Easy Peanut Butter Bacon Pupcakes || So Good Your Dog Will Ask For Them By Name

These easy to make peanut butter bacon pupcakes are so good my dog asks for them by name. Okay, okay … maybe he doesn’t actually say the name. But he does know when they’re in the fridge, and I swear he hangs around there more than usual on those days.

close up of a homemade peanut butter bacon pupcake

When I made a batch of pupcakes for this post, I took some of them over to the neighbors for their dogs. I know I saw Riley (my bulldogge) give me a dirty look as I was headed out the door with them.

He wasn’t too keen on sharing his special treat with anyone else. He doesn’t usually have to share anything. And he didn’t seem to think it was a good day to start.

So sorry Riley, I’ll have to make you another batch soon!

Are Peanut Butter Pupcakes Good For Your Dog

Overall, peanut butter pupcakes are pretty good for your dog. I am crazy particular about what I feed Riley, and I make these pupcakes for him a few times a year.

I avoid giving them to him as a regular treat because they do contain all-purpose flour.

If you research dog friendly ingredients, you’ll find that many people have no issue giving their dog flour. Others would happily replace the white flour with whole wheat flour as a way to make them good for their pup. I do not sit in either of those camps.

I don’t allow very much flour, white, wheat, or otherwise, in Riley’s diet. It’s just not an ingredient that supplies any nutritional value for dogs, so it’s best to avoid it as much as you can.

However, a few of his favorite treats contain flour. These peanut butter bacon pupcakes are one of them. And I don’t restrict them completely, moderation is key here in my opinion.

These treats are definitely significantly better than what you can buy in grocery or pet stores, unless you’re paying top dollar for 100% meat treats.

All of the ingredients, apart from the flour, are dog friendly. And when you break it down that works out to 1 1/3 oz of flour per pupcake.

It takes Riley 6 days to eat a batch of pupcakes, and at 1 1/3 oz of flour a day … I’m OKAY with that!

Peanut Butter Bacon Pupcake Ingredients

If you’re able to get your ingredients together ahead of time for this recipe, you should go ahead and do that.

dish of bacon topping and iced pupcakes from above

The bacon needs to be cooked, cooled, and chopped, and the cream cheese needs to come to room temperature.

I usually do these two things in the morning. And then gather all of the ingredients together and put them out on the counter to remind myself to bake my batch of peanut butter pupcakes in the afternoon.

You’ll need to gather the following ingredients:

For the Pupcakes …

  • Coconut Oil – Coconut oil is a great choice for greasing the muffin tin for this recipe. However, any oil you have on hand will work well.
  • All-Purpose Flour – I use organic all-purpose flour because it is usually what I have in the house. Whole wheat flour would work well also.
  • Applesauce – Be sure that the applesauce you use is unsweetened and as pure as possible.
  • Peanut Butter – All-natural peanut butter, containing peanuts or peanuts and salt only, is the way to go here. If you are using other peanut butter, read the label carefully as some manufacturers are now using ,xylitol to sweeten their product. Xylitol can be fatal for dogs.
  • Olive Oil – Extra virgin olive oil is a healthy way to go for this recipe. You can use any oil you have on hand in a pinch.
  • Honey – A good quality honey should be used for this recipe.
  • Baking Soda – Baking soda helps pupcakes rise as they bake, and is crucial to the success of this recipe.
  • Baking Powder – See information for baking soda above.

Frosting Ingredients

To make a dog friendly frosting for this recipe, you will need …

  • Banana – Organic bananas are healthiest for this recipe. And they add a lot more flavor than their big box counterparts.
  • Cream Cheese – Organic cream cheese is perfect for this icing.
  • Peanut Butter – See information for peanut butter above.

For the topping …

  • Bacon – All-natural, nitrate free bacon is best for your pooch.

How To Make Peanut Butter Bacon Pupcakes

As mentioned above, the first steps to making this recipe are to pre-cook, cool, and chop the bacon, and to pull the cream cheese out of the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature.

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overhead view of a peanut butter bacon pupcake

Once that’s done, you’re ready to put the recipe together.

For the pupcake itself, you will mix all of the dry ingredients together and all of the wet ingredients together. Then you’ll pour the wet ingredients over the dry and blend them well with a fork.

That mixture will be divided evenly into a greased 6 muffin tin. And then baked for 8-10 minutes.

The pupcakes can be placed directly from the oven onto a cooling rack. Once they’ve cooled completely they can be iced.

Make Dog Friendly Frosting

To make the frosting you will simply put all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix with a hand held blender until they are smooth.

rows of freshly made pupcakes on a table

Spread the icing over the top of your pupcakes and sprinkle with chopped bacon. And that’s all there is to it.

This recipe takes 25 minutes from start to finish. But just 7 or 8 of those minutes are actually spent actively working in the kitchen.

So, you’ll get a truly tasty treat for your canine best friend in less than 10 minutes. That’s a great deal.

How To Store Pupcakes

If you have more than one pup you probably won’t have to worry much about storing these peanut butter bacon pupcakes after you’ve made them.

four freshly baked natural dog treats

This recipe is for a batch of 6 pupcakes, and 2 or 3 dogs can eat those up in just a few days.

But, if you have just one dog than you may want to consider putting a few of your pupcakes in the freezer for later.

It is recommended that you set them on a small, parchment lined baking sheet and allow them to freeze completely before you put them in a container.

This will prevent the frosting from coming off of them later on. Once they’re completely frozen you can put them in an airtight container, or even a plastic bag.

Then toss them in the freezer until your pup asks for one. That shouldn’t take long at all.

My Riley usually polishes all of his pupcakes off over a week or so. They last well in the refrigerator for about that long. So, I don’t usually have a need to freeze any of them.

If you don’t think your pooch is going to eat a whole batch, and you don’t want to be bothered freezing them, share them with a neighbor’s dog.

Your neighbor will appreciate the gesture. And, perhaps more importantly, their pooch will think you’re the cat’s meow!

If you try this recipe and love it, please give it 5 stars! It supports my work more than you may realize, and I appreciate that a great deal!

You can also show your support by tagging me on Facebook @sustainableslowliving and/or Instagram @slowlivingbydianegail when you post a pic of your finished pupcakes.

Peanut Butter Bacon Pupcakes

These peanut butter bacon pupcakes are easy to whip up and packed with dog-friendly flavor. They’re perfect for birthdays, special occasions, or just because your pup deserves something extra. Made with simple pantry staples and topped with a creamy banana peanut butter frosting and crispy bacon bits, they’ll disappear in tail-wagging seconds.
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time15 minutes
Additional Time15 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Natural Pet Care
Yield: 6 servings
Calories: 357kcal
Author: Diane Gail
Cost: $6

Equipment

  • 6-cup Muffin pan
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Hand mixer
  • Spoon or spatula
  • Cooling rack

Materials

For the Pupcakes:

  • 2 tbls coconut oil plus extra for greasing pan
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened, unflavored applesauce
  • 2 tbls peanut butter xylitol free
  • 2 tbls honey
  • 2 tbls extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder

For the Frosting:

  • 1 mashed banana
  • 2 oz cream cheese room temperature
  • 4 tbls peanut butter xylitol free

For the Topping:

  • 4 slices cooked bacon chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat oven: Set to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the pupcakes.
  • Grease muffin pan: Lightly coat a 6-cup muffin pan with coconut oil to prevent sticking.
  • Mix dry ingredients: In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
  • Mix wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix applesauce, peanut butter, honey, and olive oil until well blended.
  • Combine mixtures: Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and stir until a smooth batter forms.
  • Fill muffin cups: Divide batter evenly between the prepared muffin cups.
  • Bake pupcakes: Place in the oven and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool thoroughly: Remove pupcakes from pan and let them cool on a wire rack.
  • Prepare frosting: In a medium bowl, combine mashed banana, cream cheese, and peanut butter. Blend with a hand mixer until smooth.
  • Frost and top: Once pupcakes are cool, frost them generously and sprinkle with chopped bacon pieces.

Video

Notes

  • Use silicone liners: Line the muffin pan with silicone cups for easy removal and cleanup.
  • Choose safe peanut butter: Always use xylitol-free peanut butter to keep your pup safe.
  • Make mini versions: Use a mini muffin tin for smaller dogs or portion-controlled treats.
  • Keep frosting firm: Chill frosting slightly before piping or spreading for a neater look.
  • Store properly: Keep frosted pupcakes in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze unfrosted for longer storage.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pupcake | Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 407mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 148IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this project?Mention @SlowLivingbyDianeGail!
5 from 1 vote

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One Comment

  1. DianeGail says:

    5 stars
    These peanut butter bacon pupcakes are the ultimate treat for your dog — delicious and packed with flavor! They’re a fun way to spoil your pup with something homemade. If you try making them, I’d love to hear how your dog enjoyed them! Drop a comment below to share or ask any questions — I’m here to help!