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 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. Well except for my cat Melvin, who would prefer there were no other animals to compete with for attention.

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!  

Yields: 6 cupcakes

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

Directions:

• 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!)

If you tried this recipe with your dog, please leave a comment below and tag @accentgolden in your baking posts on social!