Easy Dog Birthday Cake Recipe: Banana, Pumpkin & Carrot (Mini Pupcakes Too!)

Looking for a banana‑carrot dog birthday cake that won’t upset a small tummy? You’re in the right kitchen. 

This soft, oat‑flour sponge uses banana, pumpkin, and carrot for moisture—no added sugar.

Frost with a cute yogurt‑peanut butter swirl or go totally dairy‑free with silky potato “polka dots.” It looks festive, it slices neatly, and it’s kinda adorable.

Monty (my Westie and chief taste‑tester) approves and will happily pose for crumbs (he’s no subtle).>

Quick rule that keeps birthdays drama‑free: treats should be ≤ 10% of daily calories. (We linked a vet‑nutrition source below.) Keep slices small, especially for tiny dog breeds.

Why this cake works (and why dogs love it)

Here’s why this recipe plays nice with sensitive bellies—and budgets (mostly pantry staples; low cost per batch).

You want a dog‑friendly cake that feels special but still fits your everyday feeding plan, right? Here’s the vibe:

• Oat flour keeps the crumb soft and gentle. Oats are a common ingredient in commercial dog foods and make an easy swap when you don’t want heavy wheat.
• Banana + pumpkin + grated carrot add natural sweetness and moisture (no added sugar). Pumpkin’s soluble fiber is famous for helping digestion, and carrots bring crunch and beta‑carotene.
• Xylitol‑free peanut butter adds flavor and structure. Read labels—xylitol (aka birch sugar) is dangerous for dogs.
• Two frosting paths: quick Greek yogurt‑PB for the bakery look, or riced‑potato dots for a dairy‑free, super‑pipeable finish..
• Budget‑friendly: pantry staples; low cost per batch (about $3–5 depending on PB and yogurt).

Safety FYI:

• Stick with plain pumpkin puree (not pie filling).
• Many dogs tolerate a little yogurt, but skip it if your pup gets gassy on dairy. use potato frosting instead.
• Keep decor simple: a few blueberries or banana coins. Pretty, and they won’t nuke your calorie budget.

At a glance

• Yield: 1 × 6‑inch cake (8–12 slender slices) or 12 standard cupcakes
• Time: 15 min prep • 18–28 min bake • Cool completely before frosting
• Oven: 350°F / 175°C
• Equipment: 6″ round pan or muffin tin, parchment, mixing bowls, whisk, offset spatula; optional #1M open‑star tip + piping bags; for potato frosting, a potato ricer is dreamy.

Ingredients (cups + grams)

Prefer cups? You’re covered. Want grams for precision? They’re here too. I bake with both—no judgment.

Dry

• 1½ cups oat flour (150 g) — certified GF oats if needed
• 1 tsp baking powder (≈4 g)
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional; ≈1 g)
• ½ tsp baking soda (optional for extra lift; ≈2 g; omit if your dog is very sensitive)
• Pinch salt (optional)

Wet & add‑ins

• 1 ripe banana, mashed (≈120 g)
• ½ cup plain pumpkin puree (120 g; not pie filling)
• 1 large egg or flax egg (1 Tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 Tbsp water; rest 5 min)
• ¼ cup xylitol‑free peanut butter (≈65 g)
• 2 Tbsp mild oil (olive, avocado, or sunflower; 30 ml) or +2 Tbsp pumpkin for lower fat
• ¼ cup plain, unsweetened yogurt or water (60 ml)
• ½ cup finely grated carrot (50–60 g)

Allergens: peanut, dairy, egg (optional—use flax egg + potato frosting to avoid).

Frosting — choose one

1. Yogurt‑PB Swirl: ½ cup plain Greek yogurt (120 g) + 2 Tbsp xylitol‑free PB (≈30 g) + 1–2 Tbsp water (15–30 ml; to pipeable).
2. Silky Potato “Polka Dots” (dairy‑free): 1 medium russet potato (~250 g) cooked & riced + 1–3 Tbsp warm water/broth; tiny pinches of beet powder (pink), turmeric (yellow), spirulina (green) if you want color.

Dog‑safe decor: 2–3 blueberries per slice/cupcake, banana coins, or mini bone biscuits. Free paw/bone stencilslinked in the roundup.

Supplies

Heads-up: these are affiliate links. If you buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting Monty’s treat jar.

Quick note before you browse: this is a simple, budget‑friendly kit—6″ pans, a #1M tip (for neat swirls or potato toe‑beans), disposable piping bags, and a small offset spatula. If your pup skips dairy, a potato ricer makes the frosting silky and super pipeable.

• 6″ cake pans (set of 2)
• #1M open‑star tip
• Disposable piping bags
• Small offset spatula
• Potato ricer
• Bone cookie cutters (set)

Step‑by‑step: bake it like a pro

Ever baked cupcakes that sank or stuck? Follow this and you’re golden:

1. Prep. Heat oven to 350°F / 175°C. Grease and line a 6‑inch round pan (parchment) or line a 12‑cup muffin tin.
2. Dry bowl. Whisk oat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda (if using), salt.
3. Wet bowl. Whisk banana, pumpkin, egg or flax egg, peanut butter, oil, yogurt/water until smooth. Stir in carrot.
4. Combine. Fold dry into wet just until no flour streaks remain (thick batter). Don’t over‑mix—oat flour gets cranky.
5. Bake.
   • 6″ cake: spread and level; bake 22–28 min until a toothpick tests clean and center springs back.
   • Cupcakes: divide among 12 cups; bake 18–22 min.
6. Cool. Rest 10 min; then move to a rack until completely cool.
7. Frost. Choose Yogurt‑PB (pipe swirls with #1M) or Potato “polka dots.” (Rice potato, whisk silky, pipe small dots—aka toe beans.)
8. Decorate. Keep toppings minimal to avoid sugar overload (2–3 blueberries or banana coins max per serving).

Pro tip: Making a two‑layer cutie? Double the batter, bake in two 6″ pans, add a thin frosting layer between, then ring the top with swirls.

Substitutions & variations (because life happens)

Want a Birthday Cake For Dogs (Recipes Easy) kind of day? Use these:

• No‑PB (gotta skip PB?): Swap peanut butter for +¼ cup pumpkin and +1 Tbsp oil; optional 1 tsp vanilla for aroma.
• Whole‑wheat version: Use whole‑wheat pastry flour 1:1 for a lighter crumb.
• Mini pupcakes: Use a mini tin (24 cups); bake 12–15 min.
• Theme quickies
  • Dino Cake: Overlap potato “scales” with a spoon; add carrot triangles as spikes; peas as spots.
  • First‑Birthday “1”: Free stencil: Firstpalette — trace onto parchment to cut a topper, or place on chilled frosting and dust carob.

Frosting & natural colors (yogurt vs. potato)

Which frosting should you pick?

Ask: Does your dog tolerate dairy? If yes, the Yogurt‑PB swirl gives that bakery‑case look and a little tang. If not, go with potato—you’re gonna love how it pipes like a dream and how it stays neat on a warm day, even after walkies.

Tiny pinches of beet, turmeric, or spirulina make pretty, natural colors without the weird aftertaste (and they’re kinda fun to play with).

Keep it light: Frosting = calories. If your pup needs a healthy dog treat (homemade) vibe, pipe dots instead of tall swirls.

Portion, storage & make‑ahead tips

Quick specifics: Per 1/12 of the 6″ cake ≈ 1 standard cupcake (~60–90 kcal unfrosted). Mini pupcake ≈ 30–45 kcalunfrosted. For puppies under 12 months, keep treats smaller and use as training rewards—ask your vet if unsure.

Party planning + supplies: Peek at our Dog Birthday Party Ideas and stock up via the Dog Treats hub.

How much cake can a dog have? 

Short answer: a small piece.

Long answer: follow the 10%‑of‑calories treat rule and you’ll keep things balanced. If your dog eats 400 kcal/day, treats top out around 40 kcal/day.

A standard cupcake from this batch is typically ~60–90 kcal unfrosted, depending on swaps and how generously you scoop (YMMV by scoop size). For toy breeds, mini pupcakes make portions easy. Keep birthdays fun and the best dog food as the main meal.

Storage

• Unfrosted cake/cupcakes: 2–3 days covered in the fridge; freeze up to 2 months.
• Frost just before serving for best texture; potato dots refrigerate well for 24 hours.

Make‑ahead

• Bake and freeze layers; thaw in the fridge overnight and decorate same day.
• Mix and freeze pupcake batter in a zip bag; thaw, snip the corner, pipe into tins, and bake.

Troubleshooting (so your dog cake recipe never flops)

No stress—happens to the best of us.

• Sank in the middle? Batter was over‑mixed or oven ran cool. Check with an oven thermometer and whisk dry/wet separately next time.
• Dry crumb? Over‑baked by a few minutes or your oat flour packed into the cup. Fluff flour, spoon into the cup, and level.
• Won’t release? Line pan with parchment and let the cake rest 10 minutes before unmolding.
• Frosting slid off? Cake was warm. Chill layers 20–30 minutes, then frost.

Helpful links (ingredient safety & feeding guidance)

• 10% Treat Rule (vet‑nutrition): Tufts Petfoodology — Treat options & why treats should be ≤10% of calories. 
• Xylitol is dangerous for dogs: FDA consumer update. 
• Peanut butter for dogs (use xylitol‑free): AKC overview. 
• Pumpkin for dogs: AKC health article. 
• Carrots for dogs: AKC nutrition article. 
• Yogurt for dogs: AKC nutrition article. 
• Blueberries for dogs: AKC nutrition article. 
• Oatmeal for dogs: AKC nutrition article. 

Party On, Pup!

That’s your cake and your moment—light candles, snap the zoomies, and let the good crumbs roll.

Keep slices tiny, vibes big, and maybe save one mini for tomorrow’s walkies (Monty would, dont tempt him).

Now go make a wish.

Read next: Dog Birthday Party Ideas →

Banana-Carrot Dog Birthday Cake (6″ or Pupcakes, Egg-Free Option)

Dog-friendly oat-flour cake with banana, pumpkin, and carrot. Frost with yogurt-PB swirls or silky potato “toe-bean” dots. Includes an egg-free option, storage tips, and a small-dog portion guide.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 22 minutes mins

Course Homemade Dog Treats

Cuisine Dog Snacks

Servings 12 cupcakes/slices

Ingredients

  

Cake Base — Dry

• 1 1/2 cups oat flour (150 g) use certified GF oats if needed
• 1 tsp baking powder (≈4 g)
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon  (optional; ≈1 g)
• ½ tsp baking soda  (optional for extra lift; ≈2 g; omit for very sensitive pups)
• pinch salt  (optional)

Cake Base — Wet & Add-ins

• 1 ripe banana, mashed (≈120 g)
• ½ cup plain pumpkin puree  (120 g; not pie filling)
• 1 large egg or flax egg  (1 Tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 Tbsp water; rest 5 min)
• ¼ cup xylitol-free peanut butter (≈65 g)
• 2 tbsp mild oil  (olive/avocado/sunflower; 30 ml) or +2 Tbsp pumpkin for lower fat
• ¼ cup plain, unsweetened yogurt or water (60 ml)
• ½ cup finely grated carrot (50–60 g)

Frosting Option 1 — Yogurt-PB Swirl

• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt (120 g)
• 2 tbsp xylitol-free peanut butter (≈30 g)
• 1-2 tbsp water (15–30 ml; to pipeable consistency)

Frosting Option 2 — Silky Potato “Polka Dots” (Dairy-Free)

• 1 medium russet potato (~250 g), cooked & riced
• 1-3 tbsp warm water or low-salt broth, as needed
• (Optional tiny pinches for color) beet powder (pink), turmeric (yellow), spirulina (green)

Optional Decor (Dog-Safe)

• Blueberries (2–3 per serving), Banana coins, Mini bone biscuits

Instructions

 

A) Cake / Pupcakes

• Prep — Heat oven to 350°F / 175°C. Grease and line a 6″ round pan (parchment) or line a 12-cup muffin tin.
• Dry bowl — Whisk oat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda (if using), salt.
• Combine — Fold dry into wet until no flour streaks remain (thick batter). Don’t over-mix—oat flour gets cranky.
• Bake —

  6″ cake: spread and level; bake 22–28 min until a toothpick tests clean and center springs back.

  Cupcakes: divide among 12 liners; bake 18–22 min.
• Cool — Rest 10 min; then move to a rack until completely cool.

B) Frosting (Choose One)

• Yogurt-PB Swirl — Whisk yogurt + PB; thin with water to a pipeable consistency. Pipe short swirls using a #1M tip.
• Potato “Polka Dots” — Rice hot potato; whisk smooth with warm water/broth (and a pinch of natural color if desired). Pipe small dots (toe-beans) with a #1M or round tip.

C) Decorate & Serve

• Add minimal, dog-safe decor (2–3 blueberries or banana coins per serving).
• Slice small and serve. Treats should be ≤ 10% of daily calories.

Keyword Dog Birthday Cake, Dog Birthday Cake Recipe, Dog Cake Recipes, homemade dog treats

FAQ’s About Easy Dog Birthday Cake Recipe

About The Author

Andrea

Andrea — BSc (Hons) Environmental Studies grad and trainee in Dog Behavior & Canine Nutrition — turns nerdy research into bite-size, tail-wagging tips. Expect quick fixes, Westie-tested hacks, and just enough humor to keep the zoomies going. 🐾

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