Mini Dog Birthday Cake
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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 170+ five star ratings, it’s sure to please!
Why you (and your pup!) will love this recipe:
- This recipe has over 170 five star ratings and counting, so you know it’s a good one.
- 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 (so multiple dogs can enjoy it).
Table of Contents
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 long while I work from home and she brings me so much joy. Plus, she has an adorable underbite and she increases my daily step count thanks to all of the walks we go on.
- If your dog loves this recipe, be sure to check out this pumpkin dog cake, these dog popsicles and my popular homemade dog food recipe.
Dog Cake Ingredients
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 – This is my go-to for most of my baked goods. If you’re looking for a grain-free cake recipe, this isn’t it, sorry! I’ve only tested this using all purpose flour. With that said, I’m certain gluten free 1:1 baking flour would be an ok substitute.
Coconut oil – I like using coconut oil in my baked goods, but any kind of oil will work here (i.e. canola oil, avocado oil, etc.).
Honey – Since this is a dog cake, we want to minimize sugar. However, it does need some sugar, and I find honey or maple syrup are both good options.
Pumpkin – Canned pumpkin is what I used, but you could also use cooked and mashed sweet potatoes if you prefer.
Peanut butter – Layla loves peanut butter the most, but almond butter, cashew butter or tahini should all work just fine.
Yogurt – Plain Greek yogurt is what I suggest, as it tends to be thicker than regular yogurt and will create a better icing.
The full ingredient list with quantities can be found below in the recipe card.
How to Make a Dog Birthday Cake
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, pour the dry ingredients into the wet and stir to combine.
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.
Dog Birthday Cake FAQs
Yes, humans can eat dog cake. However, this cake recipe in particular isn’t super sweet, so it isn’t going to taste like regular cake. But, all of the ingredients are human-grade, so they’re safe for human (and dog) consumption!
Cake can be made up to 48 hours ahead of time, though I suggest waiting to add the icing until you’re ready to give it to your dog. Simple bake the cakes, wait for them to cool then wrap each cake individually in plastic wrap and store in the fridge.
Questions? TONS of people have made this recipe, so be sure to read the comments for additional tips!
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
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup honey, preferably raw
- 1/4 cup canned pumpkin
- 1/4 cup applesauce
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
for the icing:
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 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!
Notes
Nutrition
Hi Erin,
You are not alone when you are excited to make your pup a birthday cake… it’s the least we can do for them… for all the love they give us!!!!
I have a quick question… my baby boy’s 8th birthday is tmw :O and I wanted to make this cake the night before….do you think this will be okay if I keep in an air tight container in the fridge?? or should I wait to make the icing the morning of giving it to him?
Please let me know when you have time 🙂
Many thanks!
xox, Meg
Hi Meg, Happy early birthday to your pup! I think you should be fine to make this cake tonight if you’re going to store it in a container. As for the icing, I’d probably make it tomorrow before you assemble the cake. I hope he loves it!
Erin thank you so much for the recipe. Our Harley will be 1 in October so I thought I’d look around for a recipe. This one sounds like a winner!
Happy early birthday to Harley! I hope your pup enjoys this cake as much as mine did 🙂
Came out perfect and my dogs loved it. I just had to bake for a total of 38 minutes.
So good to hear! Happy birthday to your pups 🙂
Hi Erin,
Thanks for sharing this great recipe!
I bake all my dog treats so I’m stoked I’ve found this cake recipe!
I use almond flour for our treats. I have one quick question about the apple sauce though. What can I replace that with? I’m only finding apple sauces with sugar or artificial sugars in. Any ideas?
Thanks a bunch,
Rosemary
Hi Rosemary–you could try replacing the applesauce with a mashed banana instead. Let me know if you try the recipe!
Thanks Erin! I’ll be sure to let you know. 🙂
Rosemary,
I just ran across your request about pet insurance. I realize it was a yr ago, so I don’t know if you’re still looking or not. But when I was looking, I wanted the Best 4 the least amount of money, that covered the most, w/the least of out of pocket money. But, like I’ve learned w/all the companies you have 2 pay the bill 1st then u get reimbursed. So after looking & comparing I went w/ Petplan. But understand 2, a lot of it also depends on the breed & age of your little baby 2. I realize it’s a yr later, but hope it was a little help 2 you.
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Charlie and I want to thank you for the wonderful recipe! She was in love ?
I’m so glad your pup loved it as much as mine did 🙂
Hahah look at her licking her lips!!! So so so so cute.
Ray and I want to get a dog next year….we’re thinking German Shepherd pup.
Omg stop. German shepherds are so cute and smart–definitely a good choice in my opinion! (<--since my opinion counts and all 😉 )
I love how you did this the way people do with their babies! Happy birthday little Layla! Gaahh, I want a second dog now!
Hahah embarrassing! But thanks Kelly 🙂 Glad you appreciate it.
You forgot the #1 nickname…..MIZZ LAY!!
Happy birthday to Layla! This is so adorable – I made my dog treats recently and he devoured them, I can only imagine Layla inhaling this haha! I kind of want to eat it too…
It wasn’t too bad until I put cheese on top 😉 because you know, I had to taste test it for her…
Awwwww!! Happy 2nd birthday Layla!!! She’s adorable and I can’t wait to move in with my boyfriend so we can finally get a dog too haha! Such a perfect little cake, too. 🙂
Yes!! I can’t wait until you get a dog too–they’re just the best.