Pupcakes: Dog Cupcakes for Any Occasion
Dogs bring so much joy into our lives, so why not bring some into theirs? Walks are great and Milkbones are a convenient treat, but there’s just something about a homemade treat that gets those tails wagging. These pupcakes always do the trick! Topped with pup-friendly peanut butter frosting (not to be confused with my real peanut butter frosting) pupcakes are the perfect doggy dessert for celebrations like birthdays, gotcha days, or you-didn’t-bark-at-the-mailman-today days (I wish we had more of those around here..!). If you’re looking for a simpler, less indulgent treat, you can skip the frosting, or just make my homemade dog cookies.And… just in case you were curious, yes, you can eat these too; but I suggest trying one of my recipes that is geared towards humans instead, like my pumpkin cupcakes, or my peanut butter pie. Save the pupcakes for the pups–they’ll be grateful you did!
What You Need to Make Pupcakes
This recipe uses simple ingredients that you might already have in your pantry. While these pupcakes are meant to be a treat, many of the ingredients listed below can have health benefits for dogs when given in manageable amounts. Let’s dive into the details.
Creamy Peanut Butter. Loved by nearly every canine on the planet, peanut butter is good source of protein and healthy fats. Plus it tastes great! I use creamy peanut butter in the batter and the frosting for these pupcakes. VERY IMPORTANT: make sure the peanut butter you use does not contain xylitol, which would be listed with the ingredients and can be deadly for dogs.Pumpkin Puree. Packed full of fiber and vitamins, pumpkin gives our pupcakes flavor and nutrients. It also adds moisture, so your dog can wolf these down without leaving a crumb.Olive Oil. While I typically opt for neutral oils (like canola or vegetable) when making baked goods, olive oil works just as well and dogs don’t seem to mind the bolder taste (I don’t recommend making this switch in any of my other human-oriented recipes, though!). As a healthy fat that’s low in cholesterol, it’s a great addition to these pupcakes. Olive oil can also reduce inflammation and help with itchy skin, so that’s an added bonus!Honey. To add sweetness, moisture, and a slightly chewy bite, I add honey to the pupcakes. You can use whatever kind you have on hand, like clover or wildflower.Water. For moisture and to bind everything together, I add some water. If you’d like to substitute this with some low-sodium chicken or beef broth you can. Flour. I use all-purpose flour, but you could substitute whole wheat or even your favorite gluten-free blend if your dog can’t have wheat. Cream Cheese.This adds flavor and complements the peanut butter in the frosting. Because it’s high in fat, cream cheese is suitable for once-in-a-while treats like these, but not everyday snacks. Make sure you buy a plain, unflavored variety and soften it before you add it to the frosting.
SAM’S TIP: Always check to make sure you’ve bought PLAIN pumpkin. Pumpkin pie filling looks very similar, but it contains added spices, sugar, and salt that we don’t want in our pupcakes.
How to Make Pupcakes
SAM’S TIP: You can either spread your frosting or pipe it. If you pipe it, you may want to consider doubling the frosting recipe to achieve the look I have in my photos. Enjoy!
More Recipes You Might Like
Banana CupcakesPeanut Butter CookiesPumpkin Whoopie Pies
Let’s bake together! I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook Originally published March of 2016
