You might be one of those owners who just really wants to make their dogs birthday special, and what better way to do that then make them a cake?! The most important thing about dog cakes is that they’re safe for your pooch to eat. We have developed our own flexible recipe that you can alter and make a delicious and safe treat for your dog!
This recipe will have no specific measurements so you can adjust them to your dog’s liking. The ingredients are safe for dogs in moderation, so you should not be making this cake for your pet every single day!
The best thing about this is that you can add some of your dog’s favourite foods! Maybe they’re an apple fan or like peanut butter? Get creative and adjust the taste and look of your cake to personalise it for your dog! But in the end, don’t worry, they’ll probably be happy with anything!!
Ingredients:
Mince Beef – The beef is the foundation of this recipe. It is the thing that your dog will probably LOVE the most! The great thing about the mincemeat in this recipe is that it’s ok if your dog eats the beef raw. However, we do prefer to cook this in the oven for them…
Grated And chunky Carrot – Adding lots of grated carrot can just add some additional flavour for your dog. As well as grated, you may also add some slices of carrot into the cake for some more texture, these will probably become softer as the cake cooks. Carrot is a super yummy and healthy treat for your dog in a cake or not!
Breadcrumbs – We don’t add too many breadcrumbs as they aren’t the healthiest option, but they do make the cake more stable and moist.
Egg – If you are making mini-individual cakes for 2 (or 1) dogs then 1 egg would do just fine. The egg is a binding ingredient and can help the mince shape better and be formed into a cake easier. Cooked eggs a great for dogs and can serve for a very tasty treat!
Cheese (Cheddar) – The cheese is just a little extra to top off this cake. If you put it on the top but the flip over the cake to get it out of the ramekin, then it will end up on the bottom which is a very yummy addition. Dogs generally do really like cheese and they can be a tasty treat! For this recipe, we use cheddar.
Slice of bread – A slice of bread isn’t that necessary but was inspired by one of my dogs who LOVES bread even though they don’t get it very often. This is not cooked but is added when plating and goes underneath the cake. We find it best to cut it in a circle of the same size of the cake, so it is practically an additional tier.
Yoghurt – If you want to go the extra step of icing your cake, we recommend using Greek yoghurt! The yoghurt can be a simple but yummy icing idea that is safe for your dog.
Slices of banana – Another decorating idea is some slices of banana. Banana is a yummy treat for dogs, and it could look especially good paired with a few blueberries. Other ways you could use banana is mash it for some icing (however it would be quite lumpy) or to put in the middle of the cake (if you cut the cake in half) …
As you have probably thought by now, the flavour combinations in this aren’t exactly appealing to us, however, to your dog it would be a very yummy treat! There are loads of ways you can customise this to make it to your dog’s liking by adding ingredients – especially for decoration.
Method:
To make this dog cake you will need to mix these ingredients together in a bowl (With a spoon or with your hands):
- Minced Beef
- Grated & Chunky Carrot
- Breadcrumbs
- Egg
Once it is mixed, get your Ramekin/s and fill them with the ‘cake mixture’ (the amount to your liking). You will want to press down on it with your hand to make sure it is all firm and packed together. Doing this will ensure that the cake doesn’t just fall apart and crumble when you plate it later and instead hold its shape.
Now, top your cake off with a sprinkle of cheese!
We don’t have specific instructions for cooking, but we recommend putting them in at 180°c (356°F) until the cheese is melted and a little bit crispy and golden.
Once cooked, take the cakes out and let them cool to room temp, then remove them from the Ramekins and put them on a plate to decorate. Put some yoghurt on top and then spread it around the cake with a butter knife. Then decorate however you like!!
Other Ideas
With this cake recipe you can get creative! We encourage you to experiment with other dog safe ingredients! Here are a few ideas:
Peanut Butter – This can be used instead of yoghurt for ‘icing’, if it is a thick peanut butter, you may need to add a tiny splash of liquid to it first though just to make it easier to spread.
Dog Food (Dry) – Put some of your dog’s food in between two sheets of baking paper and crush it up with the end of a rolling pin. Now you have a dog food crumb which you could sprinkle on top or add a little inside the cake!
Apple – As well as carrot, grated apple is a great addition to add to the ‘cake batter’.
Ham – If you really want to get creative then you could let ham act as a sort of fondant when decorating your cake. Spread some yoghurt or peanut butter underneath first though to make it stick better.
Honey – A little drizzle of honey inside the cake or on top can be a sweet addition! Make sure not to go too crazy with this but a nice teaspoon could make your dog’s cake sweeter.
Popcorn – If you have some unsalted and unbuttered popcorn, then feel free to add some on top of the cake for decoration!
Notes
- These sorts of ‘Human Foods’ aren’t good for dogs to have on a regular basis so only give your pooch this cake on special occassions
- It is a good idea to consult your vet about ingredients before feeding them to your dog
- Lactose Intolerance can be common in dogs so make sure that your dog will be ok with the yoghurt – this is a good thing to ask your vet
- Have fun and get creative!