Simple Blueberry Pumpkin Dog Cupcakes (Pupcakes!)
In the spring, my cousin and his wife were driving through their neighborhood one day and found two lost puppies roaming solo. They picked them up and took them to LifeLine – an animal welfare organization based in Atlanta that works with the community to provide accessible pet care, to keep people and pets together, and to stop the use of euthanasia on healthy and treatable animals in shelters.
The puppies were the best of buds, but unfortunately, my cousin and his wife already had a senior dog and were expecting a baby in the fall, so they couldn’t keep them long-term. They worked with LifeLine to help place them into loving homes.
The one puppy, a girl who strongly resembled a rottweiler, found a home pretty quickly with a family that had an existing rottweiler (so I have a feeling they were a rotty family), but the sweet little boy puppy was having a little more trouble finding his forever home. That is until one day, my mom caved to that wrinkly face, adopted him, and named him Otis (cause he can be a bit of a bumbling goon, for fellow The Andy Griffith Show fans). He came home in April and though a typical ornery pup, he’s the bestest boy and we all love him.
To celebrate this handsome sweetie pie turning one, I made him a batch of yummy birthday pupcakes fit for a happy doggo. He can be a bit of a picky eater about some things, but he ate these right up!
The blueberries offer antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber while the pumpkin offers an array of benefits for your dog’s digestion, immune and eye health, skin, coat, and much more! Top with some peanut butter-yogurt “frosting” and it’ll be a bake made in doggie heaven! (To state clearly, I’m not a veterinarian, so feel free to ask your vet before feeding your pooch these yummy bites).
Happy first birthday, Oatey boaty! You is kind, you is important, and you is so so loved!
WHAT IS A PUPCAKE?
A pupcake is a dog-friendly cake option perfect for treating your pup or celebrating them with their friends. They’re made with pet-safe ingredients easily found in your pantry like oat flour (made from grinding old-fashioned oats), pumpkin puree, peanut butter, blueberries, and more. They make a few, which is great for storing in the fridge or freezer for future treats!
What are the benefits of pumpkin puree for dogs? Feeding your dog pumpkin has a host of benefits for your pup when done in moderation. This includes improvements to their digestive health, weight management, hydration, skin & coat health, and antioxidant properties.
INGREDIENTS
- Unsweetened Plain Pumpkin Puree: A binding ingredient that adds moisture and nutrients to your cakes
- Blueberries: Add texture, flavor, and nutrients
- Egg: Another binding ingredient to bring together the batter
- Oat Flour: A more digestible, gluten-free option for dogs over using an all-purpose flour
- Baking Powder: Helps give a little bit of rise to each cake
- Unsweetened Applesauce: Adds moisture and chew while adding fiber and vitamins
- Water: Loosens the batter a little to make it easier to pour into each muffin tin
- Plain Greek Yogurt: Gives the perfect frosting thickness while giving your pup some probiotic and protein benefits
- Peanut Butter: Because what pup doesn’t love a spoonful?
How do you make oat flour? Easily! Just put half a cup of old-fashioned oats into a blender or food processor and pulse until finely ground!
HOW TO MAKE A BLUEBERRY PUMPKIN PUPCAKE
One of my favorite parts of these pupcakes is that they are a one-bowl recipe! Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining 6 cups of your 12-cup muffin tin with paper.
In your measuring cup, give your blueberries a quick mash to make them into smaller bits, using the back of a fork. If using frozen blueberries, give them a little time to thaw, so it’s easier to squish them. Grab your mixing bowl and add in your pumpkin puree, egg, and applesauce, and whisk until combined. Stir in your dry ingredients – flour and baking powder – until the batter is smooth. Now add in your blueberries and gently fold them in, just until they are evenly dispersed.
Spoon your batter into your lined muffin cups, filling each cup about 2/3 of the way up. Place them in the oven to bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
While your cupcakes bake, stir together your frosting by adding your Greek yogurt and peanut butter to a bowl and mixing together until smooth. When your muffins are out and completely cooled, you can add your frosting to a baggie to snip and pipe on top of each cake or leave in the bowl and split dollops of frosting evenly onto each pupcake. Top with extra blueberries or your pup’s favorite treats and let them enjoy!
3 reasons your pup will love this treat
TIPS & VARIATIONS
- For a fun swirl on top, place your frosting in a ziploc bag and cut the corner off. You can use this as a makeshift piping bag to give you pupcakes that bakery-worthy frosting on top!
- To make these even cuter, top them with your dog’s favorite treats or more blueberries by placing a few in the frosting once you’ve swirled it on top
- You can substitute the egg for a flax egg (1 tsp of ground flaxseed mixed with 1 tablespoon of water, stir and let sit for 5 minutes). There can be some sensitivities to flaxseed for dogs so check with your veterinarian before doing this substitution
MAKING AHEAD & STORING
The baked and frosted cupcakes will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. If you want them to last longer, you can store these unfrosted in the freezer for up to three months for a fun future treat for your pup!
WANT SOME HUMAN PUMPKIN RECIPES?
A treat for one calls for these single-serve Pumpkin Cupcakes (you get two of course) with cream cheese frosting. Or, try my grandmother’s Perfect Pumpkin Cake Roll, sliced to swirly goodness. These Soft & Simple Pumpkin Cookies with an easy glaze make a ton and are the best spiced bites.
Equipment
- Muffin Tin
- Mixing Bowls
- Spatulas
- Cupcake Liners
- Fork
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsweetened plain pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup blueberries fresh or frozen
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup oat flour ½ cup of old-fashioned oats ground up
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
- 3 tablespoons water
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line muffin tin with 6 papers
- With a fork, mash your blueberries into smaller bits (thaw first if using frozen) in a bowl and set aside
- In a medium bowl, combine your canned pumpkin, egg, and applesauce until combined
- Stir in your flour and baking powder until the batter is smooth.
- Gently fold your mashed blueberries into the batter
- Spoon the batter into your muffin tin, filling each cup about 2/3 of the way
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
- While your cupcakes bake, make your frosting by stirring together your Greek yogurt and peanut butter
- Cool completely and top with frosting before serving one to your pup!
- Store any extras in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days (or throw a puppy party of course!)
my pup loved these thank you
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