It was a cold, dark morning. As I lay snuggled in my bed with the covers pulled over my head, I could hear the wind slamming into the window. Ordinarily, I’d bark at the wind, but on mornings like this I can’t be bothered. Suddenly, I heard Mom’s alarm go off and peaked my head from beneath my blanket to watch her get ready. By the sound of her hurried footsteps and jingling of my leash, I knew two things:

1. She was running late.
2. I was going to have to go out in that howling, blistering wind that I was hoping to avoid.

I played sleep for as long as I could and basked in the glory of the warmth of my bed. Then Mom pulled back my covers, fed me my breakfast, and put on my leash. Before I knew it, I was wrapped in a blanket, gazing out the car window, and off to the groomers. If you haven’t guessed it by now…

I consider myself a spring/summer kind of pup.

Me and the cold never seem to get along. And, I swear winter weather has never been my favorite. Every winter morning simply feels like the COLDEST. WINTER. EVER.

You know those winter mornings I’m talking about. It’s the “I just want to lay under the covers” type weather. The “If you think I’m going outside to pee you’re crazy” type weather. Or even, the “I see my breath as I bark” type weather.

It’s hard enough for me to get up in the morning as it is. Adding freezing temperatures with a pitch-black sky makes it even harder. However, over my 4 years on this earth…

I’ve learned that your mornings set the tone for the rest of your day.

The key is to determine what motivates you to actually get out of the bed in the morning. Once you figure it out, incorporate that motivation into your morning routine. Whether you post a picture of it next to your bed, “bark” some affirmations in front of the mirror, or even train yourself to be the first thing you think of in the morning, use your motivation as a tool to energize you and give you purpose.

Believe me, it’s much easier to get up on those cold winter mornings when you’re motivated and feel purposeful. To quote Tim Ferriss…

And essentially, at life. So, I decided to take that mindset and put it into practice. My morning motivation – determine how I can get as many treats as possible from Mom or any human I may encounter during my day.

Should I “sit” when Mom tells me to? Should I roll over on my back because someone thinks I’m cute? Or, should I just tilt my head to the side and look Mom straight in the eye with the hopes that she’ll toss me something yummy?  These questions run through my mind as I get ready in the morning.

This strategy for treats is definitely what drives me out of bed each morning, even when it feels like the coldest winter ever. Plus, treats aren’t always guaranteed. So, every day gives me the chance to be creative in my strategic treat approach. Speaking of treats…

These Carob Carob-Chip Pupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting are dedicated to winning your morning routine, no matter how cold it is outside.

And of course, we believe that every pupcake has a love story. So, while your favorite pup is PUPPY LOVIN’ on these pupcakes, we’d love to hear from you.

Determine your morning motivation. How did you incorporate that motivation into your morning routine? Does it make getting up in the morning a little easier?

Please share your pupcake story in the box below.

And, after you’ve tried this recipe please share it with us @pupcakesugar on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or all three. We’d love to see how they turned out for you.

Ingredients

Carob Carob-Chip Pupcakes

• ½ Cup Brown Rice Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
• 2 Tablespoons Carob Powder
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• ⅓ Cup Plain Yogurt
• 1 Egg
• 2 Tablespoons Carob Chips

Peanut Butter Frosting

• ¼ Cup Creamy Peanut Butter (unsalted with no added sugars)
• 3 Tablespoons Plain Yogurt

Instructions

Yields: 10 – 12 Mini Pupcakes

For Carob Carob-Chip Pupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.  Line 10 to 12 1.75-inch mini-muffin pan with paper bake cups and set aside.
2. In small bowl mix together flour, baking powder, and carob powder. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl add olive oil, yogurt, and egg. Beat on medium speed about 2 minutes or until combined.
4. Add dry ingredients into the mixture and blend for approximately 2 minutes until well mixed.
5. Stir in carob chips to mixture.
6. Fill each cupcake liner with 1 tablespoon of pupcake mix and bake for 12 minutes. Pupcakes are done when you can stick a toothpick into the cake and it comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.
7. Spread or pipe peanut butter frosting onto the pupcakes.

For Peanut Butter Frosting

1. In large mixing bowl beat peanut butter and yogurt together on medium speed. Mix until creamy. Frosting should have the consistency of whipped cream.
2. Spread or pipe peanut butter frosting onto the pupcakes.

Notes

• This recipe is for a fun treat ONLY. It should not replace your dog’s regular meals. Please consult with your vet on the best plan for your dog’s diet.