Top 10 dog-friendly birthday cake recipes

A birthday isn't a birthday without a cake, even if you've got four legs.

Before you ask, yes, dogs do know when it's their birthday (sort of), especially if you build the habit early. And a good way to do that is with a safe, dog-friendly birthday "cake"!

But now for the boring stuff: dogs can't be as indulgent as us without risk, so you must make these as safe and healthy as possible.

That means only using dog-friendly ingredients and making sure that this is a one-off treat. We don't want to make this an obesity-causing habit.

Here, we list our favourite dog birthday cake recipes, from sweet to savoury. Let's dig in.

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Classic peanut butter and blueberry cupcakes 

These cupcakes are perfect for sharing, don't take long to cook and are an excellent last-minute panic bake for pups and dog party guests. 

You'll see a lot of peanut butter on this list as dogs love them, and the ingredients are easy to combine with fruit and other healthy things to make a dog-friendly treat.

Please make sure your peanut butter is xylitol-free.

Ingredients

• 1 large egg, whisked

• 1 cup (113 g) whole wheat flour

• 1/3 cup (30 g) quick cook oats

• 1/2 cup (118 ml) water

• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) honey - the less, the better

• 1/3 cup (90 g) of xylitol-free peanut butter

• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) canola oil

• 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) baking soda

• 1/4 cup (48 g) blueberries, fresh or frozen

Instructions

1. Pre-heat your oven to 180° C and grab yourself a muffin tin and some baking paper.

2. Whisk your egg in a large bowl, add the ingredients and stir together. Whisk until you make a batter.

3. Add in your blueberries and mix until they're in the batter.

4. Bake for around 18 minutes or so. They should look golden-brown and smell pretty good too.

5. Cool them down and dig in. Yes, we recommend giving yourself a treat and digging in with your dog - it's wholesome stuff. 

Key benefits

• High in protein

• High in fibre

• Easy to bake

• Uses accessible ingredients

• Natural sugar

Sweet potato & oat cake

A healthy, delicious cake full of nutrient-dense ingredients. If your dog's a big eater, this could be the one. 

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup of sweet potato, mashed

• 1 1/8 cup of oats

• 1/4 cup of coconut oil, melted

• 1/4 cup of xylitol-free peanut butter, melted

• 1 egg

• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon of salt

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 180C

2. Combine your sweet potato, coconut oil, xylitol-free peanut butter, egg, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon

3. Blend down your oats with a blender or food processor

4. Add in your oat flour

5. Grease your cupcake tin and fill in how many cupcakes you and your puppy can handle!

6. Bake for 14-16 minutes

7. Cool and serve!

Key benefits

• Excellent for dogs with sensitive stomachs

• Nutritious ingredients

• High in fibre

• Economical recipe

Carrot and apple cake

Packed with vitamins, fibre and flavour, we recommend this for an active dog, particularly if you have a birthday walk or hike planned.

Ingredients

• 1 large egg

• 80 grams of xylitol-free peanut butter

• 100 grams Greek yoghurt

• 20 ml vegetable oil divided (reserve 1 tsp)

• 30 grams cup honey (optional)

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 90 grams (1/2) granny smith apple, grated

• 1 carrot (50 grams) carrot, grated

• 125 grams (1 cup) all-purpose flour plus 1 tsp

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 175°C. Grease and flour a round cake pan.

2. Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl, and whisk together flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

3. Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl, whisk together applesauce, oil, egg, carrot, and banana.

4. Mix wet and dry ingredients together

5. Pour the batter into the pan.

6. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

7. Cool.

8. Prepare frosting in a medium bowl by beating together cream cheese, xylitol-free peanut butter and yoghurt until smooth.

9. Frost the cake and serve! 

Key benefits

• Antioxidant-rich

• Full of vitamins A and C

• Full of fibre

Pumpkin and honey cake

Packed with autumn spirit and flavour, this cake is tasty and full of antioxidants.

Yes, this also works for a dog Halloween party. And yes, you should definitely plan one.

Ingredients 

• 1 cup whole wheat flour

• 1/2 cup rolled oats

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

• 1 egg

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 175°C and grease and flour a round cake pan.

2. Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.

3. Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl.

4. Mix wet and dry ingredients

5. Pour batter into pan

6. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

7. Cool and serve!

Key benefits

• High fibre and good for digestion

• Full of vitamin A

• Antioxidant-rich 

Pet food safety

Can my dog eat...

Enjoying a slice of watermelon and wondering if your dog can have a bite? Check out our food safety database. We're adding new foods weekly!

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Chicken and veggie cake

Our first savoury choice is packed full of protein and makes a dog's favourite bird the centrepiece.

Make sure the chicken baby food here doesn’t have garlic or onion powder.

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour

• 1/2 cup rolled oats

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup chicken baby food (make sure it doesn’t have garlic or onion powder)

• 1/4 cup grated carrot

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup plain Greek yoghurt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 175°C and grease your cake pan.

2. Combine dry ingredients by whisking together flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Whisk together chicken baby food (remember: no onion or garlic powder), carrot, an egg and yoghurt.

4. Mix wet and dry ingredients together.

5. Pour batter into the pan

6. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

7. Cool and serve.

Key benefits

• High in protein

• Good vegetable content

• Fibre content

Apple xylitol-freepeanut butter pupcake

A tiny cake packed full of flavour, this "pupcake" is perfect for small dogs with punchy tastebuds.

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

• 1/4 cup xylitol-free peanut butter

• 1 egg

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 175°C and line your muffin tin with baking paper.

2. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl, whisking together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

3. Combine wet ingredients, whisking together applesauce, xylitol-free peanut butter, and an egg.

4. Mix wet and dry ingredients gradually

5. Fill muffin tin with batter.

6. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

7. Cool and serve.

Key benefits

• Great for small dogs

• Recommended for dogs struggling with obesity

• Lots of fibre!

Blueberry yoghurt cake

This moist cake uses yoghurt to tie everything together, making it an anti-oxidant-rich cake that'll be good for your dog's gut.

Before you ask, yes, dogs can eat yoghurt, assuming it has no artificial flavourings or nasty additives.

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour

• 1/2 cup rolled oats

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1 egg

• 1/2 cup blueberries

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 175°C and Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.

2. Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl, whisking together flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together yoghurt, honey, and egg.

4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.

5. Gently fold in the blueberries.

6. Pour batter into pan.

7. Bake for 25-30 minutes,

8. Let it cool completely before serving.

Key benefits

• Full of probiotics

• Antioxidant-rich

• Promotes healthy coat and skin

Xylitol-free peanut butter and carrot cake

Not much of a baker? Scared your dog will judge you forever? Then we recommend our simple xylitol-free peanut butter and carrot cake, blending together cheap ingredients for a tail-wagging pop of flavour.

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour

• 1/2 cup rolled oats

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup xylitol-free peanut butter

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1 egg

• 1/2 cup grated carrot

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 175°C and grease a round cake pan.

2. Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl, whisking together flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl, whisking together xylitol-free peanut butter, honey, and egg.

4. Mix wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.

5. Fold in carrots: Gently fold in the carrots.

6. Pour batter into pan: Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

7. Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

8. Cool: Let cool completely before serving.

Key benefits

• High in fibre

• Rich in healthy fats

• High in vitamin A

Spinach and sweet potato cake

Nutrient-dense, we recommend this spinach and sweet potato cake if you're putting your dog on a bit of a health kick. And yes, we promise they won't notice and will gobble it down anyway - trust. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour

• 1/2 cup rolled oats

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup mashed sweet potato

• 1/4 cup spinach, pureed

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven 175°C and grease your cake pan.

2. Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl, whisk together flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl, whisking together sweet potato, spinach puree, egg, and yoghurt.

4. Mix wet and dry ingredients.

5. Pour batter into pan.

6. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

7. Cool completely before serving.

Key benefits

• Rich in vitamins and minerals

• Anti-oxidant-rich recipe

• Low calorie

Salmon and sweet potato cake

This omega-rich cake is perfect for dogs who would be pescatarian if they could choose.

Ingredients

• 1 can of salmon in water drained and flaked – do not use one in brine or salt.

• 1 medium sweet potato (baked and mashed)

• 2 large eggs

• 1/3 cup coconut flour

• Coconut oil (for greasing the pan)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 175°C.

2. Mix wet ingredients and beat eggs until fluffy.

3. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Fold in the coconut flour and salmon. Let the mixture rest for 10 minutes to allow the flour to absorb the moisture.

4. Add mashed sweet potato.

5. Grease a 9x9 inch baking pan with coconut oil.

6. Bake for 60-70 minutes or until firm and golden brown.

7. Cool and cut into desired shapes.

Key benefits

• Promotes healthy skin

• Omega-3 rich

• Makes a coat healthier

Tips for a safe birthday celebration

• Always use dog-safe ingredients, and avoid any harmful foods like chocolate, raisins, or artificial sweeteners. Never use products with xylitol, excessive salt, onion, garlic or grapes.

• Monitor your dog while they enjoy the cake to make sure they don’t eat too quickly or overeat.

• Check for allergies, especially if you have visitors. You should know if your dog has allergies anyway, but if you're hosting a birthday party with four-legged friends, make sure you don't trigger any of theirs either.

• Consider insurance. Celebrating your dog’s big day is a joy, but accidents or health issues can happen. Having dog insurance can provide peace of mind by covering unexpected vet visits.

Our article on organising a dog-friendly birthday party can help.

How dog insurance can help

Dog insurance can help you prepare for the unexpected, keeping your dog safe for many birthdays to come.

We help with up to £15,000 vet fee cover, unlimited 24/7 vet calls with FirstVet and a host of other perks.

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