Warning: if you’re not a big dog person, this post might not be for you…..
My baby boy turned TWO today! And I made him cupcakes to celebrate.
….please tell me I’m not the only one who makes cupcakes for their dog’s birthday…..
It really seemed like not that long ago we were making the trip to Hutchinson to bring our first ever puppy home… he was so tiny! Brian and I never owned a puppy before, so we weren’t really sure what we were getting ourselves into. Despite a few rough patches along the road, we are extremely pleased at how great of a dog we have raised together.
Bentley was only 7 weeks when we brought him home, and a few of his favorite things included sleeping…
…sleeping, sleeping, and more sleeping.
And during the rare hours he would be awake, he’d be busy playing with his toys.
Fast forward two years later, the little sleepy boxer puppy we once had has grown into a petite 55-lb dog with endless energy with a cheerful happy attitude, a protective instinct, endless curiosity, and the desire to play for hours.
He does his best to be my little helper in the kitchen when I’m cooking and baking, so today I wanted to make something special for my little guy to celebrate another year of being part of our family.
These cupcakes are super easy to make – it only requires one bowl and a whisk. Add everything in the bowl in no particular order, whisk until combined, spoon into cupcake liners, bake in the oven, and you’re done. It’s that easy. This recipe only makes 5 decent sized cupcakes, which is great because 1. no dog in the world needs to eat that many cupcakes at once, and 2. it’ll be easier to store them later on. I usually just share the treats I make with Bentley’s puppy friends so there will be less of it sitting around the house.
Oh, and please please please don’t feed your dog all 5 cupcakes in one sitting – it can cause tummy upsets and can potentially make your dog very sick (just think of the last time you inhaled 5 cupcakes in a row… I bet you didn’t feel too good afterwards). And if your dog has certain dietary restrictions, please consult your veterinarian before making these :)
Bake these in the oven for about 15-17 minutes, and make the frosting while you’re waiting. It is important that the cupcakes and the frosting get stored separately. The frosting contains Greek yogurt, which cannot be left out in room temperature for long, so store it in the fridge, while the cupcakes can be stored at room temperature. Simply frost the cupcakes right before serving – your dog will love you forever…. I promise.
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/3 cup no sugar added applesauce
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon honey
- A pinch of cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons low-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 and 1/2 tablespoons peanut butter
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 5 cupcake wells with cupcake liners and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients and whisk until thoroughly mixed. Spoon cupcake batter into the cupcake liners, filling each well about 3/4 full.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool for at least 10 minutes, then remove onto wired cooling rack to cool completely.
- While the cupcakes are cooling, make the frosting by mixing the yogurt and the peanut butter together until smooth.
- Store cupcakes and frosting separately*, and frost cupcakes right before serving.
- Makes 5 cupcakes
- *store cupcakes in an airtight container in a dry cool place for up to 5 days. Store frosting in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator.
Happy birthday Bentley! Thank you for being such a great puppy the past two years – we sure are lucky to have you in our lives!
Recipe adapted from The Scrumptious Pumpkin
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