Chef Sarah Christmas is a time for giving and being with friends and family, which for many of us includes our beloved dogs. This Christmas why not give them their own special pupcakes, handmade with love?
I wanted to make Christmas extra special for Dolly this year as she’s had a rough time with two major operations that meant she missed out on many walkies so I thought I could make her some treats. She knew something was up because I got out her mixing bowl ( the one she’s allowed to lick) and took the liver out of the fridge. She looked at me like she was asking “what are you doing?”.
Dolly always watches me like a hawk when I cook, so she sat next to me waiting patiently (well as patiently as a dog can be). When it was time to put it in the oven, she knew it was time to lick the bowl. She didn’t even mind that there was cake mixture all over her face.
Dolly absolutely LOVED the pupcakes so go on, give this recipe a go and let me know how you get on!
Why you’ll love this recipe
Created by Ness Bird, Arden Grange nutritional advisor and registered vet nurse, this yummy recipe is bound to get tails wagging. These treats are delicious and as with all Arden Grange recipes they are wheat gluten-free!
• It’s Christmas and what better way to show the love
• These pupcakes are healthy and nutritious
• Tail waggers will be licking their lips for these pupcakes!
• Wheat-gluten free so you don’t have to worry about allergies
Ingredients and their benefits to your dog
Liver
Liver is a good source of vitamin A, B12 and iron. Liver contains all the essential amino acids. Liver contains high levels of copper, vitamin D, choline and selenium. Some dogs have an intolerance to liver so it is important to introduce small amounts of liver to their diet over a couple of weeks in order to prevent a negative reaction.
Eggs
Eggs are a good source of B vitamins, choline, vitamin D, biotin and selenium. Because egg whites are carbohydrate-free, eggs provide an excellent protein source for dogs that do not tolerate grain well. Small amounts of egg will also help with maintaining your dog’s healthy coat and skin.
Eggs
Garlic is a healthy ingredient for dogs. Some benefits of garlic are that it contains antioxidants which helps the heart, blood pressure, immune system and eye health.
How to make Christmas Pupcakes for your dog
It’s that time of year again; the time when we reflect on all our blessings and show appreciation to those who mean so much to us, whether they are family members or friends. For many of us this includes our beloved fur babies. The one thing I know for sure is that my dogs would love nothing more than a special treat; especially at Christmas time! So here’s a recipe for you to make your pupcakes from scratch – it’s not too difficult and will be well worth the effort. The look on their face as soon as they get their first taste will be all the thanks you need.
Gluten Free Christmas Pupcakes
Equipment
- Blender
- Mixing bowl
- Wooden spoon
- Chopping Board
- Cupcake tin
- Paper cases
Ingredients
- 300 g Liver trimmed and diced
- 75 g Self-raising flour gluten free
- 1 large Egg
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 clove Garlic
Decoration
- 1 tube Arden Grange Liver Paste to pipe on the top
- 12 Mini dog treats
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C /350 degrees F.
- Put the liver, egg, olive oil and garlic in a blender and turn on and blend until smooth.300 g Liver, 1 tbsp Olive Oil, 1 large Egg
- Pour into a mixing bowl and fold in the flour with a wooden spoon until it is combined.75 g Self-raising flour
- Spoon the mixture into your cupcake cases or silicone mould and place in the oven for 25 minutes.
- Once done, remove from the oven and tray and allow to cool on a wire rack
To decorate
- Pop some Arden Grange Tasty Liver Treat (RRP £2.66) into your icing bag and pipe on the top.
- Add a mini dog treat ( like these Arden Grange Crunchy Bites (RRP £2.76)) to add the finishing touch.
- You can also grate a carrot or apple to add some extra sprinkles.
Notes
Chef Ness’ tips:
- This recipe (without the icing) can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days. Larger batches can be frozen and defrosted for use when needed.
- It is important that dogs get a balanced diet. Liver is high in vitamin A, so give in moderation.
- Don’t forget to reduce your dog’s daily food allowance to allow for the extra calories treats provide. As a rough guide you can expect a medium cupcake to contain approx. 120 kcals (without toppings).
- For dogs who require fat restriction, the oil can be substituted with fat-free cottage cheese and an extra egg white.