candy canes
To make these treats:
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.
Combine oats, flour, carrots or apples, molasses, and banana or applesauce in a large bowl and mix well. Spoon the cookie batter into balls and place evenly on the baking sheet.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies begin to dry and crack on top.
While still warm and on the cookie sheet, push a peppermint into the top of each treat. Allow cookies to cool for 10 minutes on cookie sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before sharing with horses.
🐾 DOWNLOAD THE RECIPE Peppermint Kiss Horse Treats
🌱 WHERE KINDNESS SUPERHEROES GROW
At The Pawtectors Kindness Club, we turn kids’ love of animals into action.
Through hands-on Kindness Missions, creative adventures, service projects, and meaningful experiences, kids discover ways to help animals while growing something pretty incredible in themselves — kindness, compassion, responsibility, confidence, and the belief that they can make a difference.
Because we don’t teach kindness — we help it grow. 🌱
Discover The Pawtectors Kindness Club →
Follow along for more kindness in action: Instagram @pawtectorsprogram | Facebook @pawtectorsprogram
