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.
Shelley says
This was so quick and easy! I doubled the recipe, threw everything in the food processor and got five regular size cupcakes out of it. My dog declared it pawsitively delicious!
Sarah Nevins says
Yay! So glad your pup got to enjoy these 🙂 Thanks Shelley!
Christine says
Can you substitute pumpkin for the peanut butter?
Sarah Nevins says
Hi Christine! The cupcake might come out a little more moist but I don’t think that should be a problem!
mewcat says
my dog like it
Sarah Nevins says
Yay! So glad to hear it!
Carol says
I made these for my dog and I used a mini muffin tin so he had several! He absolutely loved them!! He has a sensitive stomach so I worry every time I give him something new, but making them in the mini muffin tin gave him just a bite and we saved the rest in an airtight container, and he enjoyed every bite!
Thank you for the great (and easy!) recipe!
Sarah Nevins says
Awww! Glad your dog was able to enjoy them! Give him some nice scratches behind the ear for me!
Joyce Kneer says
Made these for my dog’s birthday party yesterday and they loved them.
Sarah Nevins says
Yay! Happy birthday to your dog!
Christine says
Made this for my dog’s 11 birthday today- he was one happy guy. Not gonna lie I tried some without the bacon and they are pretty tasty for humans too. Love the small serving size and so easy to make. Thanks for the recipe!
Sarah says
Awww! Happy Birthday to your boy! So glad he (and you!) enjoyed them! Thanks Christine!
Ronna says
I’m going to try with banana today as it’s my dog and my daughters dog’s 12th birthday. Having a party!
Sarah says
I love that! Give them both some ear stractches from me! Hope they enjoy!
Jenna says
Made these for my dog’s birthday last year and she absolutely loved them. Hence why I’m here making them again a year later for her 9th birthday on Monday. Thank you for the recipe!
Sarah says
Awww! Give her some pets for me!
Linda says
My lil guy turns 5 today, Valentines Day, and I can’t wait to make him this tonight!! Thank you for the smaller recipe!! He’s an only child lol!!
Sarah says
Aww! Happy birthday to your pup! Hope he likes it!
Chelsey says
Would these work out with grated apples rather than diced? Thanks!
Sarah says
That will work!