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What better way to celebrate your pup's special day than with this Mini Dog Birthday Cake?! Complete with peanut butter and cheese and over 87 five star ratings, it's sure to please!
This mini dog birthday cake is a huge hit, because dogs deserve cake on their birthday! My baby turns TWO today—like, how? I figured she deserved a dog birthday cake this year. Though my personal favorite cake is my chocolate vegan birthday cake, it's not exactly dog-friendly, so I figured I should make a separate recipe for Layla.
I'm completely biased, but Layla is simply the best. She keeps me company all day every day while I work from home, she has an adorable underbite, she increases my daily step count thanks to having to walk her, and she brings so much joy into my life.
Oh, and if your pup loves this recipe, be sure to check out my pumpkin dog cake, too, along with other dessert recipes.
Recipe features
- This recipe has 85 five star ratings and counting!
- It's made with peanut butter, pumpkin and topped with cheese -- all of your dog's favorite foods
- It's easy to make, and is shareable too
Ingredient notes
Like most dogs, Layla's a big fan of pumpkin and peanut butter, so I knew I needed to include those things. This dog birthday cake is quite similar to a human cake but with less sugar.
- all purpose flour
- coconut oil - or any kind of oil
- egg
- honey - or sub maple syrup
- canned pumpkin
- applesauce
- peanut butter
- yogurt
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Combine dry ingredients. In a large bowl, stir the flour and baking soda together and set aside.
Step 2: Mix wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine the oil, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, and honey. Then, combine the wet and dry ingredients.
Step 3: Bake. Divide the batter into two greased 4" cake pans, then bake the cakes for 20-30 minutes, or until a toothpick is clean. Wait for the cakes to come to room temperature before icing them.
Tips
Substitutions:
- Flour: This recipe calls for all purpose flour, but you could also use whole wheat flour. I haven't tried it with any sort of gluten free flour before, but again, I'm going to assume a gluten free all purpose flour would work well if your dog eats a grain-free diet.
- Oil: Coconut oil tends to be my oil of choice, but it can also be on the pricey side. Canola oil works just fine and I promise your dog won't know the difference 😉
- Yogurt: The icing for this cake is made with Greek yogurt and peanut butter. If your dog doesn't like yogurt and/or if you're worried about it upsetting their stomach (it shouldn't!), you could try using just peanut butter. It'll be stickier, but still tasty.
Questions? TONS of people have made this recipe, so be sure to read the comments for additional tips!
This dog birthday cake is one of the most popular recipes on this site, so if you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment or, even better, tag @thealmondeater on Instagram/Instagram stories--I LOVE seeing your creations, especially when dogs are involved!
More pumpkin recipes
Want even more dog cake recipes? This article from Play Bark Run has a great list of dog-friendly cake recipes.
If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!
Mini Dog Birthday Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup honey preferably raw
- ¼ cup canned pumpkin
- ¼ cup applesauce
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
for the icing:
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup peanut butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Grease two 4" cake pans with a bit of coconut oil and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine flour and baking soda; set aside.
- Melt coconut oil in a saucepan over low-medium heat.
- While coconut oil is melting, whisk egg, honey, pumpkin, applesauce, peanut butter, and vanilla together in a large bowl using an electric mixer. Last, stir in the melted coconut oil.
- Fold the wet ingredients into the dry and stir to combine.
- Pour batter evenly into the two pans, pounding them on the countertop a few times to the batter lays flat. Place the cake pans on a baking sheet and the baking sheet in the oven.
- Bake cakes for 20-30 minutes**, or until a toothpick comes out clean or mostly clean.
- Let the cakes sit in the pans for 10 minutes before running a knife along the edges and flipping them over onto a cooling rack. Wait until cakes are completely cool before icing.
for the icing:
- Stir yogurt and peanut butter together
assembly:
- Slice the tops of both cakes off (the "dome" part) and then lay the cut edges together, placing a bit of icing in between. Top the cake with additional icing. Additionally, if you want to cover the entire cake with icing (rather than just the top and middle), just double the icing ingredients.
- Top the cake with cheese to make your pup's special day that much better!
Paulina says
Hiii!
Could I substitute coconut oil for olive oil?
Erin says
Yes that should work!
Bee says
Hi! Could I just double this recipe for two 6 inch pans?
Thank you 🙂
Erin says
Yes that should work!
Brenda Thompson says
Happy birthday to your sweet pup, Layla! It's heartwarming to see that you've gone out of your way to make her birthday special with a homemade dog-friendly cake. Your recipe with peanut butter, pumpkin, and cheese sounds delicious, and it's great to know that it has received so many five-star ratings. It's important to remember that our furry friends also deserve to celebrate their special day, and this cake is a great way to do that. Thank you for sharing this recipe and your love for Layla with us. Here is my blog; https://www.petdogplanet.com/
Sacha says
Wow.... that is too stinkin cute! Why didn't I think of that!?!? Lol awesome idea for my pups Bdays. I can guarantee by the looks of it they will be thanking you. Glad I stumbled across your site. Thank you Erin, for taking the time to share all your great recipes.
-Sj
Erin says
Of course!! I hope your dogs enjoy the cake 🙂
Maisie says
My dog LOVED this there was not a single crumb left! Thanks!
Erin says
I'm so happy your dog loved the cake!
Erika says
My dog loves sweet potato, I wonder if I can sub with the pumpkin?
Erin says
Yes that should work!
Debbie says
Can the cake be made ahead and frozen until ready to use?
Erin says
I think that should work!
Bailey says
Sorry just another one but can I use sunflower oil instead of the oil you have?
Erin says
Hi! Yes, you'll need to use baking soda, but you can swap whole wheat flour and use sunflower oil if you prefer.
Shelly Hill says
My daughter's dog loved it so much!!❤
Berta Carmo says
I love this recipe for my dogs cake. Do you think freezing leftover icing will be OK? And then thawing it out when it’s needed for another cake.
Erin says
Yes I think so!
Charmaine says
Hi Erin,
Vanilla essence is toxic for dogs. Confused 🙁
Erin says
You can omit it! I make this cake for my dog 1x per year and she's fine.
R Estes says
Unless you are using alcohol-free vanilla extract, you are most likely slowly killing your dogs liver with alcohol toxicity.
Erin says
LOL!!! ok!! I make this cake for my dog ONCE A YEAR but yes you're right.
Jayanti says
What can i replace egg with ?
Erin says
I'd use a flax egg! (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal mixed with 2.5 tbsp water, then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes or so before adding it in).
Becky Gambino says
I made this for Erisa's birthday and all 3 dogs love it!!!!😁❤
Amanda says
Can I double up on the pumpkin and omit the applesauce?
Erin says
Yes!
Annie says
If making cake night before with the yogurt/peanut butter icing, should it be refrigerated? Thanks!
Erin says
Yes I think that would be best
lou says
Is it possible to replace the canned pumpkin with mashed carrot? My dog loves carrots, but doesn't really like pumpkin. Thanks in advance
Erin says
Yes that should work!
Nancy says
Isn't vanilla extract toxic to dogs?
Erin says
I've made this cake every year for my dog (she's 7) and she's fine. If you don't feel comfortable using it, simply omit it -- the cake will still turn out.
Kanaka says
Can a person eat this
Erin says
Technically yes, though it won't taste very good. You'd be better off making my pumpkin dog cake recipe: https://thealmondeater.com/vegan-pumpkin-dog-cake-for-people-too/
Susan says
My pups loved this cake for their 1st birthday. I made little bars and topped with yoghurt - not a crumb was left. Will be making again for their next birthday. Yummo
Erin says
Woohooo -- glad to hear the pups enjoyed it!
Laurie Miller says
Do you think I can substitute sun butter instead of peanut butter? My daughter has a peanut allergy so we don’t want our Ollie giving her kisses after he celebrates 🙂
Erin says
Yes that will work!
Jeanette says
Made this for my pups 1 year bday. Used whole wheat flour. He sat next by while I made it waiting to help clean all the utensils. He devoured the cake. Served it with primal goat milk. Thank you!
Erin says
I'm so happy he liked the cake!
Millena says
I’m thinking about making this for my 1 year old puppy’s birthday, but I’m wondering if I can make it the night before and then give it to her over the next four days. She can’t play with any of her puppy friends right now, so I don’t have any other dogs to share it with. I’m really looking forward to making it!!! Thanks!!!
Erin says
Yes that should work!
Sam says
Is there another pan I can use if I don't have 4"?
Erin says
One round 8" pan should work!