Celebrate your best friend with this single serving dog cupcake made with four canine-friendly ingredients. These ‘pupcakes’ are easy to make, grain-free and will make your pooch’s day!
Cakes for Dogs or Dogs for Cake?
You see that lovely, silly greyhound licking his lips and leering at his cupcake in the background?
He’s stolen two whole cakes before. Not cupcakes. CAKES.
After the second incident I made my way to the store to buy a cake stand with a lid to prevent any future thievery from him. He’s just so tall – he’s got pretty easy access to most food on tables and counters.
To be fair to Paddy he’s typically well behaved and his begging is quite polite. As soon as he hears a ‘no’ he backs off. A true gentleman. Unfortunately no one was here to tell him ‘no’ so fair play, I suppose.
Nowadays, the only cakes our silly, long boy gets to eat are his own.
Homemade Dog Cupcakes
This recipe makes either one jumbo size cupcake, or two regular sized ones. It’s aimed for dog tastes, but it’s certainly edible if you want to share one with your hound.
Altogether this recipe is made up of only four, dog-friendly ingredients:
- peanut butter
- diced apple
- egg
- baking powder
To make, simply mix everything together in a small bowl, then fill a couple of muffin cups, bake and that’s it! Easy, straightforward and basically fool-proof.
FAQ’s & Recipe Tips
What kind of peanut butter?
- Ideally look for a natural or sugar-free peanut butter. Just make sure that your sugar-free peanut butter doesn’t include artificial sweeteners like xylitol. Artificial sweeteners are often potentially deadly to dogs.
- Crunchy peanut butter will work just the same.
banana or pumpkin instead of apple?
- Yes! Instead of apple you can use 1 small banana (or half a medium/large banana). Just mash it up and mix it in.
- Use 1/4 cup mashed/pureed pumpkin in place of apple.
freeze these for later?
- Yes! Just make sure you cool them completely first. Wrap the cupcakes individually in plastic wrap then foil, then store in a zip-lock bag for up to three months.
- To thaw: you can let them thaw in the fridge overnight or in the microwave for about 30-40 seconds.
Do I need to peel the apple?
- Don’t worry about peeling.
- You can grate the apple instead of chopping if you prefer.
- Make sure to remove all the apple seeds. They contain a small amount of cyanide. It’s not likely to cause your dog much harm, but it’s still better to avoid any potential risk.
Whether or not you choose to make these for your pup make sure to give them some extra pets for me! They deserve it.
If you have any more questions please let me know in the comments below!
Single Serving Dog Friendly Cupcake
A dog friendly, single serving cupcake to celebrate the special hounds in your life! Grain free and no added sugar.
Ingredients
- 1/2 small or medium apple, diced into small pieces
- 3 tablespoons peanut butter + more if desired for frosting
- 1 whole egg
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (optional)
- bacon bits for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F.
- In a small bowl mix together all of your ingredients until combined.
- Line or lightly grease two holes in a cupcake tin or a small ramekin. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pans.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- Allow the cupcake to cool completely. You can leave it as is, or frost with peanut butter and sprinkle with bacon bits.
Notes
Notes of Safety of Ingredients for Dogs
- Make sure to use xylitol free peanut butter/ peanut butter without artificial sweeteners as they can be poisonous for dogs!
- Make sure to remove all the apple seeds. They contain a small amount of cyanide. It's not likely to cause your dog much harm, but it's still better to avoid any potential risk.
- Baking powder and baking soda can be toxic to dog but typically only in large amounts. According to the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists: " Toxicosis may be seen with ingestion of 10-20 g/kg of body weight. This equates to approximately 2-4 teaspoons per kg of body weight." That's roughly 1 teaspoon per pound of body weight. This recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon altogether which should be safe. If you don't want to take the risk, feel free to leave out the baking powder.
Denise says
Can you use banana instead of diced apple? Also can you microwave them? The grocery store sell single cup, cup cupcakes for people, like chocolate, cinnamon bun, brownies and you pour the package in a coffee cup and microwave 1 minute. They are delicious one serving desserts. My doggie will be 17 years old the 18th of this month. I wanted to do something really special like a little birthday party because we believe this will probably be her last one 😢 sad to say. She’s our baby and she deserves to be spoiled. So if you could get back to me soon I would appreciate it. She loves bananas and peanut Butter.
Sarah says
Hi Denise! I haven’t tried this in the microwave but I do think it will work! Usually mug cakes only need about 1 1/2 – 2 minutes. Unfortunately I’m away from home for the next month visiting family and they don’t have a microwave otherwise I’d try it out myself.
As for the banana I do think that should also work out! I think half a banana should be enough. Wish I could help more here! Give your dog some extra cuddles from me – I’m sure you’ll give her the best birthday possible!
Clare says
Is it normal peanut butter or doggy kind? Is it just normal bacon that’s used? Can’t wait to make these for my puppy’s 1st birthday next month
Sarah says
Most peanut butter should be ok to use – you just want to avoid giving dogs peanut butter containing Xylitol as that’s really poisonous for them. As for the bacon any type will do! Happy (early) birthday to you dog!
Carl Schader says
My pup just turned 1 yesterday, her and her big sister loved these!
Sarah says
Aww – happy birthday to your pup! Give both your dogs some pets for me!
Laura says
HI Sarah,
Does this pupcake need any flour at all?
Thanks!
Sarah says
No flour needed!
Valerie says
I would love to try this recipe but what is a “eholr egg”?
Sarah says
Whoops! Not sure how I managed to a typo that bad! That’s supposed to say ‘whole’ – thanks for pointing that out to me!
Alison says
Quick question- Is that 1/2 of an apple, diced or is the measurement missing? Just wanted to clarify before I try to make it! My sweet pup turns 2 next week.
Sarah says
Yes! So that’s 1/2 of a small or medium sized apple, diced into small pieces. Thanks for pointing that out – I went back and reworded it so hopefully it makes more sense now.
Happy birthday to your pup! Give them an extra scratch behind the ears for me 🙂
Alison says
Thanks! It was definitely a winner!!
Carrie Sobay says
My dogs go CRAZY for these. They are so easy to make and the dogs will wait by the oven door for them.
Sarah says
Ha! That image is too cute! I love it! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Lucy says
These turned out great – thanks for the recipe! My birthday doggie is a very happy pup!
Sarah says
Happy (belated) birthday to your pup! Glad he liked it 🙂
Jayne | Tenacious Tinkering says
This is very clever and cute! Every recipe I’ve come across makes a humongous cake. I thought of making them into individual cupcakes and freezing some for later treats but your grain-free one caught my eyes. I’m wondering what the texture of these are seeing as the ingredients seem really wet. Thanks!
Sarah says
Thanks, Jane! I had the same problem that you have with cakes that are too big. I’m all for treating my dogs, but I don’t want to over do it with the treats, ya know. I’ve never had an issue with the texture – I think because the peanut butter is so thick it doesn’t get runny. It comes out like a caky muffin. Hope that helps – let me know how it goes if you try it!
GROOVY GOLDENDOODLES says
That is one good looking cupcake.
Sarah says
Thank you! Stanley approved!