Here's how to spoil your doggies and make them a Dog Birthday Cake. Using wholesome dog friendly ingredients, I made it for Coco’s 10th birthday and she loved it!
I have a ruby King Charles Cavalier named Coco and she is my absolute world. She just turned 10 (I still cant believe it!), so I made her a Dog Birthday Cake to celebrate this milestone. Its crazy easy to make with simple wholesome ingredients that are nutritious and of course dog friendly too. Not to mention your fur baby will find it totally delicious 😋
If you're a dog owner and lover like I am, you’ll agree that our pets are our world and considered our children right? So why not spoil them on their special day just as they deserve with a homemade dog cake! You wont need any fancy ingredients or equipment. This dog cake recipe is made with wholesome human food and simple pantry staple ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen right now.
So technically humans can eat it too, but don't expect it to taste as sweet as an actual cake. Since dogs shouldn't eat sugar, it doesn't have a sweetener except for the natural sweetness from the banana and carrots. You can make it to celebrate dog birthdays, or other milestones and celebrations. You could also make cute little pupcakes instead of a round cake if you prefer. There are no rules and they will love it either way!
This cake is made with carrots, eggs, banana, rolled oats - or whole wheat flour, oil and a doggies favorite ingredient…peanut butter of course! Coco goes crazy for peanut butter and can smell it a mile away when I open the jar. Just be sure to only use natural peanut butter, one that only includes peanuts are the sole ingredient. Ensuring there is no salt, sugar, additives and especially no xylitol which is toxic to dogs. It also has a creamy frosting made from plain Greek yogurt and more PB to make it look like a proper cake of course 🎂
Table of Contents
What makes this recipe special
- Quick & Easy: Simple steps and ingredients, no fancy equipment needed
- Wholesome Ingredients: No artificial ingredients, just natural dog-safe foods
- Budget Friendly: Made with pantry staple human foods you probably already have
- Customizable: Works great as a layer cake, pupcakes or even pancakes
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Ripe banana, the mashed banana adds natural sweetness and moisture. You can substitute with apple sauce or also organic local honey if you like
- Shredded carrots, provide fiber, vitamins and nutrients making it into a simple doggie carrot cake. Pumpkin puree or sweet potato are also similar dog friendly ingredients you can experiment with
- Rolled oats are a healthy grain that are blended to make oat flour. You can substitute with wholewheat flour or plain all purpose flour
- Eggs help bind the cake batter and also add extra protein and healthy fats
- Natural peanut butter, a tasty ingredient all doggies love the flavor of! Make sure it contains only peanuts and no xylitol - this is toxic to dogs
- Coconut oil, adds moisture and healthy fats. Swap with vegetable oil if preferred
- Baking powder or baking soda helps the cake batter rise, creating a soft texture
- Greek yogurt or plain yogurt without any sugar is the base of the creamy frosting with a touch more PB. I've used non-fat Greek yogurt
How to make a Dog Birthday Cake
Using simple pantry staples, you can whip up this dog birthday cake in no time at all. Follow my simple steps below (note quantities are listed in the recipe card below)
Preheat oven to 350℉ / 180℃. Blend the rolled oats to make a fine oat flour
Mash banana with a fork in a large bowl
Add wet ingredients - eggs, shredded carrots, peanut butter and coconut oil
Add the oat flour and mix to combine. Then add the baking powder and mix in
In a small cake pan (~ 12 -14 cm) add parchment paper and add in the batter. Tap the tin a few times to flatten down the mixture
Bake for 25-30 minutes and check with a toothpick that its cooked. Allow it to rest for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack
Add Greek yogurt and peanut butter in a bowl and mix. Place in the fridge while waiting for the cake
Once the cake has cooled down, slice the middle to create 2 cakes and allow to cool on the cooling rack
When completely cool, add some of the yogurt frosting evenly on top
Place the 2nd cake on top, add the remaining frosting, flatten and decorate with blueberries and/or doggie treats. Its ready for your doggie to enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
- Use a 12 -14 cm cake pan to make a high layer cake, you can use a larger pan but it will be more flatter. You can also use a muffin pan and make pupcakes
- Use a toothpick to check doneness, if it comes out clean and not wet, it's ready
- Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack before adding the yogurt frosting
- If making a layer cake like I have, slice in half once cooled and ensure the middle has completely cooled down before adding the yogurt frosting
Storage Instructions
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days
- Leave it out at room temperature for a short time before feeding to your pups
- Wrap slices individually and freeze for up to 1-2 months. Thaw in the fridge then bring to room temperature and let your pups dig in!
FAQs
It's best not to feed your dog human cake as its usually high in sugar, oils and can include toxic ingredients. Instead make this dog birthday cake!
Dogs should only eat a cake that is made with dog friendly ingredients. It's best to only purchase from a reliable source, or make one yourself using oats, eggs, carrots, banana, dog safe peanut butter and a touch of oil
Yes, but only a small amount, as dogs don’t need sweetness
Totally! Pour the batter into a cupcake muffin tin. You may need to reduce the cooking time so they don't overcook
More Cake Recipes
I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to rate the recipe, comment and share your photo on Instagram so I can share the love!
Recipe
Dog Birthday Cake (Easy Steps with Pantry Staples)
Video
Ingredients
- ½ ripe banana
- 1 cup shredded carrots - 1-2 carrots
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 eggs
- 3 tablespoons natural peanut butter - make sure the only ingredient are peanuts and no xylitol
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil - or vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Doggie Creamy Frosting
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter - make sure the only ingredient is peanuts and no xylitol
- Decorate with blueberries and dog treats
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ / 180℃. Blend the rolled oats to make a fine oat flour
- In a large bowl mash the banana with a fork
- Add the remaining wet ingredients - eggs, peanut butter, shredded carrots and coconut oil
- Add the oat flour to the bowl and mix together, then add the baking powder and stir through
- Line a small cake pan with parchment paper and add the batter (pan size of ~ 12 - 14cm for a small high cake). Tap the tin a few times to flatten down the mixture
- Bake for 25-30 minutes - checking with a toothpick that the middle has cooked throughAllow the cake to rest for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack
- Make the frosting by adding the Greek yogurt and peanut butter in a bowl and mix to combine. Place in the fridge to firm up while waiting for the cake
- Once the cake has cooled down, to make a layer cake, slice in the middle to create 2 cakes and allow the insides to cool on the cooling rack
- Once completely cool, add some of the yogurt frosting in the middle then place the 2nd cake on top. Add the remaining frosting on top then flatten evenly
- Decorate with optional blueberries and/or doggie treats. Slice up your Dog Birthday Cake and let your doggie and furry friends enjoy!
Notes
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- Peanut butter - make sure the only ingredient is peanuts with no xylitol as this is toxic to dogs
- Cake pan - Use a 12 - 14 cm cake pan to make a high layer cake, you can use a larger pan but it will be more flatter. You can also use a muffin pan and make pupcakes
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- Let it cool - the cake needs to completely cool before adding the yogurt frosting. Best to leave on a wire rack until its ready
Shaun says
Great recipe my dog loves this treat, thanks so much
Ayeh Manfre says
So happy your dog loved it!
Patricia says
My rating is for Coco I've not made the cake yet Just had to let you know that I have a rescue King Charles Cavalier her name is Stormi she will be 7 on September 11th and this will definitely be her birthday cake truth told she will probably have to sample a test cake Thank you so much ❤️
Ayeh Manfre says
How sweet, I hope Stormi loves her cake 🙂
Anne Alexander says
I made this cake for my sweet girl Samantha's 15th birthday. All 3 of my babies loved it. It turned out very cute. I decorated it with blueberries and some dog themed decorations from Amazon. My sister is going to make one for her 3. Will definitely make this again!
Ayeh Manfre says
Oh how cute!!! Happy 15th birthday for sweet Samantha, so glad all your babies loved it xxx
Ann says
Great and easy recipe that tastes great to dogs and humans!
Ayeh Manfre says
So glad to hear Ann, hope your doggies loved it x
Karen says
I made this for my Shih Tzu’s birthday yesterday and he and his friends loved it! Easy and quick to make, I will definitely make it again. My plan is to bake the cake, cut into squares and freeze to have available to give as snacks/treats.
Thanks!
Ayeh Manfre says
Oh so sweet! Happy birthday to your little one, so happy him and his friends loved it! Yes great idea, I did this with the leftovers myself 🙂