Apple & Cheddar Pupcakes for Einstein’s 4th Birthday!
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Happy 4th Birthday to my golden retriever, Einstein!
Every year I bake him a little something special (and dog-friendly) to celebrate his birthday. This year I decided on these super cute apple and cheddar “pup”cakes. The original recipe includes a cream cheese frosting, but I honestly didn’t think it was necessary. Cupcakes on top of regular food is more than enough for this 70-lb furball. Maybe that makes these more of a muffin? In any case, he more than approved and thoroughly enjoyed his birthday treat(s) and begged for more. Then again, he’s not exactly hard to please when it comes to food!
He kept a very close eye on the entire baking process. I’m pretty sure he somehow realized these were for him.
The furry guy has had quite a good year by dog standards. Some highlights:
He loves the snow so, needless to say, he fully embraced the Blizzard of 2010:
He napped a lot:
He hunted out perfect sun spots:
He enjoyed the lazy days of summer with my mom’s dog, Bella:
He barked at rabbits in the yard:
He bonded with my grandma:
And he enjoyed the glow of the Christmas tree:
Happy Birthday, bud! Here’s to another fun year!
One year ago: Dog Birthday Cake
Three years ago: Happy 1st Birthday Einstein!
Apple & Cheddar Pupcakes
Yield: 12 pupcakes
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
1½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup traditional rolled oats
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup applesauce
½ cup water
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons honey
2 eggs
1 apple, peeled, cored and minced
1 cup grated cheddar cheeseDirections:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together the applesauce, water, oil, honey and eggs, then stir in the apple and cheese. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir until just barely blended.
3. Spoon the batter into the muffin tins, filling almost full (you may have a couple spoonfuls of batter leftover). Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the tins for a few minutes and then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.
(Recipe adapted from My Baking Heart, originally from The Dog Ate It)
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He is a beautiful puppy! Happy Birthday, Einstein!
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Einstein is too dang cute!
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ADORABLE! your blog rocks my world
i have a question, how do you know what ingredients are ‘dog friendly’? I have 2 yorkies and have been dying to bake for them but am too afraid i’ll feed them something that isn’t good for them :-/
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How sweet is that……
Happy Birthday Einstein!!!!!!
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Happy birthday, Einstein!
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einstein’s b.day gave us a recipe that we will enjoy as well!
hope your b.day is a great one einstein!!
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Aw, so cute! Happy birthday to your dog!
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the.cutest.dog ever
Can I come over and play?
Happy Bday Einstein!
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Aww! Happy Birthday Einstein!!
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I love dog pictures!! Happy birthday Einstein
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He’s so cute! And thanks for the recipe, my dog would love something like that!
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What a great idea! I used to give my dog a Kong (sp?) with frozen peanut butter inside for his birthdays.
These pictures are soo wonderful! Happy Birthday Einstein!
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Happy Birthday Einstein…wishing you many more!!! My almost 2 year old Golden Retriever would love to make a play date – her name is Bella and she is a beauty.
Enjoy your treat and Happy New Year!
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so cute,…:-)
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Aodrable! Our puppy is celebrating his first birthday in May and I’m pretty sure I’m making something special to celebrate! Hope Einstein had a great day! Looks like he’s really living the life!
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Happy Birthday Einstein!!!!
I love the apple-cheddar combo in baked goods. So yummy! Definitely doesn’t need icing though. Mmmmm I want one!!
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Happy birthday Einstein!! I love the first picture with him lingering in the background, a bit hidden. He is a beauty
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He is absolutely gorgeous! What a sweetheart! Happy Birthday, Einstein!!
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Happy Birthday Einstein!!!! (from my pups – Echo, Abel, Leroy & Oliver)
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Awww, what a sweet boy! Happy Birthday to him
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Happy Birthday to Einstein!
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What a sweet post!! Einstein looks like a VERY happy dog! Hope he enjoys a wonderfully happy birthday!
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Happy birthday to your Einstein! My pup turns 5 next month. I’ve made him pupcakes and cakes in the past for his birthday, and he always loves them. I’m sure he’d love these as well!
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Happy birthday einstein! Great pictures, love the last shot with the tree. Oh, and this recipe is Barkley approved, he goes insane for pupcakes!
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What a great dog! And love the name Einstein, too. Maybe I have some dog soul in me, because these look really good to me, too
. I love the addition of cheese.
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Awww, happy birthday, Einstein! My dog’s bday is at the end of the month and last year I made him your doggie cake recipe…so, maybe this year he’ll get these too.
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Awww! I love Einstein! He is the cutest! Happy Birthday!!!
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Happy birthday, Einstein! I might have to steal this recipe and make treats for my parents’ two Goldens.
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Happy birthday Einstein! This is such a good idea. I used to make “Woof Woof Waffles” during my pet treat business phase back in the day haha. I’m going to send this recipe to my mom to make for our family dog, Jackson. Thanks for sharing!!
-Marissa
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Happy birthday Einstein! This is such a good idea. I used to make “Woof Woof Waffles” during my pet treat business phase back in the day haha. I’m going to send this recipe to my mom to make for our family dog, Jackson. Thanks for sharing!!
-Marissa
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Happy birthday to Einstein! A treat indeed. Our dogs (a Carpathian Shepherd Dog and a mixed breed) love treats but they are so greedy they’ll eat the tray
.
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Um those look really good- can people eat them too??
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Einstein is adorable. Happy birthday to him!
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He’s adorable! The shot of him with the Christmas tree got me! I love how our dogs are truly members of the family and even get birthday treats!
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Happy Birthday Einstein! What a loving dog-mama to make him special treats
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Einstein is beautiful. Happy Birthday Boy
Your photos of him are just lovely and his face is gorgeous. Love the one of him gazing at the Christmas Tree. I could just give him a big hug.
P.S. the muffins looked wonderful too
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OHH Happy Birthday Einstein! He is adorable. I have a dog too and he is awesome. Mine is a lab/poodle mix (60lbs) but he enjoys the same stuff Einstein does. I have never made him treats but you inpired me. Awesome pictures.
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Happy Bday Einstein!!! From my puppy Hurley. You are a beautiful dog!
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Happy Birthday Einstein!!!!
Too cute!
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Einstein looks like such a happy pup! He’s luck to have homemade treats on his birthday! I’ve tried my hand at homemade dog treats, too, and Layla seems to love them. Dr V, over at Pawcurious.com, put together an e-book collection of homemade dog treats: http://www.pawcurious.com/2010/12/i-come-bearing-gifts/
Happy Birthday, Einstein!!
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Happy Birthday Einstein! He seems so well behaved, even eating cake. What a cutie.
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Aw, what a good pup!
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I just love that last picture of him next to the Christmas tree! What a cute pup – happy birthday to him!
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Seriously, this is one of the cutest posts I’ve ever read. I loved it!!! *-*
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Awesome post. It made me a little teary-eyed remembering my own dog. Im glad you celebrate his birthday. Looks like he deserves it.
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Happy Birthday to Einstein!!
And congratulations to you for having a so good friend
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Happy birthday Einstein! We have a golden named Gus who celebrated his first birthday on Halloween. He’s my first golden and my husband’s third. I’m so in love with the breed! He’s an amazing dog, and from the looks of it, he and Einstein would get along swimmingly!
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He’s adorable. Happy Birthday Einstein!
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Einstein gets to celebrate with a great muffin. Lucky!
Nisrine
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awwww he’s adorable! Happy Birthday!
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Oh, it warms my heart to see animals that are so happy and loved so much ! You must be a wonderful person, and such a beautiful, comfortable home. Hoping that you all have a blessed and peaceful New Year !!
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Einstein is so handsome! I love the pic of him in the snow and the one with your grandma is so sweet!
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Happy Birthday, Einstein! Love the pupcakes. My dog , Bailey will be 6 tomorrow, so I’m making her doggy peanut butte,r banana, carrot pupcakes. You beat me to them by 1 day!
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The shot of him gazing at his pup cakes is priceless. These sound too good to be true for a pup & great for us too! I would for sure be munching on those cakes. Happy b’day to your sweet golden retriever! xo
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How precious!
Your mom’s dog looks exactly like our dog! She’s from Pittsburgh too!
The dog that is.
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Happy Birthday to Einstein!! I’m sure he enjoyed his yummy treats
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Einstein is so sweet! I want one! I think it is so great that you baked him a treat – my dog used to get a can of dog food wrapped up for his birthday. I’m thinking that he would have preferred the freshly baked treat
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Happy Birthday Einstein. He is SO handsome! I just put these Pupcakes in the oven for our Old English Sheepdog, Nana, who just turned 9. She is the LOVE of our lives, and I was so glad to bake her a special treat.
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Happy Birthday Einstein! What a sweet doggie…those pictures are so adorable. Dogs are just the best
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Einstein looks like such an amazing dog! Happy Birthday!
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Aww Einstein is too cute! I especially adore the photo of him in the snow. And I love that you make a special birthday treat for him.
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Awww…I love it! Your dog is sooo cute! I made some peanut butter delight pupcakes for my dogs birthday this year! He loved them…I am definitely going to try this one this birthday! Happy birthday Einstein!
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He is a beautiful boy. I have a golden too that I adore. Now I know what to fix for her birthday in August.
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Aww I absolutely luv that you showed us what Einstein did on his special day. I’m a lil late Einstein so Happy Belated it looks like you enjoyed your day!
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Awww what a sweet pup! Happy Belated Birthday Einstein!
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Oh, Einstein is so cute. We have a golden named Ginger who is 7. There is no dog to compare to a GR. They are the greatest dogs ~ so loving.
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SOOOOO CUUUUUTE!!! My doggie does all those things too! (except the christmas tree thing, we don’t have that). I think I love doggies more than food.
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Sooo cute! Yellowdog sends Einstein lots of happy birthday wishes (slightly late)! And, I know she’s waiting for me to make these pupcakes for her… I know she will love them.
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Aww sooo cute! My mom is always trying to get me to whip up something for our bulldog, but he’s so sensitive to many foods it can be challenging. This recipe sounds like something I could make and he could eat–perfect!! By the way, Einstein is adorable!!
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Aww, what a cutie! What a lucky dog he is to have a baking mama that loves to spoil him.
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I love it! Einstein is a beatiful dog! We have a golden too that we just adore — and we also celebrate her birthday every year with a party. Dogs are just the greatest and deserved to be spoiled daily!
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Hehe, your pup is just too cute! and a little spoilt
xx
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So cute, just a quick question did you name him Einstein from the Dean Koontz Watchers book
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Michelle on February 14th, 2011 at 9:21 pm
Hi Lauren! I actually named him after the dog in Back to the Future movies
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What a beautiful boy! I have a golden too, her name is Lily, and I love baking for her. I’ll definitely be trying this one out soon, maybe for her upcoming first birthday! I really love your website, will be making many many of the recipes in coming weeks!
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I found you blog via Pinterest and your picture of Einstein watching the Christmas tree. We adopted a 6yr old Golden this year after our 13yr old black lab passed away. Scruffy has been a balm to our hearts..I’m looking forward to making him some Pupcakes too!
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Michelle on November 8th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Hi Deborah, I’m so sorry to hear about your black lab, but it’s so wonderful that you found a Golden Retriever to fill the void in your heart and life. They’re such wonderful little people!
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I make these pupcakes (a mini version) for a craft fair at my church – made them with the frosting the first year and it was really messy and as you mentioned, unnecessary. They sell out every year! My four dogs love the mistakes!
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My puppy turns 1 today and I can’t wait to spoil him with one of you recipes! Thanks for the inspiration. Einstein is beautiful. Dogs are just so amanzig <3 Best wishes.
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I found this post while searching for birthday ideas for my two Yorkies. Love this recipe and can’t wait to share it with out Cabot Facebook friends!
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Absolutely adorable pics and post!
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