Soft, moist, and topped with a little Greek yogurt, these homemade pumpkin pupcakes are an adorable treat for your favorite four-legged friend!
If there's one thing we love at Doxie Life Guide, it's finding simple ways to spoil our dogs. And what better way than baking them their very own little cupcakes?
These homemade pumpkin pupcakes are made with pumpkin, banana, oat flour, and peanut butter. They're easy to prepare, use just five main ingredients, and bake in only 15 minutes.
Best of all? They've been officially taste-tested in our own kitchen — and Stella couldn't get enough!
Why We Love These Homemade Pumpkin Pupcakes
There are plenty of dog treat recipes out there, but sometimes you want something a little more special than an ordinary biscuit.
These mini pupcakes are perfect for:
Celebrating your dog's birthday or gotcha day
Holiday treats and special occasions
A homemade reward for your favorite pup
Dogs who prefer softer treats over crunchy biscuits
Making a small batch of treats with ingredients you already have
The pumpkin and banana help create a naturally moist texture, while the oat flour gives the little cakes structure.
And because they're baked in a mini muffin pan, their smaller portion is just right for little dogs like dachshunds.
Ingredients for Homemade Pumpkin Pupcakes
You only need five main ingredients!
1 cup oat flour — Store-bought or homemade from old-fashioned rolled oats
½ cup plain pumpkin purée — Not pumpkin pie filling
1 large egg
¼ cup mashed ripe banana
1 tablespoon peanut butter — Plain, dog-safe peanut butter without xylitol or other unsafe sweeteners
Optional frosting:
Plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt, with no xylitol or other unsafe additives
Can I Make My Own Oat Flour?
Absolutely!
In fact, that's exactly what we did when testing this recipe.
Simply add old-fashioned rolled oats to a blender or food processor and blend until they reach a flour-like consistency.
Measure out one cup of the finished oat flour for your pupcakes.
It's an easy way to use ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
How to Make Pumpkin Pupcakes for Dogs
Prep time: Approximately 10 minutes
Bake time: 15 minutes
Oven temperature: 350°F
Yield: Approximately 18 mini pupcakes
Step 1: Preheat Your Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Prepare a mini muffin pan. If using silicone, a light coating of cooking spray may help with release, depending on the pan.
Step 2: Combine the Ingredients
In a mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin purée, mashed banana, egg, and peanut butter.
Stir until well combined.
Add the oat flour and mix until a thick batter forms.
Step 3: Fill the Mini Muffin Pan
Spoon the batter into the mini muffin cups, distributing it evenly.
The batter will be fairly thick, so you may need to use a spoon to spread it into the cups. These pupcakes don’t rise much, so don’t be afraid to fill your mini muffin cups up.
Step 4: Bake for 15 Minutes
Bake at 350°F for approximately 15 minutes, or until the pupcakes are set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out without wet batter.
Allow them to cool before removing them from the pan.
Our test batch turned out soft, moist, and easy to remove from the silicone muffin cups.
Step 5: Add the Optional Yogurt Frosting
Once the pupcakes have cooled completely, add a small dollop of plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt to the top of each one.
There's no need to get fancy!
A simple spoonful makes these little treats look like miniature cupcakes, and many dogs love the creamy topping.
If your dog doesn't tolerate dairy, skip the yogurt. The pupcakes are perfectly good without it.
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Our Kitchen Test: Stella Gives Her Approval!
Every recipe we share at Doxie Life Guide deserves a proper taste test.
For this batch, our resident taste tester was Stella, our Italian Greyhound.
And let's just say she took her job very seriously!
After getting her first pumpkin pupcake, Stella was so enthusiastic that she stood at the kitchen counter hoping for another one.
We'd call that a successful recipe!
The finished pupcakes were soft and moist, with a cake-like texture that made them easy to break into smaller bites.
Our Favorite Baking Tool: A Silicone Mini Muffin Pan
For this recipe, we used a silicone mini muffin pan with a reinforced outer rim.
One feature we particularly appreciated was how sturdy the pan felt.
Some silicone baking pans can be floppy and difficult to move when they're full of batter. The reinforced rim helped keep ours stable while transferring it to and from the oven.
The finished pupcakes also released nicely from the pan.
If you enjoy making homemade dog treats, a mini muffin pan is a handy addition to your kitchen.
Shop the Silicone Mini Muffin Pan on Amazon
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, Doxie Life Guide may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely believe may be helpful for dachshunds and the people who love them. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
How to Store Homemade Pumpkin Pupcakes
Because these pupcakes contain fresh ingredients and no preservatives, proper storage is important.
Refrigerator: Store unfrosted pupcakes in an airtight container for approximately 3–4 days.
Freezer: Freeze unfrosted pupcakes in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 2–3 months for best quality.
Yogurt frosting: Add the yogurt just before serving rather than frosting the entire batch in advance.
Thaw frozen pupcakes in the refrigerator before serving.
How Many Pupcakes Can My Dog Have?
Even though these are homemade, they're still treats!
The appropriate serving size depends on your dog's weight, daily calorie needs, and individual health.
For smaller dogs, including dachshunds, consider dividing one mini pupcake into several smaller portions.
Treats should generally make up no more than 10% of a dog's daily calorie intake.
And remember that ingredients such as pumpkin, banana, and sunflower seed butter can still add calories, even when they're nutritious foods.
Introduce new treats gradually, especially if your dog has a sensitive stomach, food allergies, or a medical condition requiring a special diet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs eat pumpkin?
Yes! Plain, cooked pumpkin is generally safe for dogs in appropriate portions. It contains fiber and can be a useful ingredient in homemade dog treats.
Always use plain pumpkin purée rather than sweetened or spiced pumpkin pie filling.
Can dogs eat banana?
Yes. Banana is generally safe for dogs in moderation. It adds natural sweetness and moisture to homemade treats.
Are these pupcakes crunchy or soft?
Our tested batch turned out soft and moist, more like a miniature muffin than a crunchy dog biscuit.
Can I make these without frosting?
Absolutely! The Greek yogurt topping is completely optional.
Can I make these for a dog birthday party?
Of course! These little pupcakes make a fun homemade birthday treat. You can serve them plain or add a small dollop of yogurt just before serving.
A Little Homemade Love for Your Dog
You don't need a complicated recipe or fancy ingredients to make something special for your dog.
These homemade pumpkin pupcakes are simple, soft, and easy to customize with an optional yogurt topping.
And judging by Stella's reaction, they're pretty irresistible!
Whether you're celebrating a birthday, making a holiday treat, or just spoiling your favorite little companion, we hope your dog enjoys these as much as ours did.
Happy baking from our Doxie Life Guide kitchen! 🐾
As always, homemade treats should complement a complete, balanced diet. Check with your veterinarian before introducing new foods if your dog has allergies, pancreatitis, digestive sensitivities, or other medical concerns.
[Download the Free Printable Pumpkin Pupcakes Recipe Card — Coming Soon]
Made with love, tested with paws. — Doxie Life Guide