Food always tastes better the next day. I mean, who doesn’t love a good leftover. I grew up on them, and still get excited when I can take some leftovers home from the dinner my momma cooked. So, this blog post is dedicated to leftovers and includes some tips on how to turn them into a pupcake recipe for your dog.
SO, WHAT ARE LEFTOVERS
Leftovers are food that remain uneaten at the end of the meal. In other words, it’s the food that’s sitting in the fridge from your dinner last night. Leftovers are a convenient meal option when you don’t feel like cooking from scratch. They can be as simple as cooked pasta or rice or as deep as a casserole or stew. Either way, leftovers are the gift that keeps on giving.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO BAKING PUPCAKES
Baking is a great way to relax. But it’s a great way to repurpose some of the leftovers in your kitchen into a creative new dish. So, why not use those leftovers to turn it into a treat for your dog?
Cost-Effective – Repurposing your leftovers into a pupcake recipe gives you the opportunity to reduce costs on ingredients. Using food already in the house will allow you to use the money you’d use to buy ingredients to save towards your financial wellness goal. In addition, baking for your dog allows you to use ingredients that provide the nutrients for your dog, which may reduce some of those veterinary costs in the long run.
Nutritional Wellness – Speaking of nutrients, leftovers can be a source of varied nutritious ingredients for your dog. Foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and grains have health benefits for dogs. Finding new ways to incorporate nutritional foods into your dog’s diet is a fun way to offer a balanced diet. A balanced diet contributes to your dog’s overall health and well-being.
Waste Reduction – On average, people in the United States discard 120 billion pounds of food annually, which equates to approximately 325 pounds per person each year. Discarding this much food can contribute to both economic and environmental impact. Turning the leftover foods into a pupcake recipe is a creative way to reduce waste while giving you the opportunity to spend quality time with your dog. It also saves prep time for busy dog moms who want to bake something good without completely starting from scratch.
Custom Diets – Baking pupcakes from your leftover foods not only allows you to customize the recipe to fit your dog’s diet, but also fit your dog’s taste palette. Using leftovers is also a cool way to tap into your creativity by using the food that’s available. You may choose to follow the Cook Once, Eat Twice Method, which means that you cook one meal with extra food with the intention of using the extra food later.
5 COMMON LEFTOVERS & EXPIRING PRODUCE FOR PUPCAKES
Leftovers are what you “bake” them. There are several leftover foods that will make a great ingredient for a pupcake recipe. The easiest thing to do is tart with simple foods and let your creativity shine through. Here are five simple foods to help you get started with your first pupcake leftover recipe.
Apples – Apples are naturally sweet and have health benefits. They are rich in vitamins A and C, which are essential for maintaining your dog’s skin and coat health. The fiber in apples aids digestion, and their crunchy texture helps clean teeth. When used in pupcakes, apples add moisture and a subtle fruity flavor that dogs love. Remember to remove the core and seeds, as they can be harmful to dogs.
Carrots – Carrots are a fantastic addition to pupcakes, offering both nutrition and taste. They are low in calories yet high in fiber and vitamins, particularly Vitamin A, which is vital for eye health. The crunchy texture of carrots can also assist in dental health. Honestly, Sugar hates raw carrots. Every time I give her a raw carrot to eat, she gives me the side-eye. But, if I put them in a pupcake recipe, she leaves no crumbs.
Lean Meats (like Chicken and Turkey) – Lean meats such as chicken and turkey are perfect for pupcakes due to their high protein content, essential for your dog’s muscle development and energy levels. These meats are also low in fat, making them a healthy choice. In pupcakes, they add a savory twist to your pupcake recipe for your dog.
Sweet Potatoes – Sweet potatoes are an excellent leftover for pupcakes because they’re consider a superfood for dogs. They are a great source of dietary fiber, which aids digestion, and contain beneficial vitamins like A, C, and B6. Their natural sweetness adds a delightful flavor to pupcakes, and their soft texture when cooked makes them easy to incorporate into a pupcake recipe.
Rice – Rice is a great choice for pupcakes, especially for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It’s a simple carbohydrate that is easy to digest and can help calm an upset stomach. Rice adds a good source of energy and helps to bind the ingredients in pupcakes. Its mild flavor also makes it a versatile ingredient that complements other flavors in the recipe.
5 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE USING LEFTOVERS FOR YOUR PUPCAKE RECIPE
It’s true, using leftovers for your pupcake recipe are cost-effective and are another way to prevent waste. However, before you choose a leftover to use for your pupcake ingredient, think about the following:
Safety First – When using leftovers for pupcakes, prioritize safety by avoiding toxic foods for dogs. Ingredients like onions, garlic, chocolate, and grapes must be excluded, as they can be harmful.
Watch for Allergies – Dogs can have allergies, so identify and avoid potential allergens. Common triggers include wheat, corn, soy, and specific proteins. Discuss any dietary issues for your dog with your veterinarian to make sure you’re not giving your dog any foods that will affect his or her allergies.
No Seasoning – Leftovers should be unseasoned for pupcakes. Seasonings and spices, especially salt, can be harmful to dogs. However, there are some herbs and spices that are safe for dogs. You can add these herbs and spices to the pupcake recipe to add extra flavor.
Balance is Key – Ensure a balanced mix in pupcakes. Include appropriate proportions of proteins, carbs, and vegetables for nutritional variety.
Moderation – Pupcakes should be occasional treats. They should only comprise a small part of the dog’s overall diet to maintain balanced nutrition and prevent obesity. You can freeze your pupcakes after you bake so that they will last longer. This way you don’t have to give your dog all the pupcakes right away and will avoid tossing them.
STANDARD PUPCAKE INGREDIENTS FOR YOUR PANTRY
Every pupcake has its own flavor. Those leftovers are a creative way to experiment and create some interesting flavors for your dog. However, most pupcake ingredients have a standard set of ingredients that are essential to the pupcake recipe’s success. So, before you start experimenting with different flavors, make sure you have these ingredients in your pantry.
Whole Wheat Flour (or Flour Aligned to Dog’s Diet) – Whole wheat flour gives the pupcakes a sturdy structure, making them easy to handle and to prevent the pupcake from crumbling. Whole wheat flour is a source of fiber, which aids in digestion for dogs. It provides a healthy alternative to refined flours, ensuring your pupcakes are not only delicious but also nutritious. There are several other flours, like brown rice and oat, that will also work for pupcakes if your dog is allergic to whole wheat flour.
Baking Powder – A crucial leavening agent, baking powder helps the pupcakes rise in the oven. It’s essential for achieving the right texture, ensuring the pupcakes are not too dense for your dog to enjoy.
Egg – Eggs are a fantastic source of protein and contribute to the structural integrity of the pupcakes. They also help bind the ingredients together, ensuring a cohesive mixture. The fats in eggs add richness and flavor to the pupcakes.
Olive Oil – This healthy fat is good for your dog’s coat and skin. Olive oil adds moisture to the pupcakes, making them light. It also helps in creating a tender crumb and enhances the flavor of the other ingredients.
APPLE COBBLER LEFTOVER PUPCAKES
Speaking of leftovers, I had some extra apples in my fridge. I also had some leftover white sweet potatoes from my Red Velvet Pupcake recipes. So, I decided to create a pupcake recipe from them. These Apple Cobbler Leftover Pupcakes are a combination of the Apple Cobbler Pupcake and Red Velvet Pupcake recipes from Pupcake Soul: Recipes to Celebrate Us and a Few Love Stories to Go with Them. Usually, I would’ve made some fried apples and freeze them until I’m ready to eat. However, I why not have a little fun with some leftovers and repurpose them into a new pupcake recipe.
Turning your leftovers or near-expired produce into a pupcake recipe is not only a way to bond with your dog, but it’s a chance to get creative and cost effective. And we’d love to hear from you.
What leftovers are you turning into a pupcake recipe? Have you tried the Apple Cobbler Leftover Pupcakes? Please share your stories with us at @pupcakesugar.
