The Recipe Critic

Pupcakes

April 28, 2022

Pupcakes are a dog-friendly dessert your 4-legged friend will go crazy over! They’re super easy to make and full of healthy ingredients for your pup!

Making homemade treats for your dog is so fun, and the best part is- you know exactly what’s going into them! You’ll have to try making a dog birthday cake and homemade dog cookies next! My dog absolutely loves them and I know yours will too!

Multiple frosted pupcakes on a cake board.

Easy Dog Cupcake Recipe

I have to admit, making homemade dog treats has become a new obsession for me and my girls. They get so excited to bake something for our pup, Leia! The smiles on their faces when they reveal the finished product to her are the best! (Find more kid-friendly recipes here!) I love that we can create something together that is fun and cute but also full of healthy ingredients for our pup. Only the best for our furry friends!

Make a batch of these and I assure you there will be tails wagging! They have a peanut butter, carrot, pumpkin, and applesauce base, topped with peanut butter frosting. All the treats my dog loves combined into one single-serving dessert! Because moderation is key, you may want to invite some neighborhood dogs over to join in on the fun! I swear my pupper could eat a whole pan of these by herself.

What Are Pupcakes Made Of?

Just a few simple, all-natural ingredients! They’re great for digestion and have flavor your dog will go crazy over! You can find measurements for each ingredient in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.

  • Whole-Wheat Flour: I use whole wheat flour in pet treats for a boost of fiber. If you don’t have any on hand, all-purpose works well too!
  • Baking Soda: Helps pupcakes rise.
  • Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture and helps ingredients mix together smoothly.
  • Natural Creamy Peanut Butter: It wouldn’t be a dog treat without a little peanut butter! Just make sure the peanut butter you are using is xylitol-free! See more on the dangers of xylitol in the tips section below.
  • Plain Applesauce: Adds a subtle sweetness your dog will love. You can also swap this out for mashed banana.
  • Pumpkin Puree: I like making this from scratch to assure there aren’t any fillers or additives in it.
  • Shredded Carrots: Carrots are a great snack for dogs! Make sure these are shredded into small enough pieces to avoid choking.
  • Milk: Adds moisture to pupcake mixture.
  • Egg: Binds everything together and adds a boost of protein!

Frosting Ingredients

  • Plain Greek Yogurt: In moderation, greek yogurt is a great source of both protein and calcium for your dog!
  • Natural Creamy Peanut Butter: Gives the “frosting” a thick, pipeable consistency. Again, make sure this is xylitol-free!
  • Dog Treats: (Optional) Use dog bone treats as a garnish on top!
4-photo collage of dog cupcake batter being prepared.

How to Make Peanut Butter Pupcakes

Pupcakes are so easy to make, they’re ready in 30 minutes start to finish! They’re great treats to make for your dog’s birthday or gotcha day!

  1. Prep Pan, Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350° and spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray.
  2. Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda.
  3. Combine Remaining Ingredients: In a large bowl, stir the vegetable oil, peanut butter, applesauce, pumpkin puree, carrots, milk, and egg together. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
  4. Add to Muffin Tin: Scoop the batter evenly into six cavities of the muffin pan and bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the pupcakes.
  5. Cool and Frost: Let the pupcakes cool completely on a cooling rack before frosting and serving to your pup.

Making the Frosting

  1. Combine and Frost: In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt and peanut butter until smooth. Frost the pupcakes immediately or store the frosting in the fridge until ready to use.
  2. Garnish: Decorate with dog treats as desired.
Top-down view of pupcake batter in a muffin tin.

Ingredients to Avoid

Since we want to keep our furry friends happy and healthy, here are a few ingredients you’ll need to avoid when making treats for them at home!

  • Xylitol/Birch Sugar: Xylitol, also known as birch sugar, is toxic to dogs. This is an artificial sweetener found in things like peanut butter, candy, and gum. Always check the labels of anything you use to make dog treats with for this lethal ingredient.
  • Added Spices: Alone, spices like ginger and cinnamon are safe for dogs in small amounts, but you’ll want to avoid nutmeg at all costs. It can cause seizures and a high heart rate in dogs.
  • Added Sugars: Opt for plain applesauce and Greek yogurt when making your cupcakes. Added sugars can lead to digestive problems with your pup.
Closeup of a black and white Portuguese Water Dog eating a pupcake.

Storing Leftover Pupcakes

These doggy desserts can be kept in the fridge for a few days after you’ve made them. My two daughters love having these on hand to give to our dog when she’s being extra good.

  • In the Refrigerator: Store pupcakes covered in plastic wrap or in an airtight cupcake container. They will stay good for up to 4 days.
A peanut butter dog cupcake topped with frosting and a dog treat.

More Fun Activities for Kids

Here are a few recipes my kids love to help me make. (And eat!) Even my teenagers love to get in on the fun! Cooking is a great way to spend quality time with your kids, and with recipes this delicious, how could they resist? Find my full list of kid-friendly recipes here.

Print

Pupcakes

Pupcakes are a dog-friendly dessert your 4-legged friend will go crazy over! They're super easy to make and full of healthy ingredients for your pup!
Course Cake
Keyword pet-friendly
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 6 Pupcakes
Calories 316kcal
Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

Pupcakes

  • 1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
  • ¼ Cup Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Must be Xylitol free!
  • ½ Cup Plain Applesauce
  • ½ Cup Pumpkin Puree
  • ½ Cup Shredded Carrots
  • 3 Tablespoons Milk
  • 1 Egg

Frosting

  • 1 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt
  • ½ Cup Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Must be Xylitol Free
  • Dog treats for garnish optional

Instructions

Pupcakes

  • Preheat the oven to 350° and spray a muffin pan with non-stick spray.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda.
  • In a large bowl combine the vegetable oil, peanut butter, applesauce, pumpkin puree, carrots, milk, and egg. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
  • Scoop the batter evenly into six cavities of the muffin pan and bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the pupcakes.
  • Let the pupcakes cool completely on a cooling rack before frosting and serving to your pup.

Frosting

  • In a medium bowl combine the yogurt and peanut butter until smooth. Frost the pupcakes immediately or store the frosting in the fridge until ready to use.
  • Decorate with dog treats as desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 316kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 355mg | Potassium: 414mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 5020IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 2mg

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