6 Homemade Dog Cake Recipes: Vet-Approved Nutritious Options
Ready to celebrate your dog? These six delicious dog cake recipes will show the world that you love your dog to the moon and back. The best part is that they’re human-grade, which means you can have a slice as well! Ready to start? Get your whisks and oven mitts ready! Your pooch is going to love these tasty cakes.
Before You Start
When making homemade dog treats it’s your responsibility not to include any ingredients that are healthy for your dog. While our recipes will be suitable for most dogs, some dogs could become unwell from the ingredients used. For example, if your dog has a wheat allergy, don’t use any wheat flour in your recipes. If your dog is lactose intolerant, yogurt could give them an upset stomach. For dogs prone to pancreatitis, you need to stay away from oils and dairy as the fats can trigger pancreatitis.
When selecting ingredients, make sure they don’t contain anything toxic to dogs. Some peanut butter contains Xylitol which can cause low blood sugar and liver damage in dogs. Other ingredients to avoid include raisins, nutmeg, chocolate, coffee, and macadamia nuts.
If your recipe includes eggs, you should ensure the mixture is heated to a temperature that will kill any bacteria (165°F).
The 6 Homemade Dog Cake Recipes
1. Peanut Butter and Applesauce Cake – Dogster Recipe
Peanut Butter and Applesauce Cake
Did someone say peanut butter and applesauce? Good luck getting a slice when you have to share it with your dog. This mouth-watering dog cake is so easy and simple, you’ll be surprised you're baking a cake in 30 minutes. The added leavening makes it extra fluffy (for a dog cake), and the whipping cream frosting adds a lovely creaminess to the entire dish.
Cook time
30 min
Total time
30 min
Equipment
- 6-inch round cake pan
- Parchment paper
- Large bowl
- Large spoon
- Whisk
- Rubber spatula
- Knife
Ingredients
- ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons xylitol-free peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 6-inch cake pan with parchment paper, then spray it with non-stick cooking spray.
- Stir the flour, baking soda, baking powder, peanut butter, oil, applesauce, egg, and honey together and then pour it into the pan.
- Bake the cake for 20 to 30 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Allow to cool completely before frosting.
Notes
Use the Greek yogurt to frost the cake to your desire. Store the cake in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Image Credit: sheri silver, Unsplash
2. Vanilla and Peanut Butter Doggie Birthday Cake
- Total cook time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
You won’t find many homemade dog cakes featuring vanilla, but this delicious vanilla and peanut butter cake is the exception. To make this cake into a healthier option, omit the honey and substitute wheat flour. Even the pickiest of babies will scarf this cake down. You can even add half of a banana and 1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt for more moisture.
3. Pumpkin Dog Cake
- Total cook time: 50 minutes
- Difficulty Level: Easy
This cake is similar to the first cake mentioned above except with added cinnamon and decorative dog treats on top. If you plan to eat this cake yourself just don’t add the dog treats. This recipe is a “true” birthday cake delight. We recommend making the pumpkin puree at home, which will take more time but that way you can ensure no additional ingredients that could be unhealthy for your dog. Go easy with the cinnamon too, to avoid an upset stomach. But you can have it made and ready to go in under an hour.
4. Dog-Safe Carrot Cake
- Total cook time: 35 minutes
- Difficulty Level: Easy
Another no-pumpkin recipe, carrots and bananas are the shining stars of this healthy birthday meal. The sweetness of the banana and carrot combine into a beautifully sweet treat. If your dog doesn’t like carrots, try substituting zucchini instead. This cake is ready to go in about 35 minutes, which is faster than most meals!
5. Pumpkin Peanut Butter Bliss Cake
- Total cook time: 1 h 30 minutes
- Difficulty Level: Easy
This cake includes layers and layers of deliciousness! This recipe calls for a stand mixer, but don’t worry if you don’t have one. Just add 10 minutes to this recipe if you plan to do it by hand. One baker used sour cream instead of yogurt for the icing and her dog loved it. The icing won’t look as pretty, but your dog won’t mind.
6. Healthy Dog Treats
- Total cook time: 50 minutes
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
This ultra-healthy dog treat recipe is the go-to if your dog has to watch what they eat. A fiber-rich option, this recipe includes baby spinach with carrot and zucchini for the ultimate health snack.
Go Easy on the Calories
Remember that cakes are for celebrations, not for everyday consumption. When you offer dog cake as a treat, follow the 10% rule. The 10% means that of your dog’s daily caloric intake, only 10% should come from treats. It’s hard to determine how many calories are in each recipe, so try a homemade recipe calorie calculator to help you out.
Also, if you need veterinary advice over your dog's nutrition, we recommend speaking with a vet.
Conclusion
Who doesn’t want to celebrate their pup’s special day? Really, some of us are looking for an excuse to start baking. Why not bake for the most eager member of your family? Plus, you can try a piece of the desert. It’s the only dog food you’ll ever enjoy!
Sources
Featured Image Credit: Wiktory, Shutterstock
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Cassidy is a vet tech and professional pet sitter turned pet writer whose passion is all things animals, both domestic and wild. She’s had a multitude of pets over the years and loves writing about the animal-human bond. She and her husband now live in Wichita with a German Shepherd named Raven, two cats, Lucy & Strudel, and a few backyard chicks.
