Peanut Butter Dog Cupcakes

Today is the day that our sweet pup, Aspen, was born. Just 3 years ago.

We got Aspen in November almost 3 years ago. It was a spurt of the moment decision because we were dreading the winter cold/sadness that was coming on strong. But it is a decision we have never regretted. Okay, so maybe we regretted it once or twice the first few days when he was whining all night long and wasn’t potty trained. Or maybe we regretted it when he jumped over the dog gate while we were at work and chewed up 2 shoes, ate a full bag of skittles, and puked and pooed about 10 times in various locations around the house. But that’s it. Besides those rare occasions, Aspen has been a grade A pup who I wouldn’t trade for the world.

Aspen has always been the best dog anyone could ask for. He’s loving and cuddly but also playful. When he was just a little puppy we let him sit on our laps to cuddle with us, and now regardless of his 95 pounds he thinks he is still a lap dog and is happiest when sitting on our laps on the floor, or on our recliner (the one chair he is allowed on). He has always loved to play fetch, even as a little puppy, when he couldn’t run very fast and tripped over his own paws. Now he would play for hours. He loves swimming and especially loves when we go to the lake and swim with him. He also likes floating on our air mattress on the lake with us.

Now some of you may be thinking that its a little silly that I am so attached to a dog. He’s just a dog, right? Well, Aspen has been with us for almost as long as we’ve been married. He’s one of my best friends. When Nate isn’t home I love knowing that Aspen is there with me. He is there to play with, cuddle with, talk to and to protect me. He is so protective of us, especially when one of us is alone.

Well, in honor of Aspen’s third birthday today I decided it was high time I make him a birthday cake. I decided to go with cupcakes because they are easier, and cuter and then we don’t have to give him the whole thing all at once.

These cupcakes are not cupcakes you would want to eat along with your sweet dog because they have crushed up milk bones in the batter. If you want something you can share with your dog I suggest banana bread or carrot cake, hold as much of the sugar as you can. But its okay, its a once a year type thing. This recipe I made however is 100% dairy free, and free of refined sugar.

Peanut Butter Dog Cupcakes

1/2 cup milk bone crumbs (4 large milk bounds ground in the food processor)
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 egg
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup apple sauce
2 TBS honey

For the “Frosting”:

1/2 cup peanut butter
Food coloring

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine the milk bone crumbs, flour and baking soda in a medium sized bowl.
3.  Add in the egg, peanut butter, apple sauce and honey and stir to combine.
4.  Divide batter evenly between 6 cupcake liners in a muffin pan,
5. Bake for about 18 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
6. Allow to cool before frosting.
7. Combine peanut butter and your choice of food coloring in a small bowl.
8. Frost each cupcake with a knife and decorate how you’d like (I added a small milk bone, or extra milk bone crumbs to the top of each)

Let your pup enjoy these delicious treats on his or her special day!

Last week I shared a cupcake recipe for dogs. Its filled with dog bone crumbs and peanut butter and applesauce and I actually had a friend try it and say it was just a very rich peanut butter flavor! I’ll take him on his word for it.