A Dog Birthday Cake is a special treat for your party pooch! This layer cake is made with dog-friendly ingredients any spoiled pup will love!
Whether you want an upgrade from the normal Homemade Dog Treats or want to make your pup something extra special, your furry friend is going to paw-sitively love this dog-friendly Cake!
Sabrina’s Dog Birthday Cake Recipe
For many pet parents, their dogs are not just pets, but also members of their family. Just like humans, dogs deserve to be celebrated on special occasions like birthdays. It’s not surprising that pet parents have embraced the tradition of baking dog birthday cakes for their pal’s big day. They are easier than the average human cake, plus they are healthy too! A dog cake is the ultimate way to party with your four-legged pal while giving them the nutrition they need as they get another year older.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
Dog Birthday Cake:
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (canned)
- 1/4 cup peanut butter , see note very important
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole wheat flour , regular okay too
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup carrot , finely shredded
Dog Friendly Frosting:
- 2 cups Greek yogurt (whole milk)
- 1 cup peanut butter , see note very important
- 12 mini Milk Bone dog treats , for decoration
Instructions
Dog Birthday Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray two 6-inch cake pans with baking spray (or use one 8×8-inch baking dish).
- To a large mixing bowl add the pumpkin puree, peanut butter, honey, and oil, whisking well until combined.
- Add in the egg and vanilla extract, whisking until smooth.
- Add in the whole wheat flour, baking soda and carrots, stirring until flour is just mixed in.
- Spread into cake pans and bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool completely before frosting.
Dog Friendly Frosting:
- In a large bowl whisk together Greek yogurt and peanut butter.
- Place into a piping bag and pipe the mixture over the cooled cakes.
- Pipe a layer onto the first layer, top with second cake, and pipe a layer onto the second layer, leaving the sides unfrosted.
- Decorate around the top of the cake with the mini Milk Bone Treats.
- Note: Please make sure your peanut butter does not include Xylitol, this is toxic to dogs.
Notes
Nutrition
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About This Recipe
While you may be able to purchase dog cakes at specialty pet stores, making a cake from scratch allows you to control the ingredients and ensure that your dog is eating a healthy and safe treat. Plus a homemade Dog Birthday Cake is made with basic pantry ingredients so it’s much more budget-friendly than a store-bought cake. Make their special day even more festive with a little real Whipped Cream, served on the side or like a puppuccino in a cute little cup.
What is a Dog Birthday Cake?
A dog birthday cake is a cake specially made for dogs. Unlike human cakes, dog cakes are made with ingredients that are safe and healthy for dogs to consume. It contains natural ingredients with vitamins and protein that won’t make you feel guilty feeding this treat to your dog.
Ingredients
- Pumpkin Puree: Pumpkin is high in fiber and low in fat, which aids digestion. It also contains vitamins A and C, which support eye and immune system health. Look for canned pumpkin puree that is 100% pumpkin, with no added sugars or spices. You can also make your own Pumpkin Puree.
- Peanut Butter: Peanut butter is a good source of healthy fats, protein, and vitamins B and E. It is also a tasty ingredient that dogs love. However, make sure to use peanut butter that does not contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.
- Honey: Honey makes this cake a little sweet for your pal and can have added benefits like helping with allergies and reducing inflammation. If your dog has digestive issues, substitute Applesauce (without nutmeg) or mashed banana for the honey.
- Carrots: Carrots are high in fiber, beta-carotene, and vitamins A and K, which support eye and bone health. They also add a bit of texture and flavor to the cake, just make sure to use finely grated carrot so your pup doesn’t choke while they are gobbling it up.
- Greek Yogurt: Yogurt is a great source of probiotics, which aid digestion and boost the immune system. It is also high in protein and calcium, which support bone and muscle health. Look for plain Greek yogurt with no added sugars or flavors.
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes, this dog birthday cake can be made ahead of time. You can bake the layers a day or two before the party and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. You can also make the frosting ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you are ready to assemble the cake, let the frosting come to room temperature and whisk it briefly to ensure it is smooth and spreadable.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Dogs can eat peanut butter but it is VERY important to check the ingredients to make sure the peanut butter does not contain Xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar substitute made from birch extract and is dangerous for dogs to consume. In general, Xylitol is usually added to diet-focused peanut butter (as well as other diet-based foods) and not natural, plain ol’ peanut butter.
How To Store
- Serve: Due to the yogurt in the frosting, the frosted cake will need to be stored after no more than 2 hours at room temperature.
- Store: To store this Dog Birthday Cake, place it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you have leftover frosting, store it separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: To freeze the cake, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer-safe container. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let it defrost in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Frequent Questions
Even though this cake is filled with healthy ingredients that are dog-friendly, it should still only be eaten in moderation. Give your dog no more than 1/6th of this cake per day so they don’t consume too many calories or get an upset stomach.
No, human cake is not safe for dogs to consume. It contains ingredients such as chocolate, raisins, and artificial sweeteners, which can be toxic to dogs. Additionally, human cake is often high in sugar and fat, which can lead to obesity and other health problems.
This cake can be enjoyed by humans too! Just keep in mind that there is no added sugar, only a small amount of honey, so it’s going to taste more like bread than cake. If you want to serve it to guests with 2 legs as well as your four-legged guests, decorate individual slices for pups with the doggy treats instead of the entire cake.
Variations
- Potatoes: Make a savory potato frosting instead of the peanut butter frosting with a couple of russet potatoes. Peel and dice 2 pounds of potatoes, then boil the potato chunks until very soft and drain. Beat with 1 ½ to 2 cups plain yogurt until fluffy like frosting. It will have a more spreadable consistency while it’s warm so use it right away.
- Fruit: Fruits that are safe for dogs to consume are pear, apple, and banana. Swap unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana for the honey. Use finely shredded pears or apples instead of shredded carrots, or do a mixture of fruits and veggies.
- Leftover Dog Cake: Use any leftover Dog Birthday Cake to make some quick, easy dog treats. Combine the cake with peanut butter and frosting and roll it into balls (like how you make Cake Balls). Freeze the balls on a flat surface until they are hard, then transfer them to a freezer bag and store them for up to 6 months. Thaw at room temperature until the cake balls are soft enough for your dog to chew easily so they don’t choke. You could also make larger, fist-size balls so that your pooch can enjoy them frozen without worrying about them swallowing them whole.
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I was looking for something homemade to bake for my pup and this was a lifesaver! He absolutely loved it and it was super easy to follow. Is there like a version for cats? My cat was looking a bit jealous!