Today is this handsome fella’s birthday:
Every year, we do something special for his birthday, whether it’s baking homemade dog biscuits or taking him to the dog bakery to pick out his own birthday cake. Since I have a sous chef these days, we chose to bake some homemade “pupcakes” for our favorite furry boy this year. Not only did Watson devour them, it was a fun little toddler activity too!
Here are the players:
Do yourself a favor and either buy the shredded carrots in a bag, or at least don’t try to shred baby carrots. Save your fingers. Doh!
Okay, so you basically just mix the wet and dry ingredients separately, then combine them. So easy, even a 3-year-old can do it (I did the carrot-shredding part. No toddler fingers were harmed in the making of this baking extravaganza)!
After you’re done mixing everything together, don’t forget to let your pup lick the spoon!
Then just fill each lined cupcake tin about 2/3 full:
Pop ’em in a 350 degrees F oven for about 15-20 minutes. Here’s what they looked like after baking for 18 minutes:
Then you can opt to frost them (your pup will thank me) or not (your pup probably won’t know the difference). I just spooned some creamy peanut butter into a piping bag fitted with a 2D Wilton icing tip and voila:
Looks good enough to eat! I took a little nibble and they’re not bad, just not as sweet as a regular people-food cupcake. Now witness some real willpower:
Also, be sure to remove the paper liner before giving the cupcake to your pup. I’m speaking from experience here. That thing will disappear faster than you can say, “Wait, Watson! Don’t eat the paper!” Gulp. Gone. Oops. Welp, it’s safe to say he loved it!
What a sweet boy. Happy birthday, Watson! We love this guy more than words can say.
Homemade Peanut Butter Banana Pupcakes
Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 1 banana
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1/3 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/3 cup 1-minute oats
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake tin with paper liners. Combine the egg, banana, carrots, peanut butter, oil, honey, and vanilla in one bowl. Mix the flour, baking soda, and oats in another bowl. Combine the wet and dry ingredients together. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes. Frost with creamy peanut butter (optional).
Like this post? Here’s another homemade dog treat recipe that was a hit:
This cracked me up when I saw it on IG. You guys crack me up. Happy Birthday, Watson!
Made these for Wally’s 1st birthday. He absolutely loved them, and so did all his friends!! Thx for the great recipe. p.s. substituted organic white whole wheat flour for regular whole wheat. Same nutrition but pupcakes were nice and light. 🙂
Made these today for Kona’s birthday. He and his brother, Dude, loved them!! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Yay! You’re welcome!
I just made these, and they are pup approved!!
http://www.lilyandwes.com/2014/12/coopers-1st-birthday.html
Woohoo! Glad to hear!
How many pupcakes does this recipe make?
It makes a dozen!
This recipe is just amazing!!! I used to make cupcakes for my youngest son Simmy for his 2nd birthday, he and his brother Zeus gobbled them down whole. I also made a batch to share with my co-workers and their fellow fur babies. They were a huge hit, even those fur babies that were picky – loved them. I did how ever add some lowfat cream cheese and some canola oil to the peanut for the frosting! Thanks again, i have tried many recipes and this is one that i will be making on a regular basis….oh and they even licked the spoon 😉
Awesome, so great to hear! Thank you!
I think I will be making these for my litter’s 1st birthday celebration party in July. Looking forward to seeing the happy puppies enjoy their day with their first home. 🙂
How fun! Thanks for stopping by Amanda!
Don’t know if this is a silly questions but do you think it would bake well just as a cake instead of cupcakes?
Great recipe!!!! I started looking for cupcakes that my daughter can make for our dogs 1st birthday. This was meant to be when I saw your pictures!!! Our dog is a Ridgeback too!!!!!!! =)
Thank you for the recipe. I will be making these tomorrow for our dogs first birthday 🙂
Love your site and love for dogs. I have Doxies and I make these in little muffin size. I use 1/2cup Organic Apple sauce no sugar added and omit the honey and oil. They love them.
It’s our pup’s 8th birthday so we thought we’d try your pup cakes. If only I can send you a video of her behavior. I’ll have to give you a visual. The pup cakes are cooling on the rack, and she’s laying down on her tummy with her back paws stretched far back and her head up staring at the pup cakes and softly crying for one. She KNOWS it’s for her. What a brat! Thank you so much for the recipe. She thanks you too!
Haha love it! So glad your pup enjoyed them! Thanks for sharing!
The cakes are wonderful thank you…..Watson needs to have his nails trimmed.
These sound great but my princess has allergies. She can’t have the egg or carrots. Any suggestions. Thanks
Hi Karen,
I haven’t tried it myself, but I’ve heard you can substitute eggs with applesauce and just leave out the carrots. Hope that helps!