This puppy cake recipe post is courtesy of our contributor Chantelle…Today I am sharing one of my very favorite birthday cake recipes. It is far from being the tastiest cake recipe in my collection, but I guarantee that it has always gone down very well with the guest of honor.
The cake is a dense carrot-based cake with a rich banana cream cheese icing perfect for your favorite four-legged friend. It is made of common ingredients you would find in the grocery store, or your own home pantry, and smells great while cooking. I came across the recipe after wading through several unappetizing dog cake recipes that involved meat and while I suppose it wouldn’t be much different than a meatloaf, the thought of ground beef in a birthday cake just seemed very wrong to me.
We are blessed with our pets for such a short time that I feel it is worth celebrating their time with us. This week we will be celebrating our bully basset’s 7th birthday and we will mark the occasion by picking out a couple new toys and baking her this cake. Our dogs are truly members of the family and they deserve a special treat on their birthday just as any of the human members.
Don’t miss these freebies to help plan and decorate your party!
Happy Birthday Banner & Food Labels: Visit our Puppy PAWty for links to the free printables.
Invitation – print, fill in party details, hand out to family and friends.
Peanut Butter Delight Dog Birthday Cake:
- 1 cup white or whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 egg
- Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 container of baby food bananas
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Mix together flour and baking soda.
- Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Pour into a small round pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Frosting:
- Beat ingredients together and use to frost cake.
This cake can be made as a full cake or as individual cupcakes. I have decorated it several different ways, but some of my favorites have been to bake it in a loaf pan and cut it into a bone shape or to bake in a small round pan with a few cupcakes to create a paw print shape. The ingredients in this cake are all dog safe and none of our dogs have ever gotten ill after enjoying a little more than they probably should.
Just as with my tiny human family members, the icing is always the first thing to disappear off this cake!
Looking for another option? Check out this PUPcakes recipe made for dogs!
We’d like to send a big THANK YOU to Chantelle for sharing this cute & puppy-approved recipe with us. Be sure to follow her on Facebook to stay updated on all her fabulous ideas.
Our labradoode’s birthday is next week and I was debating buying a cake somewhere (no clue where!) but hmmm, now maybe I could make her one! Wondering though if it will cause any issues later (digestion?) But…what else are you supposed to do on your birthday but over indulge I guess LOL!
I certainly over indulge on my birthday! That’s part of the fun! 😉
Is the batter running or not?
Hi Maggie,
The batter will be quite thick. It makes for a pretty dense cake/cupcakes.
Chantelle
Hi Tenille,
I have never noticed any digestion issues in our dogs when I have made this, but they also tend to get quite a few treats they shouldn’t with 2 young kids in the house. They enjoy the cake over a couple days and it doesn’t end up being too much shared between our two medium sized dogs. If you are concerned, you could also bake as mini cupcakes and freeze some so they are not getting it all at once.
Chantelle
What size cake will this make
What are the sprinkles? Do you bake cupcakes same amount of time?
Dies this make one cake pan or 2? The photo looks like 2.
Yes what are the sprinkles??
I am making this now, I substituted applesauce for the oil, healthier too, will make the icing from P.B and greek yogurt
Do you put Honey in it? Honey is not super good for dogs
OMG, that’s the sweetest thing I have even seen! Look at that puppy smile! 😀 I never thought of baking a cake for my dog and she is a Christmas Eve’s baby (reason more to celebrate). I absolutely adore this post. Pinned and shared! Thank you for linking up at Thursday Favorite Things, hope to see you again this week!
I absolute love this! I can’t wait to make it for my little Brucey…he turns 1 year old in 4 days. Do you think it would be OK if I used canola oil instead of vegetable oil?
Dogs aren’t supposed to have honey or cinnamon just FYI
Yes, they can have both… I don’t know where you heard that but it’s definitely not true. Both are safe.
Hi Madeline,
If you or others are concerned, I think both of these ingredients would be fairly easy to leave out of the recipe without it affecting how it bakes. The dogs certainly won’t know what they are missing!
Thanks,
Chantelle
You can give dogs honey. They say if a dog has allergies give them a spoon of local honey cuz of the pollen in it.
Dogs can have cinnamon and honey but not NUTMEG!
My vet told me to mix medicine with honey to make him take it so definitely not true!! Recipe sounds yummy thanks will be making tomorrow!
Is it safe to use cream cheese? My little chiweenie has a sensitive stomach and I don’t want to make her sick.
Hi Mariah! Good question – I’ll see if I can find an answer for you!
Maybe try plain yogurt…..it’s easier on the tummy for some pups then cream cheese 🤗
It’s never been stated that dogs can’t or shouldn’t have honey or cinnamon. Not sure where you received your wrong information, but they can definitely have both.
Hi Mariah,
My dogs have never had issues with the creamcheese, but I understand the concern with dogs and dairy. You could always leave the icing off if you think it is going to cause issues with your pup – perhaps a light coating of doggy friendly peanut butter could be used as frosting.
Chantelle
I shall use vegan cream cheese – Tofutti plain is best. My dog is allergic to milk 😁
try coconut yougurt or goat milk yougurt
Yes I would use cream cheese to give him his medicine (pill). Worked like a charm, but there is just a few things he doesn’t love.
I made this for my dog for his 1st birthday he loved it! My brother’s dog had some as well and they were both begging for more. I even tried a piece and it was good! A great recipe I’ll be making this every year for his birthday! I’m sure every dog is different but mine had no problems with digesting the cake he kept looking for more!
I am glad your pups (and you) enjoyed it Christiana!
Making this for my corgi’s 4th birthday! I know she will love it, thanks. I am guessing an 8″ pan, though i have 9″, too.
Hi Patti,
This is a smaller recipe so I typically use my 6″ springform pan or loaf pan. The cake in the images is a 6″ cake.
Thanks, Chantelle
Idk. My Corgi has not eaten it yet. Only made one layer. Not enough batter.
The frosting looks bad. I used cream CHS. Baby banana food and cinnamon . It is a lumpy brownish Cor.
Oh well
I have a Frenchie, Rocco, who turns eight tomorrow looks like the perfect cake to make. Thank you.
Can I use baby applesauce instead of bananas
Hi Tasha,
I think applesauce would work fine as a substitute. The consistency is very similar to that of the banana baby food and you just need it to help thin out the cream cheese to a consistency similar to frosting.
Chantelle
Please make sure to add Xylitol-free peanut butter to the recipe. Many common butters (Jif, Skippy, store brands) are now adding xylitol, which is deadly to dogs. ~A Vet Tech
Great to know, Stacey! Thank you!
Thanks for the heads up Stacey. The Dog for Dog brand also sells a pet friendly Dogsbutter that I have been meaning to try in this recipe.
Chantelle
Can cats have this too?
I have heard that cats don’t have taste buds for sweet things, so although it’s probably not bad for them, they most likely won’t eat it.
My cat likes watermelon cantelope and buttercream frosting .I have to make sure I don’t leave any of that out or he is in it.
Ha! Those cats can be sneaky!
What did you sprinkle on top of the icing? It looks cute!
Yes, what are the colorful sprinkles on top of the cupcakes?
Hi! We are excited for your cake for our almost 1 year old chocolate lab! What did you sprinkle on top of the cake? 🙂
Hi Sisi’s Mom,
I just used regular nonpareils sprinkles. I have seen them used on treats in pet bakery’s so I figured a small amount isn’t harmful to dogs.
Chantelle
Can I use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil?
Hi Daniela,
From the information I can find on coconut oil, it is safe and actually provides some health benefits for dogs. Our bulldog’s birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I think I might try it with the coconut oil this time as well.
Chantelle
Can I use all-purpose flour instead of white or whole wheat?
Thanks
Hi Kaylee,
I think white flour would be fine, but the whole wheat is recommended as it is easier for dogs to digest.
Chantelle
Is it okay to double the recipe if I’m going to use a 9″ round pan (I have 4 dogs!)? Wouldn’t it be too much for 9 inches?
Hi Richelle,
I would definitely double for a 9″ pan. I typically bake this recipe in a 6″ pan. If you have extra, you can always make a few cupcakes/muffins to freeze as treats for a later.
Chantelle
If the recipe’s for a 6″ pan, then for the same depth in a 9″ pan you would need 2.25 times as much mix.
I just made this today for my puppies first birthday and her best playmate who turns 3 in a couple days.
They absolutely loved this cake.
I added a little food colouring to brighten it up, and made it a layer cake so there was frosting in the middle.
I will definitely be using this recipe again next year
That’s great to hear, Brittany! Thank you!
Does this make enough for one cake pan or 2? A regular size cake is 2 layers…so I just need to know if I need to double the recipe to make a 2-layer cake. thank you!
Since we were having this for my German Shepherd’s first birthday with 6 of his friends from daycare i doubled the recipe and used two 8″ pans to layer the cake. Didn’t need to double the frosting as there was plenty to use in between layers also. Every dog loved this cake and came back for seconds! I had about 1/4 of the cake to take home and now my Shepherd actually knows the word “cake” and looks to the refrigerator for more!
Hi! Thanks for the recipe. I made the cake for my girls’ 3 year adoptaversary. She ate a big piece! And had not stomach issues at all! The humans enjoyed as well. It’s a great recipe!!
This is so wonderful to hear, Evelyn! Thank you for sharing with us.
I need to make this cake in advance. Can it be frozen?
The cake portion can definitely be frozen. I would recommend baking, cooling, and freezing in plastic wrap or a large Ziploc bag. When you are ready to use the cake, take it out, unwrap, and thaw completely before icing.
Thanks, Chantelle
Are these treats also for humans too?
Hi Bebe,
It most certainly can be eaten by humans. I have tasted crumbs and it is just a dense carrot cake – I might modify the icing to a sweeter creamcheese icing for myself though.
Chantelle
Wondering how it will effect the recipe if I substitute the egg for a banana. My pup is allergic to chicken and we try to stay away from anything that has to relate to a chicken.
Your thoughts
Hi Tiffany,
I don’t have much experience substituting ingredients so I am not 100% sure. I have read that you can substitute 1/4 cup applesauce + 1/2 tsp baking powder for an egg, but have never really tried with banana. Luckily most dogs aren’t too picky, so it might be worth experimenting with.
Chantelle
This is an amazing recipe my dog loved an I loved it. It was surprisingly delicious with a good texture and my dog enjoyed it I also put dog biscuits as decoration and it looks awesome
Great to hear, Kaitlyn! Thank you!
My dog is about to turn 6 and he isn’t a big fan of peanut butter, does anyone think we could substitute pumpkin here?
Hi Sydney,
I am not sure, but I think it would be worth a try. My concern would be that the pumpkin doesn’t have the oil content the peanut butter does, but I think there is still enough fat in the cake with the vegetable oil. It is a fairly dense cake and the pumpkin does seem like a good substitute for peanut butter in terms of consistency.
Chantelle
I made this for my dog’s 5th birthday, it looks amazing!! He loves it!! I had to substitute the carrots for apples, and it turned out great!!
Great to hear, Kate!
Do you have to modify the baking time if you wanted to make this recipe into cupcakes or using a few rammekins instead of cake pan?
Hi Lea,
Yes I would modify the baking time for cupcakes or ramekins. I would guess around 15-18 minutes would do it for regular sized cupcakes.
Hope this helps,
Chantelle
When making this for your fur babies, be sure to use “Alcohol-Free” vanilla. The most common vanilla extracts, and imitation vanillas found in stores are made with around 35% alcohol, which is not safe for dogs to ingest. I used this recipe to make “pup-cakes” for my dog’s first birthday. He loved them!
Thank you for the info and feedback, Ashley!
I would like to make mini cupcakes for my Chihuahua’s b-day, what is the recommended cooking time for that and baking temp?
Hi Mikaele,
I would use the same baking temp, but the mini cupcakes should cook up in 9-11 minutes. I have done the mini cupcakes before and they are a great treat size for the dogs.
Chantelle
I am going to bake this this weekend to celebrate the adoptaversary of my bulldog/Boston terrier mix. Thanks very much!
I’m going to make this for my little staffy cross Buds who turns 17 this Sunday. I am going to bake in square tin and cut into number 17 and frost. I am sure he and the human family will love it… thanks for the great recepie…
I am definitely making this for the love of my life, Zelda! She my beautiful, very smart and honestly the best dog! She’s full, dark chocolate English Labadore. My best friend. 💙 Zelda will absolutely loves this!! I love cupcakes so I will make a cake and some cupcakes as well. (For me, lol) siince this sounds like it will be very tasty 😁
and to freeze some for later treats!
I think I as well will sub the veg oil for Apple sause or coconut oil though…. But, definitely the sprinkles. Sprinkles is a must! Lol!
Her Birthday is this Sunday she will be 3 years old! But 21 in dog years so maybe we’ll go out for drinks After! Haha j.k!!! 😁
She sounds like a very loved dog Michelle. My sister is a white lab and he’s an absolute sweetheart.
I hope Zelda had a great birthday and enjoyed her cake!
Chantelle
Can any type of dog eat this??
Don’t know if it is just me but found that i had to add another 15 minutes onto the cooking time for a 6” cake as it was still uncooked in the middle
What kind of sprinkles did you use ?
Hi I have just bought all of the ingredients except for cinamon. Is it ok to use syrup instead? Or vanilla instead?. I got coconut spray stuff instead of the veg oil and fat free yogurt and bananas instead of buying baby food. Will that be ok?
I dont have honey What else can i use or can i just leave it out without ruining it?
Thank you for the recipe! I would like to point out a couple of dangers in some ingredients some people may choose to use, that are unaware of their toxicity even though your recipe calls for safe levels – people should be aware of the dangers and lethal dosage levels. As well as some ingredients may contain toxic substances if not properly shopped for/avoided:
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate): Toxicosis may be seen at 10-20g/kg of body weight. This equates to 2-4 teaspoons per kg of body weight.
Vanilla: Vanilla Extract AND Imitation Vanilla contains alcohol which is toxic to dogs, when buying alcohol free extract, propylene glycol (although claimed to be safe/less lethal of glycols) which is lethal to cats, dogs however – The oral median lethal dose (LD50) of propylene glycol in dogs has been reported to be ~9 ml/kg body weight. Experimentally, propylene glycol administration in dogs at 2 g/kg/day has caused no adverse effects.
Peanut butter, Honey and Cream Cheese Frosting: None of these are bad, HOWEVER, any of these can potentially contain the sweetener Xylitol which IS VERY TOXIC to dogs and should be avoided at all costs.
Again thanks for the recipe, it has safe levels of baking soda and vanilla. I just wanted to point out those are both toxic in higher doses, and for people to be careful when choosing the peanut butter, honey and frosting to avoid Xylitol if any of those contain it.
I made these for my pup’s 1st birthday this weekend and he loved it! I substituted the honey and oil with applesauce and used peanut butter and plain Greek yogurt for the frosting, but they made adorable little cupcakes. Very dense batter, but they bake up nicely. It felt awesome knowing that I could spoil my little boy, and know that it was healthy and safe for him. He is so funny with new foods, and so I had to hand feed it to him in small pieces, but he even licked the crumbs off the floor! <3
That’s so cute, Katy! I’m glad to hear that he enjoyed it!
My JR turned 8 on the 5th and my min schnauzer is same age but not sure when she was born as I rescued her and decided her birthday would also be the 5th but its my birthday 12th so I decided I would bake them a cake and we could celebrate together.
Im going to try out this peanut butter doggie delight one. Although they not so keen on peanut butter but I suppose mixed in with other ingredients would they know?
I will post once the party is over.
From Bubbles and Chai
I hope your fur babies enjoy the cake!
I’m planning on making this for one of my dogs “gotcha day” going on 6 years this month! But all my dog are Chihuahua’s (have 4) so I’m thinking cupcakes. Also planning on freezing some. Have you actually tried it and it’s completely okay?
Forgot to add I’m planning on skipping the vanilla. I’m sure it’ll be fine without it.
Hi,
I am attempting to make this cake for a friend. How many KG would you advised for ‘1 cup white or whole wheat flour’ ?
Thanks 🙂
Ohhh my gosh Chantelle I’ve made this 2 years in a row and this year my neighbors loved it soo much they devoured it before I even sang happy birthday… lol I made a paw and it was supposed to be for their dogs and my Lily … lol
So in ALOT of comments the question is what are the sprinkles? Can I use a pink food coloring to add to icing? I would like to have the sprinkles also. What may I use?
Made this for my baby girl for her 1st birthday yesterday🐾 🎉and she LOVED IT!!
Turned out great! Thank you👌👍😍🎉
Is Vanilla Extract okay for dogs??
I doubled the recipe and it turned out amazing! My dogs loved it and we froze the rest for teething treats for the puppy.
My baby turns 1 on Monday…. I really wanna make this for him; I think he is going to love it!!! Thank You!!!
I was wondering how much yogurt I should use if I were to switch it out with cream cheese?
Made this for my two doggos. I used applesauce instead of the oil and used a 6 inch pan. Those two changes might be the reason why it took an extra 10 minutes to bake. No time to make the frosting, so I just used cool whip The cake came out fantastic and the pups devoured it. Thanks for sharing!