A pup’s birthday wouldn’t be complete without their very own birthday cake—and this homemade dog treat will definitely get tails wagging.
Loaded with yummy, safe-for-them human foods, like peanut butter, applesauce, carrots and pumpkin puree, and slathered with a peanut butter and Greek yogurt frosting, this dog birthday cake takes less than 30 minutes to bake. You can make one small, 4- to 6-inch cake cake, or make a layer cake by stacking two cakes. And when it comes time for decorating, we highly recommend garnishing this very special treat with either low-calorie dog treats or fresh dog-friendly fruits, like blueberries—for the tastiest finishing touch.
Are you and your furry sous chef ready? Here’s how to make a dog birthday cake.
Before serving this treat to your dog, consult with your veterinarian beforehand.
Peanut Butter Dog Birthday Cake Recipe
Yield:
2 small cakes
Serving size:
Small slice*
Prep time:
15 minutes
Bake time:
25 minutes
Ingredients
Cake
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
(avoid peanut butter with xylitol, a sweetener that’s also called birch sugar, as it’s dangerous to dogs)
1/2 cup applesauce
(plain, unsweetened)
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
(use pure pumpkin, not canned pumpkin pie mix)
1 egg
Frosting
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup natural, xylitol-free peanut butter
Dog treats for garnish, optional
Supplies
(2) 4-inch to 6-inch heart-shaped cookie cutters
(or 4- to 6-inch round baking cake pans)
Mixing bowls
Spatula
Whisk
Instructions
1Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2In a large bowl, combine whole wheat flower and baking soda.
3In another bowl, mix together peanut butter (1/4 cup), applesauce, pumpkin puree and egg.
4Add your wet ingredients to your dry ingredients, and stir until combined.
5Using a spatula, gently fold the shredded carrots into the cake batter.
6Lightly grease the inside of your cookie cutters. Place cookie cutters onto a baking sheet, and pour batter into them. Let the mixture settle to ensure a nice, even cake shape.
If using 4-inch to 6-inch round baking pans, pour batter into your two baking tins, and let the mixture settle. You can also pour the batter into cupcake molds for birthday pup-cakes.
7Bake for 25 minutes.
8To make your icing, combine the plain Greek yogurt with the rest of your peanut butter (1 cup) in a bowl. Mix ingredients together until fully blended. Place icing in the refrigerator until your cake is finished baking.
9Remove cakes from the oven. Use a toothpick to test the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it’s ready. Allow the cakes to cool. Once cool, spread a thin layer of frosting onto the cake. Decorate with dog treats, too, if you'd like!
Decorating Your Cake With Dog Treats
Want to recreate the cake we made? We used Bocce's Bakery's Crispies treats because we liked that they’re available in varying flavors (and colors!) and are just 3 calories per treat.
Of course, you can use any dog treat you want to garnish the cake. Just be mindful of how many calories each treat it. You don't want to give your dog a stomach ache on your furry friend’s big day. Blueberries and strawberries are healthy topping options, too. Just please skip the traditional sprinkles and sweet candies. They’re not safe for your dog to eat.
How Much Birthday Cake to Serve Your Dog
As you would with any other treat, serve your pooch a small amount. Treats should only constitute a small percentage of your pet’s daily dog food. We’re talking no more than 10 percent of your pet’s diet (and if your pet is overweight, even less than that).
For example, if your pet needs 200 calories per day, they should have no more than 20 calories from treats. Feeding too many treats can lead to nutrient deficiencies.
All that to say, a sliver or nibble of cake will suffice, especially when you factor in the icing and extra doggy treats you used to decorate the cake. Share the cake with the rest of your canine guests, too. This cake was meant for sharing, after all!
How to Safely Store the Dog Birthday Cake
Shop Store-bought Dog Birthday Cakes
As the wise Ina Garten says, store-bought is just fine—and that includes birthday cakes for dogs. (Because if we're being honest, your dog won’t know the difference; they just want more treats!)
Here are a few of our favorite store-bought birthday cakes and cake mixes.
Wear the Perfect Birthday Outfit
Wait! Don’t light the candles and sing “Happy Birthday” just yet.
Make it a picture-perfect moment by dressing your pup in the right accessories on their special day. We’re talking a birthday hat, a birthday bandana and a birthday shirt. (Yes, all three!)
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This recipe was reviewed by a veterinarian. It is intended as a treat or snack.
*Treats should only constitute a small percentage of your pet’s daily food. Treats should not make up more than 10 percent of your dog's diet.
More treats to make for your dog's birthday party:
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