Dog Birthday Cake (Easy Steps with Pantry Staples)

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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
Ingredients and Substitutions
How to make a Dog Birthday Cake
Tips and Tricks
Storage Instructions
FAQs
More Cake Recipes
Recipe
Comments

Ayeh and Coco posing behind a dog birthday cake

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

Look at cake after being garnished with blueberries and dog food

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

Oat flour added to wet ingredients then mixed

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

Frosting made with yogurt and peanut butter

Add Greek yogurt and peanut butter in a bowl and mix. Place in the fridge while waiting for the cake

Cake sliced in half to make to even layers

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

Top cake layer added with frosting and garnish of blueberries and dog treats

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!

Dog cake layered with yogurt peanut frosting and candles on top

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

Close up of inside of the dog cake after being cut

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

Can dogs have cake?

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!

What kind of cake can a dog eat?

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

Can I add honey?

Yes, but only a small amount, as dogs don’t need sweetness

Can I make this into cupcakes instead?

Totally! Pour the batter into a cupcake muffin tin. You may need to reduce the cooking time so they don't overcook