5 from 2 votes

Birthday cakes aren’t just for people! Try this super easy, super fun dog birthday cake for your four legged friend’s next yearly milestone!

Dog eating a slice of cake on a pink plate.

We all know our dogs are our children. They give us all their love and deserve only the best. And by best, I mean their own tent for camping, their own blanket for sleeping, the best dog food, and yes, birthday cakes.

Ok, maybe that is a little extreme (not really – Rhubarb has all of the above), but even if your dog maybe doesn’t need a tent, they would love a dog-friendly cake. Plus, this cake is so easy to make so there is no reason your best pal shouldn’t get this cake for their birthday!

And as an ecstatic (and exhausted and obsessed) #dogmom to a now one year old puppy, it’s time to make some cake!

Dog cake with decorative frosting, dog treats, and candle letters that spell out Happy Birthday.

Ingredients for a Dog Birthday Cake

Dog cakes can be found at bakeries around the country, but they are easier than you think to make at home! This one has carrots (great for dogs eyes), peanut butter (because it tastes delicious, just don’t use the one with xylitol!), and a delicious potato and yogurt dog cake frosting!

Cake

All Purpose Flour: Flour is fine for dogs in small amounts. This helps give the cake structure. Feel free to use a whole wheat flour for added fiber and nutrients.
Baking Soda: Baking soda is definitely needed to help the cake rise and give it a fluffy texture.
Apple Sauce: This adds the natural sweet flavor dogs enjoy, along with moisture (whereas traditional cake uses oil to accomplish this). Just make sure you are using no sugar added applesauce.
Shredded Carrots: Feel free to use pre-shredded carrots, or you can shred carrots using a grater. Carrots have all the best nutrients for your four legged friend.
Peanut Butter: What dog doesn’t like peanut butter?? Peanut butter acts as the fat in this cake (for better baking) and has a very strong smell that makes it irresistible to dogs!
Eggs: Eggs are critical to help cakes rise, but also add protein for a more nutrient dense cake.

Frosting

Potatoes: We will boil and mash these potatoes for a delicious, whipped frosting!
Yogurt: Low fat or fat free yogurt can be used, but be sure it doesn’t have xylitol in it Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is toxic to dogs.

Potatoes are a great way to make fun and dog friendly frosting. They whip and spread like frosting but are perfectly safe for dogs to eat. Think mashed potatoes but slightly thicker. I like to call them the magic frosting ingredient because it is cheap, quick, and white in color to ensure you have a truly festive cake!

A slice of dog birthday cake being removed from the whole cake using a cake server.

How to make a Dog Birthday Cake

Ok, this cake is so easy peasy that your dog may be getting cake a couple times a year!

Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). Grease and lightly flour a round 8-inch cake pan (or smaller tiered pans).

Step 2: Make the cake batter
In a large bowl, stir together flour and baking soda, then add in applesauce, carrots, peanut butter, and eggs. Stir to combine.

Ingredients for the cake in a glass bowl that include eggs, shredded carrots, apple sauce, flour, baking soda, and peanut butter.

Step 3: Bake
Pour cake batter into cake pan(s). Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow cake to cool fully before removing from pan.

Cake batter in two round cake pans that have been dusted with flour.

Step 4: Cook Potatoes for Frosting
Once the cake is out of the oven and cooling, begin making frosting (frosting needs to be hot when it’s piped on the cake because it hardens once cooled). Cook potatoes until very soft, either by microwaving or boil until fork tender.

diced and peeled white potatoes in a glass bowl with plastic wrap covering them.

Step 5: Whip
Mash the potatoes until smooth, then use an electric beater to whip them together with the yogurt.

Step 6: Decorate
Spread some of the icing onto the cake, optionally using a piping bag to add icing decoration around the cake. Decorate with your dogs favorite treats, or even fresh fruit!

Two layers of dog birthday cake stacked with white frosting in between and more frosting being added on top with an offset spatula.

A piping tip making decorative designs with the white frosting on the dog birthday cake.

Switch it up

Swap Out The Applesauce: Looking for alternate ways to enjoy this cake? Try using mashed bananas or pumpkin puree (unsweetened) in place of applesauce!

Try A Different Frosting: You can make an even simpler frosting by using plain, low fat yogurt or peanut butter as the frosting.

Topping Ideas: Feel free to decorate the cake with any dog-friendly treats you have on hand! Ideas include blueberries, strawberries, banana slices, apple slices, or dog treats.

Storage Tips

It’s unlikely (and not advised) that your dog will eat all the cake. To store it for later, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, either as a whole cake or in individual slices and freeze or refrigerate.

Dog birthday cake stacked into two tiers, frosted, sitting on a cake stand, and decorated with dog bones and candle letters that spell out Happy Birthday.

More Recipes Worth Barking Over

Looking for other ways to spoil your pup? Try these recipes!

Homemade Dog Popsicles are the perfect treat for a dogs summer birthday and goes great with a dog cake. They even have editable popsicle sticks!
Dog Charcuterie Board is the coolest, trendiest way to celebrate your doggo. All their favorite treats on one board?? Yes please!
Dog-Friendly Banana Splits: A banana split for breakfast? Why not! And share it with your dog? Even better! With sweet berries, crispy granola, and a protein boost, this banana split for dogs can be enjoyed at any time of day.
Egg Muffin Cups: These dog-friendly Egg Muffin Cups are a choose-your-adventure kind of breakfast that can feed the whole family (and we mean the WHOLE family).

A slice of cake being removed from the whole cake using a cake server.

A dog licking the frosting off of a slice of cake on a pink plate while wearing a party hat.

Dog Birthday Cake with Mashed Potato Frosting

Prep: 15

Cook: 45

Total: 1

Servings: servings

Author: Sarah Bond

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Birthday cakes aren't just for people! Try this super easy, super fun dog birthday cake for your four legged friend's next yearly milestone!

Ingredients

Dog Cake

1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup applesauce
1 cup shredded carrots
½ cup peanut butter DO NOT use peanut butter that contains xylitol
2 eggs

Dog-Friendly Frosting

2 lbs potatoes peeled and chopped
1 cup plain low fat yogurt DO NOT use yogurt that contains xylitol

Instructions

Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Grease and lightly flour a round 8-inch cake pan (or smaller tiered pans).
Cake Batter: In a large bowl, stir together flour and baking soda, then add in applesauce, carrots, peanut butter, and eggs. Stir to combine.
Bake: Pour cake batter into cake pan(s). Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow cake to cool fully before removing from pan.
Cook Potatoes for Frosting: Once cake is out of the oven and cooling, begin making frosting (frosting needs to be hot when it's piped on the cake because it hardens once cooled). Cook potatoes until very soft, either by microwaving or boiling until fork-tender.
Whip: Mash the potatoes until smooth, then use an electric beater to whip them together with the yogurt.
Decorate: Spread some of the icing onto the cake, optionally using a piping bag to add icing decoration around the cake. Decorate with your dogs favorite treats, or even fresh fruits!

Notes

Serving size will differ based on dog size, age, and activity level. Be sure to adjust the serving to how many calories your dog needs!