Few flavors and aromas are as cozy and warming as cinnamon. Worldwide, people love cinnamon in sweets, curries, teas, savory baked goods, and so much more. Cinnamon is also a popular breath freshener as a flavoring in gum and toothpaste.
But if you love cinnamon, is it OK to share it with your dog?
Can Dogs Eat Cinnamon?
In small amounts, yes. Cinnamon is non-toxic to dogs according to the ASPCA. In small amounts, which means one teaspoon or less per serving as an occasional treat, it is perfectly safe and may even offer health benefits.
However, in large quantities, it may irritate the mouth or stomach, cause low blood sugar or even liver disease. Inhaling cinnamon may irritate dogs’ lungs and cause coughing, choking or difficulty breathing.
If you believe your dog has eaten a large quantity of cinnamon powder, sticks or essential oil, monitor for the following symptoms and be sure to call your vet.
A word of warning: many people foods that contain cinnamon also contain nutmeg, which is toxic for dogs. In fact, the Pet Poison Helpline groups the two spices together in making recommendations for their safety for dogs. Their message is clear: Cinnamon is safe in small amounts. Nutmeg is never safe for dogs.
What to Do if Your Dog Eats Too Much Cinnamon
If your dog gobbles down more than a teaspoon of cinnamon or steals the cinnamon sticks out of all the mugs of hot cider at your holiday party, call your vet immediately if your dog has any of these symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rapid heart rate
- Sores in the mouth
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
Cinnamon Recipes for Dogs
Fortunately, in small amounts, cinnamon is safe and even healthy for dogs. If you love the cozy smell of cinnamon and want to bake up a treat that you can share with your favorite pooch, check out these recipes s from Rover chef Kiki Kane!
Apple Pie Bites for Dogs
If you prefer your sweets on the less-sweet side, you might just fall in love with this recipe too! Maybe with a touch of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for the humans.
You can replace the flour in this recipe with two cups of any flour you like. Oat flour is always a nice gluten-free option, and you can blitz rolled oats in your food processor to create the flour in just seconds.
- Author: Kiki Kane
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 48 cookies
Ingredients
- 2 apples, cored and diced or grated
- 1 Tbsp cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp Honey (optional but tasty)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup tapioca flour
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 Egg
- Optional: 1/4 cup grated parmesan or cheddar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º
- Set your oven racks to a central position with room to use multiple trays if you like.
- Wash, core, and dice or grate the apples.
- To your diced apple, add the cinnamon, vanilla, honey, and coconut oil and stir thoroughly.
- Add the flours and baking powder next, stirring to combine. This will resemble a crumble more than a cookie dough, don’t be alarmed!
- Add the milk and egg, and give it a final stir.
- Drop small spoonfuls of cookie dough onto parchment lined cookie sheet.
- You can either leave the dough in spherical form or press down lightly with a fork to create a flatter, crunchier cookie.
- Bake 20 minutes, or until the tops attain some golden color and there are some crunchy bits on the edges, but the bottom isn’t too browned.
Peanut Butter Paw Print Pupcake Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 14 paw prints 1x
Ingredients
Makes one tray of 14 paw print cupcakes
Peanut Butter Carrot Cupcakes
- 1/2 cup flour (we used oat flour but whole wheat works great too)
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 carrot, grated
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup peanut butter (watch out for xylitol, a sweetener poisonous to dogs)
- 1 egg
Peanut Butter Yogurt Frosting
Makes enough frosting for 3 trays of pupcakes
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 3 Tbsp cornstarch or tapioca flour to thicken and stabilize
Instructions
For the cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease the silicone molds and place on cookie sheets to make it easier to move them around.
- Combine flour, cinnamon, and baking soda in a large bowl and whisk to combine and eliminate lumps
- Add the wet ingredients and stir just to combine
- Mix in the grated carrot.
- Spoon mixture into the lightly greased silicone molds,
- Gently tap the tray to eliminate any air pockets and smooth and push down the batter to ensure you get the cute paw print details from the bottom of the molds.
- Bake for 15 minutes, checking for doneness with a toothpick.
- Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
For the Frosting
While the cakes are cooling:
- Whisk the yogurt and cornstarch together until no lumps appear.
- Add the peanut butter and stir to combine.
This frosting is a great consistency for piping. Frost your cakes and watch your dogs go wild!
For More Information
We’ve got tons of articles about which foods are safe or dangerous for your dog, from common snacks to fruits. You might also be interested in Can My Dog Eat Cinnamon Bread? and Can My Dog Eat Butternut Squash?
The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
