Pupcakes piled high with dog friendly frosting to celebrate Dozer’s 8th birthday! Easy dog cupcakes made with banana and peanut butter – the smell drives them crazy! The crowning glory is fluffy frosting made with no butter, no cream cheese, sugar free. Aren’t you dying to know the secret?? 😉
Pupcakes – dog cupcakes with fluffy frosting!
Dogs eat anything, but in my world, that’s no reason to lower the bar! So these cupcakes are everything you want in YOUR cupcakes – except they’re sugar free and made with dog friendly ingredients 😂:
-
Tender crumb that’s soft and fluffy
-
Moist, not dry – no pooch will ever choke from dry cake in MY house!
-
Peanut butter banana smell that dogs go crazy over
As for the frosting? The secret ingredient is potato made creamy with yogurt and sweetened with honey! Far better for dogs than using copious amounts of butter, cream cheese and icing sugar used in normal fluffy frostings.
The thought of potato frosting mightn’t appeal to US. But pooches love it!
What you need for pupcakes
Here’s what goes in these cupcakes – these are all dog friendly ingredients. It won’t upset your dogs’ stomache and you won’t have a mess to clean up on your lawn tomorrow (sorry to gross you out 😂).
Dozer ate 5 of these yesterday, and 4 the day before (many photo and video retakes!) and it didn’t affect his digestion at all.
How to make dog cupcakes
The making part is no different to making your favourite blueberry muffins – ie super duper easy. Except you might have extra unwanted “help” in the kitchen if you let your pooch get involved…. (wait until you see Dozer “helping” in the recipe video!!)
Frosting for dog cupcakes
The secret ingredient in the creamy, fluffy frosting you see on these cupcakes is potato. A proven hit used in last years’ birthday cake for Dozer’s birthday!
You’ll see plenty of dog cakes and cupcake recipes online with sky-high swirls of frosting made with loads of high fat ingredients like cream cheese and peanut butter. Looks great. Bad for dogs.
At most, you’d limit it to a smear on each cupcake – which pooches wouldn’t complain about, but lacks the wow factor visually.
So I use potato instead. Made creamy with yogurt plus water, and a touch of honey to sweeten it = perfect piping consistency, looks totally authentic and far better for dogs than cream cheese so you can use plenty.
You and I wouldn’t eat it. But your dog is going to LOVE it!
What goes in dog friendly “frosting” for Pupcakes
Here’s what you need:
How to make Pupcake frosting
The trick here is to cook the potatoes until very, very soft – literally fall apart – so when you “whip” it up with yogurt, water and honey, it will become smooth with a fluffy buttercream frosting consistency!
Looks so real, humans will eat it!!
After last years’ hilarious incident when my friends’ husband ate Dozer’s Birthday Cake because it looked so REAL (while my friend watched silently, just for the amusement of seeing his reaction 🤣), I decided I better play it safe this year and top it with dog biscuits!!!
But actually, dog biscuit aside, these cupcakes are perfectly safe for humans to consume. They just taste rather…….interesting!!!
Virtual doggie birthday party!
Given that children aren’t allowed to have birthday parties in this new world order, it didn’t seem very fair that Dozer should have one. Also because after experiencing the carnage at last years’ party (which ended with me having to dive in to grab the cake and run away with it), I knew that the frenzy of excitement created by taking treats down to the beach with 20+ golden retrievers would cause chaos that would likely lead to inadvertent breaches of social distancing requirements!! 😂
So this year, I packed up the pupcakes and distributed them among his friends – here are a few pics of Dozer’s buddies enjoying them!!
Happy Birthday Dozer!🎉
Happy 8th birthday Dozer!! I’ve loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you, that fateful day when I went out “just window shopping” for a puppy. As a pure bred golden retriever, you’re riddled with flaws with your double joints, your long legs, and your abnormally large size.
But to me, you’re perfect – and I wouldn’t have you any other way! – Nagi x
PS Wait, I lie. If you could just stop shedding fur everywhere, that would be terrific. That’s the only thing I’d change about you!
PPS Also, picking up your own 💩
Watch how to make it
Dozer “helping” me make Pupcakes….(not!)
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Pupcakes! (dog cupcakes with "frosting")
Ingredients
Pupcakes:
- 2 ripe bananas (150g/5oz after peeling, ~2/3 cup mashed)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter , smooth or creamy (Note 1)
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups flour , all purpose/plain OR wholewheat/wholemeal (Note 2)
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup oil , vegetable, canola, peanut or olive oil
- 3/4 cup water
Fluffy dog friendly "frosting":
- 500g / 1lb potatoes , peeled and cut into 2 cm/1" pieces
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1/2 cup yogurt, plain low fat (any unsweetened type) OR sour cream
- 2 - 4 tbsp water
- 12 small dog bone biscuits , for decorating (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan). Line a 12 hole muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- Place bananas in a bowl and mash with a potato masher until smooth as you can get it.
- Add peanut butter, honey and eggs. Whisk well until smooth.
- Add flour, baking powder, oil and water. Whisk until smooth.
- Divide between cupcakes until 3/4 full. Bake 22 minutes until the top is golden, or skewer comes out clean.
- Transfer to cooling rack and cool for 30 minutes before topping with "frosting"
Frosting
- Place potato in a large pot of water. Bring to boil, then cook potato for 20 minutes until very, very soft and starting to crumble on the edges.
- Drain, then return into empty pot. Add yogurt, honey and water (starting with 2 tbsp). Beat with electric beater for 1 minute on speed 3, increasing to speed 5, for 1 minute or until smooth and creamy. Add more water if needed - it should have a soft consistency like frosting.
- Transfer to piping bag fitted with a 1.5cm / 3/5" round nozzle (Note 3 for other nozzles). Pipe in swirling motion onto cupcakes, top with dog biscuit.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Just because this ENTIRE post is dedicated to Dozer, doesn’t mean I’m going to skip the Life of Dozer section! 😂 Here he is, on the job during this recipe video shoot. He scored many, MANY Pupcakes in carrying out his job….
Judy Iverson says
Happy Birthday Dozer! We have an 11 year old black lab who loves when I bake for him. I’ll have to make him some pupcakes. Thanks for all the great recipes. It’s really helping out during this socially distant time, and your recipes ALWAYS turn out great. Pets to Dozer.
Nagi says
How sweet – give him a big belly rub from me!! N x
Bev says
Happy Birthday Dozer! I too have an almost 8 year old goldie, Josie! And Nagi, thanks for the wonderful recipes…
Nagi says
Thanks so much Bev, give Josie a belly rub from me!! N x
Bette says
Love, esp the video! May I ask, why do the bananas have red tips? Does that mean something?
Nagi says
Hi Bette, these ones are organic that have red tips 🙂 N x
Carla says
Happy Birthday, sweet Dozer! You bring joy to so many, including my husband and me. Thank you, Nagi, for sharing him. And for sharing your delicious recipes and practical tips.
Nagi says
Thanks so much Carla! N x
Melody says
Happy birthday Dozer!! You are a celebrity and we’ve watched you grow up into a very handsome Golden Boy. You are one Lucky dog. To have your Mom…glad she decided to go window shopping! These Pupcakes look like humans would enjoy too! 🙂
Nagi says
Thanks so much Melody! N x
Margo says
Today my Golden Max turns 11. He has had a tough start to this year with injuries (has had a cone on for months due to eye injury for one). Your recipe is exactly what I need to make his day a good one! Thanks!
PS. Happy Birthday cuddles to Dozer
Nagi says
Happy Birthday MAX 🎂
Sera says
Please : supermarket honey is NOT recommended. So be careful about this. They tend to be over processed , “ultrafiltrated”, and some contain corn syrup. Stick to local or organic honey to preserve the health of your pup
Nagi says
Great tip Sera!! Thanks for that 🙂
Nicole Hablitzel says
Happy birthday to beautiful Dozer. I just love him and I love the way you include him in everything Nagi. Thank you for all your wonderful recipes and tips that you include. You really are in a league of your own, and always bring a smile to my face when I get your emails. I will try these pupcakes for my Foxy who will be turning 13 in June. Thanks again 😋
Nagi says
Thanks so much Nicole, give Foxy a belly rub from me! N x
Carol Billman says
Just wanted to wish this beautiful boy Dozer a Happy 8th Birthday. Love seeing his photos included with each and every recipe. Stay safe and healthy everyone.
Nagi says
Thanks so much Carol! N x
janice schwab says
Oops, forgot to mention in my post……Happy Birthday big boy.
Nagi says
Thanks Janice 🙂 N x
janice schwab says
I don’t have a dog, Nagi.. But I did forward your pupcakes to my best friend and her furrbaby, Coco. Nagi, I love your recipes. Cooking is my hobby and your ingredients and recipes are just my tastes. Perfect. Your Creamy tomato bean soup is in my fridge right now …. for the second time. I can’t tell you how many people I have recommend you to, love every recipe you put on my computer. Thank you, thank you. Janice Schwab
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Janice 😍
Melody says
Happy birthday Dozer!! You are a celebrity and we’ve watched you grow up into a very handsome Golden Boy. You are one Lucky dog. To have your Mom…glad she decided to go window shopping! These Pupcakes look like humans would enjoy too! 🙂
Theresa S. says
Happy Birthday Dozer!! Your cupcakes look delicious and I am going to make them for my ‘grandpuppy’. You have such a great mommy!
Nagi says
I hope they are a hit Theresa! N x
Cathy says
Happy birthday, Dozer!! And thank you Nagi for this recipe! Sparky the Beardie has his tenth birthday coming up, and I wasn’t sure what to do about cake since so many stores are closed right now…. Best to you both, and stay safe and well!
Nagi says
Thanks so much Cathy – N x
Lisa Moore says
Happy birthday beautiful boy! My baby will be 12 in a few weeks and I’m going to make your pup cakes for him. I know you are a joy to your wonderful mum!
Nagi says
Thanks so much Lisa!! N x
Robin says
HAPPY BIRTHDAY dear sweet Dozer. May you have many, many more wonderful birthdays with your Mom.
Nagi says
Thanks Robin! N x
Maggie says
Happy birthday gorgeous Dozer
Nagi says
Thanks so much Maggie! N x
Hana Kingi says
Happy Birthday Dozer. I never miss reading your page after looking at the delicious recipes.
You are a star, especially today. Enjoy, you lucky dog.
Nagi says
Thanks so much Hana! N x
Beth Krncevic says
Happy Birthday Dozer! May you have just as many more.
The only thing better than a senior dog is a senior Goldie 😀
Nagi says
Thanks so much Beth! N x
Gail says
HAPPY 8TH DOZER….I know ‘your Ma’ has showered you with love and gifts on your birthday. Just a little more ‘luv’ sent from Northern Ontario CANADA….stay well and safe both of you.
Judy says
Oh, & Happy Pupday Dozer!
Judy says
Hi Nagi, This brought a huge smile to my face watching Dozer indulge. My Abbey’s birthday (#13) is not until Nov 1st, but she I’ll not be waiting ’til then to try these pupcakes out. I’ll repost, hopefully with video. Your video of Dozer ‘helping’ you make these pupcakes is beautifully adoring! Thank you for sharing.
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Judy!! No doubt Abbey will LOVE them! N x