Mini carrot cake cupcakes for dogs, or carrot cake pupcakes, are an easy, wholesome, and gluten-free treat for your fur baby.
Last year, I attempted to teach Cookie how to shake. She caught on really quickly—or so I thought.
Now every time I tell her to sit, she sits, then lifts her arm up to shake.
And every time I tell her she’s cheating and to wait for the command. But instead of putting her foot back on the ground, she lies down. Then she rolls over.
I’m pretty sure she doesn’t actually know her commands and just runs through them all whenever I have a treat in hand.
I think it’s cute so I give her the treat anyway, ensuring she’ll never actually learn anything.
I tell myself it’s OK to spoil her because she’ll never have to grow up and be independent. And isn’t knowing how to shake useless for a dog?
Considering how much I enjoy spoiling her (see also these homemade dog treats and this ice cream for dogs), I thought it was necessary to make her some pupcakes—also known as cupcakes for dogs.CARROT CAKE cupcakes for dogs!
Does it get any cuter?
I wanted to come up with a dog cupcake recipe for Cookie’s birthday back in April but I didn’t get around to it until now. Cookie went completely gaga for these, and didn’t care that they’re several months overdue.
The pupcakes are topped with plain cream cheese, which is optional but Cookie loved the addition and actually licked the “frosting” off before eating the cake itself. She might not know her commands but she knows how to eat a cupcake 🙂
Tip: be sure your cream cheese is at room temperature before you frost the cupcakes. Otherwise piping/spreading the cream cheese is almost impossible without tearing the cake.
This recipe is also gluten-free, and since carrots are naturally sweet there’s just a little bit of honey for extra sweetness.
These pupcakes are really easy to make and don’t require any special equipment—just a bowl, a spoon, a cheese grater, and a mini muffin tin. The uneaten cupcakes need to be stored in the refrigerator; mine stayed good for five days in an airtight container.
Make a batch of mini carrot cake cupcakes for dogs and treat your fur babies to an extra special treat. They give us so much, it’s the least we can do!
A few more dog treat recipes
Apple Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream
Gluten-Free Dog Treats
If you make these carrot cake dog cupcakes, be sure to let me know what you (and your dog!) think by leaving a comment and rating below. Post a pic on Insta too—tag @theitsybitsykitchen so I can see!
Mini carrot cake cupcakes for dogs are an easy treat to make for your furry friends.
- 1/4 cup flaxseed meal
- 2 tablespoons brown rice flour
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup finely shredded carrot from about 1.5 ounces carrots
- 2 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray 12 mini muffins cups with cooking spray or line with mini cupcake liners and set pan aside.
- Combine the flaxseed meal, brown rice flour, honey, eggs, cinnamon, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl and stir until smooth. Fold the the carrots. Fill each prepared muffin cup 3/4 full and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
- Place the cream cheese in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe onto cooled cupcakes. You can also just spread the cream cheese onto the cupcakes. Serve.
Meena says
I made these for my poodle’s birthday and gave half to a neighbor for her dog. Both dogs loved them! They’re easy to make too.
grace says
the only treats my dog gets are the ones that take him forever to eat–we need the break! 🙂
that said, these are awesome.
Kelsie says
Haha! I know how that goes!
David @ Spiced says
What a fun recipe and post, Kelsie! I attempted to make pupcakes one time. I found a recipe in a book on homemade dog treats, and it called for ground up dry dog food. I did it, and I made the pupcakes…but they smelled awful. Like terrible. But our pups ate them and seemed to like ’em. But I’m thinking Ethel would enjoy this version WAY better. Maybe I’ll have to spoil her a little more soon! 🙂 Also, I feel like Ethel and Cookie would be friends. Just sayin’. Ethel can teach Cookie how to dance…another very useful skill for a dog.
Kelsie says
Whoa. I never thought of adding ground up dog food–I can see how that would smell terrible. Cookie would love to learn to dance! Thanks, David!
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
Wow! Cookie is very good at licking on cue! 😉 What a great action shot of her! These pupcakes are so cute and look so good that I’d want to eat them!
Kelsie says
Haha, not so good–that pic was the result of hours of trying :). Thanks, Thao!
kitchenriffs says
Love the picture of Cookie licking off the frosting! When I was a kid, I used to eat the frosting first, too. 🙂 These look terrific. Makes me want to be a dog! 🙂
Kelsie says
Thank you!
Ben|Havocinthekitchen says
How do you do this Kelsie? Why all your dog treats look the way more appetizing than many of those things that are sold in bakeries for humans? Glad that FINALLY Cookie got her (so belated) birthday treats. And I’m happy you used the Karlsson-on-the-Roof approach – 8 cakes with 1 candle vs 1 cake with 8 candles 🙂
Kelsie says
Haha! Thanks, Ben!
Milena Perrine says
That picture of Cookie looking at the pupcakes is just precious! She is so lucky to be your dog:) And what a nutritious ingredients line up – these are something bakeries should offer in their assortment so people can treat their pets to something good and tasty when they buy freshly baked goods for themselves! Pinned!
Kelsie says
Thanks so much, Milena! Have a great week, my friend!
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
Awww love these pupcakes are so cute and sound good enough for me to eat too hehehehe. I’m sure Cookie is loving these treats!!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Kelly! I tasted them and they’re actually not that bad 🙂
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
Hahaha! I think Riley does the same thing! He’ll go through everything just to make sure he hits on the right one, lol!! Love this little treats and I’m sure my little guy will too…and the name? Too cute!! Happy Monday, Kelsie!
Kelsie says
Haha! I’m glad Cookie’s not the only one 🙂 Thanks, Dawn!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
LOL! At least Cookie makes an effort! Our fur wolf basically does whatever she likes… whenever she likes. 😉 But that won’t stop me from making her these adorable pupcakes!! These are just too cute! Cheers, doll!
Kelsie says
Haha! Thanks, Chey!
hummingbirdthyme says
Hi, Kelsie! My dog definitely needs Pupcakes! Although he would Vaccuum that entire plate of them up in about 10 seconds flat, never thinking of savoring the frosting the way sweet Cookie does. This looks like a keeper recipe – I will pin it and send you a photo of the crumbs once Oso runs runs his Vaccuum through it! Ha!
Kelsie says
Haha! YES! I totally want to see that pic :). Thanks, Laura!
shashi at savory spin says
I’m so glad I stumbled by on your blog today! These pupcakes are too adorable! I have two dogs, one of which we rescued when he was a wee puppy and he used to do the same thing – roll through the motions every time my daughter (she was his trainer) would have a treat in hand! My dogs LOVE homemade treats so am bookmarking this to make as well as that doggie ice cream (I have PB+nanners+yogurt and its HOT here in HOTLanta) Thanks so much for both the pup-recipes!
Kelsie says
Haha! I’m glad Cookie isn’t the only one :). Thank you, Shashi!
Marissa (@pinchandswirl) says
haha, Cookie sounds like quite a character – so cute! I love these pupcakes and that you spoil your pup. Have a wonderful week, Kelsie!
Kelsie says
She definitely is :). Thank you, Marissa! You too!
Mary Ann @ thebeachhousekitchen says
What an AWESOME recipe Kelsie! I bet my dog Tucker would love these!
Kelsie says
Thanks, Mary Ann!
Kim | The Baking ChocolaTess says
That is soo adorable! I love it! Cookie is so spoiled and lucky! Good job mom! 😀
Kelsie says
Thank you, Kim!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
My pup Dolce is looking over my shoulder and she’s thinking – “Okayyyyy, get going!!” I jcan see it in her eyes! 🙂
Kelsie says
Haha! Thanks, Annie! Give Dolce a pat from me!