Return to Blog

For the Love of Pets: A Pupcake Recipe from Kinsey’s Kitchen

School Announcements
Dogs picture

At Cascade Virtual Academy, we love celebrating creativity, community, and of course—our pets! February’s was student magazine is all about “For the Love of Pets,” and Student Resource Coordinator, Kinsey Owen, is sharing a fun and furry-friendly recipe that’s sure to make tails wag.

Kinsey, who curates a page for the magazine each month, wanted to create something special to fit the theme. “My recipe this month is actually not for humans—it’s a pup-cake! The timing coincided perfectly with one of my dog’s birthdays, and it felt kismet with the student-selected theme,” Kinsey said.

Kinsey’s pets were her paw-fessional taste testers for this month’s recipe! Her dogs, Barley and Silvie, make sure every pup-friendly recipe is up to their high standards. Barley just turned four years old, while Silvie is a year and a half old. They both love car rides, squeaky toys, and chomping on sticks. Kinsey also has two cats, Chester and Leonidas, who are both two years old and always keep her on her toes.

So, if you’re looking for a way to spoil your pup with a homemade treat, check out this easy and nutritious Pumpkin Pupcake recipe!

cats picture

Pumpkin Pupcake Recipe (For Dogs Only!)

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • ¾ cup oat flour
  • ¾ cup brown rice flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¾ cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • ¼ cup smooth peanut butter (make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol)
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil

For the frosting:

  • 1 cup cream cheese spread
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup smooth peanut butter (make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol)
  • 1 dog biscuit for topping

Instructions

Make the Cake

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oat flour, brown rice flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
  3. In a separate large bowl, beat the pumpkin, applesauce, peanut butter, and vegetable oil until well combined.
  4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until fully incorporated.
  5. Divide the batter between two 6-inch round cake pans coated with cooking spray.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes.
  7. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pans, then remove and allow the cakes to cool completely.

Make the Frosting

  1. In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and peanut butter until smooth and fluffy.
  2. Spread frosting on top of one cake layer, stack the second layer on top, and coat the rest of the cake with the frosting.
  3. Top with a dog biscuit for an extra special treat!
  4. Let your pup enjoy!

Meet Kinsey

Kinsey picture

Kinsey serves as our Student Resource Coordinator, helping students from diverse backgrounds navigate challenges such as housing instability, foster care transitions, teen pregnancy, and food insecurity. She is dedicated to ensuring every student has the nourishment and support they need to succeed. One of her favorite ways to connect with students is through “Kinsey’s Kitchen,” her monthly feature in the student magazine, where she shares delicious and fun recipes for all to enjoy.

Whether you’re baking for your pet’s birthday or just want to show them a little extra love, this Pumpkin Pupcake is pawsitively the best treat. Let us know if you try it—share your pup’s reaction with us and tag us on social media!

Happy baking! 🐾

Back to Blog