Have a Pug Pawty with Homemade Pug Cakes

Kilo the Pug and I share a love of food. So what better way to party or pawty together than with dog-friendly cupcake pugs from our new Dog Licks Recipe Series over at Talent Hounds.  Pug-themed Cupcakes or Pupcakes make the best Treats Ever for a Greedy Pug like Kilo or for a pug lover like me!

We started with this simple vanilla cupcake that looks like a mixed pug using fondant and carob and we will be doing more recipes that look like fawn pugs and black pugs.

Ingredients

Cupcake Base

• 2cups flour  (I used plain white flour but rice flour should work well if you need gluten free)
• a pinch of salt (you can leave out but may leave cake a little flat)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup butter softened (we tested using a tablespoon of butter, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of natural Greek Yoghurt as I had run out of butter, plus less fat)
•  1/2 cup sugar (if for kids and you want sweeter, you can add more sugar)
• 2eggs
• 1cup milk

Decorating

• White Fondant – we bought a little box of ready made after checking ingredients were OK for Kilo (confectioners sugar, water, gelatin unflavored, glucose, cornstarch and glycerine)
• blueberries
• strawberry

Dog Safe Faux “Chocolate” Icing

• 1/4 cup carob powder (I was super excited to learn about carob- what a great substitute for chocolate)
• 2 tbsp water (mix into a paste- adjust water to get desired thickness)

White Icing

• 1 tablespoon of low-fat plain cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon of low-fat plain Greek yoghurt

Some cupcake recipes include vanilla but most vanilla extract includes alcohol which is not good for dogs so we left it out.

Directions

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 375f or 150c;
2.  Lay out cups in baking tin
3. Cream butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
4. Beat in eggs one at a time.
5. Add flour mixed with baking powder and salt alternating with milk. Beat well until smooth.

       6. Divide evenly among cups and bake for 17-18 minutes or until a light golden colour on top. The smaller ones cooked faster so you could take them out early.

1. Let cool in pans.

Decorating

1. Roll out fondant 2 cm thick.
2. Cut out 1 heart shape, 2 teardrop shapes, and 1 large circle from the fondant. Set aside.
3. “Frost” the cupcake with dog-safe white Icing or peanut butter to secure the fondant (and for taste)
4. Lay the circle shape over the cupcake.
5. Frost one side of the heart and lay upside down on the bottom half of the face.
6. Frost one side of the teardrop shapes and place them as the pug’s ears.
7. Lightly spread some carob paste onto the ears and the muzzle.
8. Stick on two blueberries for eyes and one for the nose using peanut butter.
9. Cut a small tongue using half a strawberry and place on the cupcake using peanut butter.
10. Enjoy!

We love Pugs and Kilo sure loved his Dog-Friendly Cupcake Pug.

These easy cute cupcakes are perfect for dog and kid birthday parties or celebrations.

Do you make treats for your Pug or celebrate birthdays together?  Let us know in the comments.

Disclaimer:  Please note that I am just having fun with these Dog Licks Recipes, making food that looks like cute pups and that my dog, my kids and I can enjoy. I am not an expert, a chef, a vet or a nutritionist, so it’s advisable to consult with your own authority when trying new foods, and also to ensure that your dog’s or your child’s diet is balanced and appropriate & includes all of the nutrients that are necessary for good health.