Easy Dog Birthday Cake (With Mashed Potato Frosting!)

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!

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!

A brown dog with a birthday hat on eating birthday cake

The full recipe for this Dog Birthday Cake is over on our dog food blog, Bone Appétreat! It’s such a fun and delicious addition to any dog pawty.

Speaking of! We threw a pawty last weekend as a celebration of Bone Appétreat launching (along with Rhubarb’s 1st Birthday)! It was colorful and crazy and filled with all her favorite people and pups.

Ingredients for Dog 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.

Ingredient tip

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 dog cake with candles that say happy birthday

How to make Dog 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.

Eggs, carrots, peanut butter, flour, and applesauce in a glass mixing bowl

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.

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.

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!