What could be better than a cupcake made just for your furry best friend? These homemade apple pupcakes are filled with dog-friendly ingredients like fresh apple, applesauce, banana, and oatmeal. They’re soft, naturally sweet, and topped with a creamy peanut butter yogurt frosting your dog will absolutely adore.
Whether it’s your pup’s birthday, adoption anniversary, or just because they’re the best dog ever (which they totally are), these fruity pupcakes are guaranteed to make tails wag!
FYI – This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Why You and Your Dog Will Love This Recipe
These apple oatmeal pupcakes are packed with goodness and easy enough to whip up anytime you want to spoil your dog.
They’re easy to make. There are no complicated steps, just basic baking.
Made with wholesome, dog-safe ingredients. Every bite is full of real fruit, oats, and natural sweetness. There’s no weird stuff here!
They’re soft and tender. Perfect for dogs of all ages, including seniors who need a gentler treat.
Topped with irresistible frosting. A mix of peanut butter and yogurt? Your dog will be drooling before you even finish frosting.
Perfect for celebrations. These pupcakes are made for birthdays, gotcha days, or just any day you want to make your dog feel extra special.
Customizable for every pup. Easy to adjust with different ingredients to fit your dog’s dietary needs (or what’s in your pantry).
Ingredients
You’ll need these simple pantry and fridge staples to whip up a batch of tail-wagging pupcakes:
For the dog cupcakes:
- Fresh apple – Finely chopped for tasty apple chunks in every bite.
- Unsweetened applesauce – Moisture and natural sweetness without added sugar.
- Ripe banana – Adds sweetness, potassium, and softness.
- Old fashioned oats – Ground into flour for a wholesome, fiber-filled base.
- Baking soda – A small amount helps the pupcakes rise.
- Egg – Binds the batter and adds protein.
- Coconut oil – A healthy fat that’s good for a dog’s coat and skin.
For the frosting:
- Peanut butter – Dogs’ favorite flavor!
- Plain Greek yogurt – Adds creaminess and a protein boost.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
You can easily adjust this recipe based on what you have on hand or what your dog prefers:
Peanut butter: Always use peanut butter that does not contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.
Banana swaps: You can substitute banana with plain pumpkin puree or mashed sweet potatoes.
Flour options: You can use brown rice flour by blending uncooked brown rice until it’s flour-like. You can also substitute oat flour with all-purpose flour if you don’t need the pupcakes to be gluten-free. If using whole wheat flour, reduce the amount to 1½ cups or less and possibly add a bit more applesauce or water if the batter seems too dry.
Baking soda: Is safe for dogs in small amounts. If you’re curious, you can check out this article by the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists for more info.
How to Make Apple Pupcakes
These pupcakes are simple to make and come together quickly! Here’s what to do:
Dog cupcakes:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease 9 cups of a muffin pan.
- Blend the oats in a blender or food processor until they reach a flour consistency.
- In a bowl, combine the oat flour and baking soda.
- Add the egg, applesauce, mashed banana, coconut oil, and chopped apple. Stir until well combined.
- Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the pupcakes cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
Frosting:
- In a small bowl, stir together the peanut butter and Greek yogurt until smooth and creamy.
- Spread or pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes.
Recipe Tips for Success
These pupcakes are already super easy, but here are a few tips to make them even better:
Make mini pupcakes: Use a mini muffin pan and reduce baking time to about 12–15 minutes.
Use cupcake liners: They make cleanup super easy. Just remember to remove the liners before serving!
Cool completely before frosting: Warm pupcakes will melt the frosting right off.
Get creative with toppings: Sprinkle on diced apples, crushed apple chips, bacon bits, or mini dog biscuits for extra cuteness and crunch.
Serving Size
Portion control is important, even with special treats like these!
- Medium to large dogs can enjoy one full-sized pupcake.
- Small dogs should have half or even a quarter of a pupcake. Or you can bake mini ones just for them!
Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake. Consult your veterinarian if you’re unsure about portion sizes.
If your dog hasn’t tried all the ingredients before, start with a small piece and watch for any signs of allergies or sensitivities.
How to Store Pupcakes and How Long They Last
Here’s how to keep your homemade pupcakes fresh:
Frosted pupcakes: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Unfrosted pupcakes: Store at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Freezing pupcakes: Wrap them individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 4 months. It’s best to freeze them unfrosted and frost after thawing. Thaw them overnight in the fridge before serving.
Can people eat these dog cupcakes?
Yes! These dog cupcakes are made with all human-safe ingredients. They’re lightly sweet and naturally flavored so they’re perfect for anyone looking for a wholesome, no-sugar-added snack. Give one a try and see if you like it!
Great Dog Treat Recipes
Want to make more desserts for your dog? Check out these cake and cupcake recipes:
- Banana Pupcakes
- Blueberry Pupcakes
- Cake Pops
- Carrot Pupcakes
- Microwave Mug Cake
- No Bake Dog Cake
- Peanut Butter Apple Cake for Dogs
- Peanut Butter Banana Pupcakes
Find lots of easy recipes for dog dessert treats right here on Spoiled Hounds!
Apple Oatmeal Pupcakes
Ingredients
Dog Cupcakes
- 2 cups Uncooked Old Fashioned Oats or Brown Rice
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 Egg
- ½ cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- 1 Banana mashed
- 2 tablespoons Coconut Oil melted
- 1 medium Apple finely chopped
Frosting
- 1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter natural unsweetened
- 1/2 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
Instructions
Dog Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 9 cups of a muffin pan.
- Place the oats or brown rice in a blender or food processor and blend until it has a flour consistency.
- Combine the oat flour and baking soda in a bowl.
- Add the egg, applesauce, mashed banana, coconut oil, and chopped apple. Stir to combine.
- Spoon the batter into the greased muffin tin cups.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Transfer the baked pupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
Frosting
- Place the peanut butter and Greek yogurt in a bowl.
- Stir until thoroughly combined and smooth.
- Spread or pipe the frosting on top of the pupcakes.
It says there’s an egg in the ingredients but it’s not included in the instructions
Whoops! Thanks for the catch. I fixed it. You add the egg with the other wet ingredients.
What age can my puppy have these cakes. She is 5 months old.
Thanks
You can give your 5-month-old puppy these pupcakes. I recommend just a little at a time to see how she does.
Just made these for our girl Doja who turns 1 tomorrow, definitely easy recipe to follow for those who are not bakers.
I made this for my 8yr old dachshund for her birthday! I put bacon bits and pepperoni on the frosting!
Oh nice! Extra tasty with those toppings.
Thank you for sharing! It’s my pups birthday today, so I am making him treats for his special day!!!! So excited cause I need to use my bananas or freeze them! Lol
Coconut oil substitute?
You could substitute coconut oil with olive oil.
How to store them?
If you put the frosting on them, store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container. The Greek yogurt needs to be refrigerated. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Baked pupcakes without frosting should be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh this way for about a week. You can freeze them for up to 4 months.
Can u use cupcake liners?
Yes, you sure can!
Applesauce need to be unsweetened? Also, is it medium apple or mecium apple as the ingredients say?
Yes, the applesauce needs to be unsweetened. And it’s a medium apple. That was a typo and I fixed it.
Any suggestions for a nut free frosting?
You can use SunButter (sunflower seed butter). Just make sure it is unsweetened and does not contain xylitol.
AVOCADO IS TOXIC TO DOGS!!! DO NOT USE THAT
Avocado oil does not contain persin which is the toxin found in avocado flesh, skin, and pit.
can mini muffin tins be used and how does that change bake time? Thanks
just went back and read that mini tins can be used . thanks
Does this recipe need regular flour ? I saw it said something about using regular or wheat flour but I don’t see it in the list of ingredients or how much ? I’m making these today for my golden retriever Coopers birthday 🎂!
It uses oat flour or brown rice flour that you make with uncooked oats or rice in a food processor or blender. If you want to substitute regular flour, you’ll need about 1½ cups of it. 1 cup of oats makes about 3/4 cup of flour.
Hi – thanks for getting back to. So I’m going to go buy gluten free oatmeal . How much oatmeal do I need to blend to make 2 cups oatmeal flour ?
Hi again- also your recipe says 2 cups uncooked oatmeal but you just said I only need 1/1/2 of the oatmeal flour? Please clarify. Thanks so much , Debbie
2 cups of oats makes about 1½ cups of oat flour.
Renee , thank you so much !! The batter tasted wonderful and now they’re in the oven . What a great healthy recipe! I’m going to look for doggie carrot cake next . We’re sharing these Pupcakes with all of Coopers doggie friends in the neighborhood. He’s one happy birthday boy ! Thank you !!
Oh yay! I’m so glad you are enjoying the recipe!
Hi again- are these really 211 calories? That’s the only downside. I’m always looking for low calorie dog treats . Please confirm. Thank you ! ( they are delicious though!!)
Yes, they have that many calories. It’s calculated by software using a major nutrition database.
I didn’t try this yet, but wondering if I could make a cake out of this as well. T. I. A
Yes, you can make it as a cake! Just pour the batter into a greased 8-inch round or square pan and bake it a little longer, about 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.