How to make a dog cake

Our furry friends bring us so much joy that we hardly need an excuse to spoil them! However when their birthday or a special holiday like Love Your Pet Day (February 20th) rolls around, many of us want to treat them to something special. That’s where these dog cake recipes comes in!

Dog cakes (or pupcakes, as some like to call them) are a tasty way to celebrate. They also make for a great photo op. Before you get started, we’ll walk you through the ingredients that are healthiest for your pup.

What kind of flour should I use for my dog cake?

We suggest being selective with the type of flour you use in your dog cake recipes. Though flour is a common binding agent in dry food and dog biscuits, not all flour is the same. Since you’re making your dog cake from scratch, you can choose the flour that is best for your dog’s health.

All-purpose, white flour is the most common flour, but it is extremely processed and low in nutrients. Instead, opt for whole grain flour, like whole wheat, if you’d like to use a common, healthier option.

If your pup is sensitive to wheat, on a grain-free diet or you just want to bake with nutrient-dense ingredients, consider using non-grain flour.

What other ingredients should I use?

Since you’ll be incorporating “human food” into your dog cake, make sure to double check that it is fido-friendly. Resources like the AKC have lists to help you decide what ingredients are right for your pooch. To get started, here are common foods that you should and shouldn’t feed your dog:

Dog Cake Recipes

Now that you know how to choose ingredients, let’s get baking! We’ve created five dog cake recipes so that you can give your pup a sweet treat on their special day, because what’s cuter than a dog birthday cake?

Coconut Berry Dog Cake

You might be tempted to try this refreshing dog cake! The blueberries and strawberries are rich in antioxidants, Vitamin C and phytochemicals, which are great for your dogs health. Coconut oil, another ingredient, is also good for digestion and enhances your pet’s coat. The recipe below makes one 4-inch cake.

Cake ingredients

• 1½  cups coconut flour
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
• ¼ cup blueberries
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons honey

Frosting ingredients

• ¾ cup plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons honey (optional)
• Strawberries and blueberries (topping)
• Natural food coloring (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350℉.
2. Mix together honey, eggs and melted coconut oil. Then stir in flour and blueberries.
3. Grease one 4 inch springform pan with coconut oil. Fill with batter and bake for 20-25  minutes, until the center is firm.
4. Remove from oven and let cool.
5. Mix together yogurt, honey and food coloring for the frosting. Frost cake and top with berries.

Apple Banana Dog Cake

You can’t go wrong with apples and bananas. Apples are a great source of fiber, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Just make sure you don’t feed your dog apple seeds, as that can make them sick. Bananas are rich in potassium and fiber, which can help dogs with gastrointestinal issues. Top this dog cake with apple slices for an extra treat! This recipe makes two large cupcakes.

Cake ingredients

• 1 cup almond flour
• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
• ¼ cup shredded apple
• 1 mashed banana
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ cup water

Frosting ingredients

• 1 mashed bananas
• Apple slices (topping)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350℉.
2. Mix together mashed banana, shredded apple and applesauce. Then stir in flour and water.
3. Grease pan with coconut oil and bake for 20-25 minutes until center is firm.
4. Mix together mashed bananas and flour until you get a frosting-like consistency.
5. Let cake cool and decorate with mashed banana and apple slices.

Sweet Potato Carrot Dog Cake

We used a fun, bone-shaped pan for this sweet potato dog cake. If you purchase a silicone version like we did, you can also make pup-sicles (or ice cubes filled with fruit) on warm days. Layer the sweet potato puree and yogurt for contrasting toppings, or mix together for a pale orange frosting. This recipe makes three bone-shaped cakes.

Cake ingredients

• 1 cup almond flour
• ½ cup sweet potato puree
• ½ cup shredded carrots
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ cup water

Frosting ingredients

• ¼ cup plain nonfat yogurt
• ¼ cup sweet potato puree
• Shredded carrots (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350℉.
2. Mix together honey, coconut oil and sweet potato puree. Add almond flour, baking powder and water, then stir in carrots.
3. Grease pan with coconut oil. Add batter and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the center is firm.
4. After the cake cools, top with sweet potato puree, yogurt and shredded carrots.

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Cake

If your dog loves to lick spoonfuls of peanut butter, this is the cake for them! Top it with dog beef jerky or a mini bone for decoration. If you add a candle for a photo op, make sure to remove it before your pup digs in. This recipe makes five mini bundt cakes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup oat flour
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ¼ cup peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 egg

Frosting

• ½ cup nonfat yogurt
• ¼ cup peanut butter
• Mini dog treats (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350℉.
2. Mix together pumpkin puree, peanut butter, eggs and honey. Then stir in flour and baking powder.
3. Grease tins with coconut oil and fill with batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the center is firm.
4. Mix together yogurt and peanut butter. Once cake has cooled, frost and decorate with dog biscuits.

Meat Lover’s Dog Cake

Treat your pup to this meat lover’s special. The recipe below makes one mini meatloaf. We suggest slicing this into smaller pieces to feed to fido instead of giving him the whole loaf. Feel to swap the peas and carrots for your dog’s favorite veggies!

Cake ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 egg
• ½ cup oats
• ½ cup shredded carrots
• ½ cups peas (fresh or frozen)

Frosting ingredients

• 1 potato
• ½ cup water
• Peas and carrots (topping)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350℉.
2. Chop and boil potatoes until soft. This will take about 20 minutes.
3. Mix together beef, egg, oats, carrots and peas.
4. Grease baking tins with coconut oil and add meat. Bake for 30-40 minutes until meat is cooked through.
5. While meat is baking, make your mashed potato frosting. Add boiled potatoes to a bowl. Mix with a hand mixer, adding water until your potatoes reach the desired consistency.
6. Once meat cakes have cooled, frost with potatoes and decorate with peas and carrots.

More Dog Cake Recipes

If you need more dog cake inspiration, check out these recipes.

Whether it’s your dog’s birthday, they just graduated from training school or you just want to treat them to a little something special, dog cakes will do the trick. While they’re enjoying their pupcake, treat yourself something special out of a personalized pet mug. Even better, take it to work to remind you of your furry friend all day.