Treat your pup to something extra special with these homemade peanut butter pupcakes! These soft, fluffy dog-friendly cupcakes are made with wholesome ingredients and topped with a drool-worthy peanut butter icing drizzle. Whether it’s your dog’s birthday, Gotcha Day, a holiday celebration, or just because, these cupcakes are a delicious way to show your dog how much you love them.
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Why You Will Love This Dog Cupcake Recipe
If you’ve been looking for the perfect treat for a special occasion, this is it. These peanut butter dog cupcakes are cute, simple, and a tail-wagging delight. Here are the top reasons you’ll want to make this recipe to spoil your dog with:
Easy to make. Just mix, bake, drizzle, and done!
Wholesome ingredients. Only real food goes into them. Plus, they’re made with applesauce, so there’s no banana (unlike most pupcake recipes).
No added sugar or sweeteners. Applesauce naturally sweetens them with just the right amount for dogs.
That peanut butter icing. A drizzle makes the perfect finishing touch.
Simple to customize. You can change the flavor, frosting, or make mini cupcakes. See the variation ideas below!
Perfect for celebrations. These cupcakes are great for birthdays, holidays, Gotcha Days, or even just a fun weekend treat.
Ingredients and Their Part in the Cupcakes
These dog cupcakes are made with simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store. Here’s what you’ll need and a little about each one:
- Peanut Butter: Dogs love it, and it adds flavor, protein, and healthy fats.
- Oat Flour: A gentle, gluten-free flour that’s easy to digest and gives structure to the cupcakes.
- Brown Rice Flour: Adds a light texture and is naturally gluten-free.
- Baking Soda & Baking Powder: Help the cupcakes rise.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add protein.
- Coconut Milk: A dairy-free liquid that adds moisture and richness.
- Unsweetened Applesauce: Natural sweetness and moisture without the need for sugar.
- Coconut Oil: Helps create a smooth, pourable consistency of the icing.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
When making homemade dog cupcakes with peanut butter, there are a few important things to keep in mind and some substitutions you can make:
- Avoid peanut butter with xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is toxic to dogs.
- You can substitute peanut butter with almond butter or sunflower seed butter that’s xylitol-free.
- Baking soda and baking powder are safe for dogs in small quantities. (Source: Petco)
- Want to skip store-bought applesauce? Try my recipe for homemade applesauce for dogs.
- You can make oat flour or brown rice flour by blending oats or uncooked rice in a food processor or blender.
- If your dog tolerates wheat, you can substitute either flour with all-purpose flour or a 50/50 mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flour.
Equipment Needed
You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make pupcakes. But just in case, here’s a list of them:
- Measuring Cups – for measuring
- Mixing Bowls – to mix the batter in.
- Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer – for mixing the batter.
- Muffin Pan – to bake the pupcakes
- Wire Cooling Rack – for cooling the pupcakes.
How to Make Peanut Butter Pupcakes
These homemade dog cupcakes come together just like regular cupcakes. Here’s what to do:
Cupcakes:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan or line it with paper liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the oat flour, brown rice flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
- In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, coconut milk, applesauce, and peanut butter until smooth.
- Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix until the batter is fully combined.
- Spoon or pour the batter evenly into the muffin cups.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Remove liners if used.
Icing:
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the coconut oil.
- Stir in the peanut butter until smooth and pourable. If needed, microwave in 10-second bursts to loosen it.
- Drizzle over each cooled cupcake and let the icing set.
Recipe Variations
Cupcake Flavors
Want to change it up? Try these easy swaps:
- Peanut Butter Banana Pupcakes: Replace the applesauce with mashed ripe banana.
- Peanut Butter Pumpkin Pupcakes: Replace the applesauce with plain pumpkin puree.
Cupcake Frosting
Prefer a creamy topping instead of a drizzle?
- Peanut Butter Yogurt Frosting: Mix 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt with 1 cup of peanut butter.
- Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting: Blend 8 oz softened cream cheese with ¼ cup peanut butter.
Mini Pupcakes
Perfect for small dogs! Use a mini muffin pan and reduce the baking time to about 10 minutes.
How to Store the Pupcakes and How Long They Last
- Refrigerator: Store pupcakes in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze pupcakes for up to 3 months. Place in a freezer-safe container or bag, and thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
Tip: Store them without icing if you’re freezing, and add the drizzle fresh when serving.
Can people eat these cupcakes?
Yes! Every ingredient in these cupcakes is safe for humans. They’re mildly sweet and great for those cutting back on sugar. Give one a try and see what you think!
Great Dog Treat Recipes
Want to make more dessert treats for your dog? Check out these recipes:
- Apple Pupcakes
- Blueberry Pupcakes
- Carob Cake for Dogs
- Carrot Cake for Dogs
- Carrot Pupcakes
- Dog Cheesecake
- Mini Peanut Butter Bundt Cakes for Dogs
Find lots of recipes for dog desserts right here on Spoiled Hounds!
Peanut Butter Pupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1 cup Oat Flour
- ½ cup Brown Rice Flour
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- 2 Eggs
- ½ cup Coconut Milk
- ½ cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- ½ cup Creamy Peanut Butter
Icing
- 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil
- 2 tablespoons Creamy Peanut butter
Instructions
Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan.
- Place the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Place the wet ingredients in a medium bowl. Use a mixer to mix them until well combined.
- Add the wet ingredient mixture to the dry ingredient mixture. Use a mixer to mix them until the batter is well combined.
- Pour or spoon the batter into the muffin cups, dividing evenly.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. The cupcakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove the cupcakes from the pan and place them on a wire rack to cool completely.
Icing
- Place coconut oil in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until the oil is melted, about 30 seconds.
- Add the peanut butter and stir to combine. Microwave the mixture in 10-second increments if needed to give it a pourable consistency so it runs off a spoon.
- Drizzle the icing over each cupcake. Allow the icing to cool to room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
Serving Amount
One standard cupcake is a serving for medium to large dogs. For small dogs, give just a portion or make mini pupcakes instead.
As with all treats, they should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake. Consult with your vet if you are unsure of the amount for your dog.
If your dog hasn’t had any of these ingredients before, start with just one and watch for any reactions.
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