5 Christmas Holiday Drink Recipes for your Dogs

The holiday season is here, and with it, all the tastes that make it great! From cookies, pies, and baked bread, to delicious drinks, there’s nothing like sharing our favorite treats with those we love most. And for some of us, that includes our favorite furry pals!

No doubt, your dog would love to eat anything you’re having, but many holiday treats contain ingredients that can be toxic to them. If your dream is to cozy up with your pup next to the fire and share a traditional holiday drink, then we’ve got the dog-safe recipes for you! 

Using ingredients you may already have on hand, these drinks are sure to get your pup excited. Though all these scrumptious drinks use unsweetened coconut milk, you can substitute almond, oat, or even goat milk if your dog tolerates dairy well, just be sure to get them unsweetened and without dangerous xylitol. Some also use Ceylon cinnamon which is much healthier and safer for dogs to consume than the cassia cinnamon commonly found in baked goods. If you can’t find Ceylon on your local shelves, you can easily order it online.

Let’s get mixing!

Made famous by an East coast coffee company, your pup will have to be envious no more when you make this safe version just for them!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 tsp maple syrup or molasses
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp ground Ceylon cinnamon

Directions:

• Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
• Pour into a mug or bowl.
• If you want to serve this warm, simply pour it into a small saucepan and simmer over low heat on the stove, or put it in the microwave. Be sure to let it cool to lukewarm before serving.
• Top with a whipped topping that doesn’t contain xylitol if desired, a sprinkle of Ceylon cinnamon, and serve!

*Note: If you want a bit more ginger flavor, add a dash of ginger.

This classic baked loaf wafts heavenly smells through the house while baking, but is filled with nuts which can be problematic for some pups, and too much sugar. Your dog is sure to love this 3-ingredient smoothie!

Ingredients:

• ½ banana
• ½ cup unsweetened coconut milk
• ¼ tsp Ceylon cinnamon

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients into a blender and mix until smooth.
2. Pour into a mug or bowl, top with a sprinkle of Ceylon cinnamon, and serve!
3. For bigger dogs, simply double the recipe!
   

Eggnog is such a yummy and furbulous drink that only comes around this time of year, but it uses nutmeg and raw eggs, ingredients dogs should stay away from. This version uses Greek yogurt for the distinctive frothiness, so it may need to be avoided for dogs who can’t do dairy. You can substitute more coconut milk for the yogurt, just know it won’t be as thick.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup unsweetened coconut milk
• ½ plain Greek Yogurt
• ½ tbsp honey (raw and unfiltered is best)
• ¼ to ½ tsp Ceylon cinnamon

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender, and mix until smooth.
2. Pour into a mug or bowl, top with a dash of Ceylon cinnamon, and watch your dog’s tail wag!

Though a standard for any time of year, hot chocolate is synonymous with winter. Nothing comforts like a steaming cup of this goodness after a romp in the snow. But chocolate can be deadly for dogs. Instead, look to pawsome carob, a healthy and safe alternative that most dogs love. You can usually find it locally, and always online.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk or water, or a combination of the two
• 1 tbsp carob powder

Directions:

1. Pour coconut milk or water into a small saucepan over low heat.
2. Add carob powder and whisk or stir until combined.
3. Simmer on low until heated. The mixture should have a milk chocolate-like color and some frothiness, but if you are using just water, the color will be lighter. Take off heat. 
4. Let rest until the hot carob mixture is lukewarm to cool, then pour into a mug or bowl. Never serve it hot to your dog. Add a sprinkle of carob powder on top if desired, and let the tails go!

Peppermint is not only festive but good for your dog! This one is super easy but will take a longer prep time than the recipes above. 

Ingredients:

• 1 peppermint tea bag, 1 tsp. dried peppermint or 1 handful of fresh peppermint leaves
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 ice cube tray

Directions:

1. Steep peppermint in hot water for around 5 minutes. Then, pour into an ice cube tray. It should fill 8 ice cubes. Put the tray in the freezer and freeze until solid.
2. Add 4 peppermint ice cubes into blender and blend to crush slightly. Add coconut milk, and blend till granita-like consistency. Save your other 4 ice cubes for another batch later.
3. Pour into mug or bowl and serve!
4. For a “chocolate” variant, add ½ to 1 tbsp carob powder to step 2.

*Note: A peppermint ice cube can be given to your dog to help relieve nausea and digestive complaints.

**If ANY of these ingredients are new to your dog, start slow with lessened amounts!

With these puptastic recipes, your dog can enjoy all the delicious tastes of the holidays with their best human by their side. For more pawsome dog-safe ideas, try the Pumpkin Spiced Latte for Pups or other holiday-inspired treats!

Merry Pupmas!