It is not uncommon for people to refer to their pets as their children. We see evidence of this in the market of pet-related products from fashionable clothing and high-end accessories to pet insurance and pet cemeteries. It is no wonder that people also want to include their pets in family celebrations complete with party favors and cakes.
Cakes For Dogs
It would be cruel to get a human cake for Fido’s birthday party and either not let them partake or let them indulge and then suffer the inevitable belly ache (not to mention the messes…).
But dog owners now have viable options available to provide healthy and beautiful cakes (and ice cream) made especially for doggie bellies. You can either order a cake for your pup or, if feeling adventurous, you can even make one yourself.
Make Your Own
If you like to bake, you can have unlimited creative freedom in designing your dog’s cake. You can also decorate it to fit any holiday or festivity. However, we strongly suggest that you don’t give the whole cake to your dog at one time. Cut it into small pieces and share it with other dogs in the neighborhood.
Box Dog Cake Mixes
The more cost-effective and easiest method is to bake up a pre-made box dog cake. There are many to choose from but here are a few of our favorites.
Lazy Dog Cookie Company Original Pup-PIE Dog Treat
Puppy Cake Wheat-Free Peanut Butter Cake Mix and Frosting
You can even get fun, dog-themed cupcake molds to create treats for each dog who attends your pup’s birthday party.
Double Layer Meat Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ cup softened margarine
- 6 eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 5 oz. chicken baby food
- 2 cups grated carrots
- 1 large container of plain yogurt
- 4 strips of bacon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F.
- Grease two round cake pans (8”). You may also want to flour the pans as well, though this is optional.
- In a small bowl, combine the flour and baking powder and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, beat the eggs until well blended.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the margarine; add the eggs and oil until all is well blended.
- Add the chicken and carrots. Continue beating.
- Slowly add the flour mixture until it is all well blended.
- Pour half the batter into each of the baking pans.
- Bake for approximately one hour. Test the doneness by sticking a toothpick into the center of the cakes and if it comes out clean, the cakes are ready to be taken out of the oven.
- Let the cakes cool for at least 10 minutes before turning them out to cool completely on wire racks.
While the cakes are cooling, fry the bacon so that it is very crisp. Drain, cool, then chop into small pieces.
To ice and decorate the cake, place one layer on a serving plate and cover it with 1/3 of the yogurt. Place the second layer on top of that and cover it with the remaining yogurt. Be sure to ice the sides as well. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the top.
Serving size: 1 cake
Tip: You can place “candles” on the cake by using thin snack treat sticks.
Pumpkin & Applesauce Homemade Dog Cake
This is my go-to recipe that I make for my dog every year for her adoption day anniversary. I originally got it from Love From The Oven.
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup peanut butter (do NOT use peanut butter with xylitol!)
- 1/2 cup applesauce (plain, unsweetened)
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (be sure to use pure pumpkin, not canned pumpkin pie mix)
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- In a large bowl, combine flour and baking soda.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the vegetable oil, peanut butter, applesauce, and pumpkin puree. Once combined, add in the egg and mix again.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
- Pour the mixture in a greased 8″ pan (I use a loaf pan)
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool before removing from the pan.
This cake makes 8 servings. I like to celebrate my dog’s adoption day all week long by giving her a piece of cake until it’s gone. She loves it! Sometimes I add some peanut butter or leftover pumpkin puree to the top of the cake as “frosting.”
Where To Buy Canine Celebration Cakes And Treats
If you don’t feel like making your own dog cakes, here are some sites that are user-friendly, have attractive products with nutritional information and customer reviews.
Birthday Cake Biscuits – If you want something that won’t spoil as quickly and can treat your dog the entire month, consider these Birthday Cake Biscuits. Bocce’s Bakery sent us these treats to try out in exchange for an unbiased review. They smell exactly like birthday cake, have few ingredients, and are wheat-free.
Bonne et Filou Macarons – If luxury is what you’re searching for, try these handmade gourmet macarons. We were sent a sample in exchange for an unbiased review.
These macarons smell and look good enough for humans to eat. The treats are exquisite, from their packaging to their aroma. They have all-natural ingredients and are wheat and corn-free, so I felt totally comfortable giving them to my dog. My son loved giving our dog these after dinner, and my dog was a huge fan. These would make for a special treat for your dog’s birthday, and they’re available in multiple flavors.
Dog Ice Cream
No party is complete without doggy ice cream. You can just add water using the doggy ice cream from Smart Scoops, or try making your own with this easy recipe. There’s only three ingredients and it’s relatively healthy (compared to ice cream for pup parents).
Ingredients
- 1 Quart of Fat-Free Greek Yogurt
- 2 Bananas
- 1 Cup of Natural Peanut Butter
Instructions
- Peel and slice bananas
- Put all ingredients in blender and mix until smooth
- Put in air-tight container and freeze
- Serve by the scoop or let them lick out from the container
Canine Journal Birthday Bandana
Why not dress up your pup to make them feel special with our It’s My Birthday! Confetti Dog Bandana. This high-quality bandana is designed to make your dog’s special day even more festive. Made from 100% cotton this bandana isn’t just stylish—it’s also practical. It features four coordinating plastic snaps on each side for an adjustable fit, ensuring comfort and style for dogs of all sizes. The flannel backing helps the bandana keep its shape and holds up better in the wash than other bandanas.
Dog Bandana Measurements
- XS/Small: 8-10″ collar size
- Medium: 10-16″ collar size
- Large/XL: 16-24″ collar size
Price
- $19.99 (plus free shipping)
Why Trust Canine Journal?
Kimberly rescued her dog, Sally, in 2017 and celebrates her “gotcha day” each year by making a homemade cake for her. Kimberly knows about foods not to feed dogs, so she knows what ingredients to look out for in recipes. Sally never complains about the cakes Kimberly makes her, and the family loves celebrating Sally annually.
