This Dog-Friendly Birthday Cake Will Absolutely Spoil Your Dog (Recipe)

For the past 2 years, I’ve been buying, not making, a dog-friendly birthday cake for Banjo’s special day.

While she may be oblivious to the passage of time, I’m just not the type of person to let her spend her birthday without a fancy cake.

This year, I decided it was time to try my hand at making her birthday extra special and baking a cake myself. I browsed a few recipes online and settled on one that had almost all of Banjo’s favorites.

Dog-Friendly Birthday Cake

Ingredients

Cake:

• 1 cup flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ⅛ cup vegetable oil
• ¼ cup almond butter
• ½ cup applesauce
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• 1 egg

Frosting (optional):

• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup almond butter

Drizzle (optional):

• ⅔ cup carob powder
• ½ cup hot water

Directions

1. Heat your oven to 350 F.
2. In a large bowl, mix the flour and baking soda.
3. In another medium bowl, combine the oil, almond butter, applesauce, pumpkin and egg.
4. Pour the wet mixture into the flour mixture and combine.
5. Spread the batter evenly in a greased 8- or 9-inch round cake pan.
6. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
7. Cool completely on a wire rack.
8. For the frosting, mix the yogurt and almond butter in a small bowl until well combined.
9. To create the drizzle, mix the carob powder into the hot water until completely dissolved. Allow the drizzle to cool slightly.
10. Frost the cake and pour the drizzle on top.
11. Refrigerate any leftovers.

I topped this cake using a “3”-shaped Nut Butter and Banana Dog Cookie.

If you’re planning on having a dog birthday party, you can easily double this recipe to make a double layered cake for all the pups on your guest list.

I was on the fence about adding frosting and the carob drizzle to this cake, but I also knew that the dark icing would make any little decorations really pop.

Although Banjo may not have appreciated the aesthetic value of such a lovely contrast, she certainly appreciated the taste.

Adapted from Love From the Oven.

This pet treat recipe was reviewed by a veterinarian, Dr. Judy Morgan, DVM, CVA, CVCP, CVFT, and is safe for dogs in moderation, but is not a substitute for a complete balanced diet. This recipe was last reviewed and updated May 3, 2019. Dr. Morgan operates 2 award-winning veterinary hospitals in New Jersey that offer an integrative approach to pet care. With a passion for healing her patients with whole foods, she has written several books on holistic pet care — including Yin & Yang Nutrition for Dogs, a holistic cookbook for pets.