Mini Dog Birthday Cake
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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! How many days can be in the fridge?
Most cakes can be in the refrigerator for 2-3 days — hope this helps!
I think our dogs are twins separated at birth. Would love to send you a picture. Making this cake for Henderson’s 4th birthday today!
No way! Definitely tag me on Instagram/send a photo via email because I’d love to see (and I hope Henderson loves the cake!).
Our birthday boy Buster and his buddy Luna gobbled it up! They loved the cake. Thank you for the recipe.
Thank YOU for the comment — I’m so happy they both liked the cake!
I don’t have plain Greek yogurt, but I have plain vanilla Greek, can i use that instead?
Yes that works!
Made this for my dogs 2nd birthday and he loved it so much he is now refusing to eat his normal food
hahah! that’s amazing — you’re welcome and I’m sorry 🙂
If you make this one day in advance, does it need to be refrigerated? I would put the icing on it the day of but wondering about the actual cake. Thanks
Nope — just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it at room temperature.
I have a very picky now 4 year old and she liked it. Made a few changes, very soft cooked apples in mango juice replaced applesauce. Cooked and mashed sweet potatoes replaced pumpkin as I didn’t have it. Made 1/4 of the recipe in to 4 cupcakes for 20 minutes. Topped with cheddar cheese and bacon crumbles. Will definitely be using this recipe again!
Love that all of the substitutions worked and that your dog liked the cake!
Great idea as I don’t have 4″ baking pans & what dog doesn’t like bacon or cheese. It’s my boys first birthday tomorrow
I need the measurements for this recipe please so I can make it for my frisco who is a male blind chihuahua will be 17 on 08/21/21.
Aaww! Happy birthday to your pup! We will be celebrating our girl’s 13th on 8/20/21!
Hi! I’m planning on making this cake for my dog’s third birthday! I wanted to see if I can substitute shredded carrots for the apple sauce? I’m trying to keep the sugar as low as possible!
I think that should work! Let me know how it turns out in case others want to try it as well.
So I just made this (currently in the oven) but my batter consistency was thicker than that in the video. Has anyone else had this issue and did it turnout ok? My girl is 1 today so hoping this works!
I made this today and the batter was also very thick. It cooked almost like a biscuit.