A Dog Birthday Cake is a special treat for your party pooch! This layer cake recipe is made with dog-friendly ingredients and topped with yogurt frosting.
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!
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.
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 made especially for dogs. Unlike human cakes, dog cakes are made with ingredients that are safe for dogs to consume. This recipe, in particular, uses pumpkin puree, peanut butter, honey, vegetable oil, eggs, whole wheat flour, baking soda, and shredded carrots. The frosting is made with Greek yogurt and peanut butter.
This dog cake recipe is not only delicious but also healthy for dogs. The pumpkin puree is high in fiber and low in fat, which aids digestion. Peanut butter is a good source of protein, healthy fats, and vitamins B and E. Honey is a natural sweetener and can help boost the immune system. Greek yogurt is a great source of probiotics, which aid digestion and boost the immune system. Carrots are high in fiber, beta-carotene, and vitamins A and K, which support eye and bone health.
Important Note about Dogs and Peanut Butter
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 Make a Dog Birthday Cake
- Prep: Preheat the oven and grease two 6-inch cake pans.
- Batter: Combine the pumpkin, peanut butter, honey, and oil in a mixing bowl. Whisk in the egg and vanilla until smooth. Finally, add the flour, baking soda, and carrots until the flour is just mixed in with no streaks.
- Bake: Divide the batter evenly between the pans. Bake the cakes until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool before removing from pans and frosting.
- Frosting: Whisk the yogurt and peanut butter until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag with a large round tip.
- Layer: Place one layer of cake on a serving platter. Pipe about ⅓ of the frosting over top and smooth. Place the second layer of cake on top and repeat another ⅓ frosting over the top, leaving the sides naked.
- Decorate: Use the remaining frosting to pipe mounds on top of the cake and on the bottom if you have enough. Decorate with mini bone treats on frosting mounds and around the top of the cake.
Fun Easy Birthday Treats for Humans!
FAQs for Dog Birthday Cake
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.
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Key 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 a Dog Birthday Cake 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.
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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How to Store
- Serve: Because of 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.
Ingredients
Dog Birthday Cake:
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 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 , shredded, use fine side of box grater
Dog Friendly Frosting:
- 2 cups whole milk Greek yogurt
- 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″ cake pans with baking spray (or use one 8×8 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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