Tasty turkey meatloaf layers and mashed potato frosting make this an extra special dog birthday cake indeed. This extra special dog-friendly cake was made for Humphrey’s first birthday celebration. First birthday, first birthday party, first birthday cake! Check out our turkey meatloaf dog birthday cake recipe and DIY details on how it was made and decorated.
Celebration Cakes
There is something about a layer cake that really makes it feel like a special celebration, isn’t there? Admittedly, I might have gone a little over board on this one. I sliced two meatloaf cakes in half to create a four layered mega cake! The cake is made with meatloaf instead of a conventional pupcake. I wanted the cake to be more of an indulgent birthday dinner snack or meaty treat than a dessert. Mmmm… Meat! The dogs were definitely excited about meatloaf and turkey isn’t a common smell at our house, which made this cake all the more interesting.
Tasty Turkey Meatloaf Dog Birthday Cake Recipe
Dog Birthday Cake with Turkey Meatloaf and Mashed Potato Frosting
Layering and frosting this cake are optional, but makes this an extra special cake for an extra special birthday treat. The recipe below fits two mini springform pans (affiliate link). The recipe can be baked in different pans or made into dog-friendly meatballs, if you prefer.
Cake Ingredients:
Cake:
- Approximately 300g lean ground turkey (or other meat of your preference)
- 1 carrot, shredded
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 egg
Optional Frosting and Decorations:
- Approximately 2 cups of cooled cooked mashed potato
- Water to adjust the consistency of the potato if/as needed
- Optional dog-friendly edible decorations or garnish
Making the Cake:
- Preheat your oven to 180C (or local equivalent) and gather together your baking ingredients and materials. Lightly oil your pan(s).
- Combine the cake ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Press firmly into your prepared pans. There is no need to leave expansion room as these meatloaf cakes will not rise during baking.
- Bake for approximately 30-40 minutes (time will depend on size), until cooked thoroughly. Remove from the oven, cool slightly, and then refrigerate to cool thoroughly.
Decorating the Cake (Optional):
- When thoroughly cooled, remove from the pans.
- Optional: You can slice each cake into two layers (total of four layers) for a mega layer cake, as pictured. I was feeling extra crazy when I decorated this birthday cake. Haha! Stick with two for an easier cake construction.
- Construct your layer cake, applying mashed potato frosting between each layer. Frost the exterior with additional mashed potato, then garnish (optional) to decorate. I used simple biscuits from the boys normal food as decorations on this cake.
- Refrigerate until you are ready to serve. Pampered pooches might enjoy their slice of cake warmed slightly for extra smell and flavour.
Dog-Friendly Cake Making Tips and Tricks
- See our pet chef post on homemade dog cakes for additional information on types of cakes, decorating ideas, storage, and more.
- Cakes can be baked into other shapes and sizes. Remember to adjust your cooking times and/or temperatures accordingly.
- Meatloaf cakes can be made in advance stored (refrigerated short term, frozen longer term) and then decorated for the party.
- Leftovers can be cut into bite-sized snacks and refrigerated or frozen.
Recipe and Ingredient Tips and Tricks
- Not in the mood to mash? Instant mashed potato makes a quick and easy option for frosting dog-friendly cakes. It has a smooth and uniform consistency and can be easily adjusted to be thinner (additional liquid) or thicker (additional flakes). Mashed potato is also a neutral base for tinting with food colouring or natural ingredients.
- See our intro post on making birthday and special occasion dog cakes for different frosting and decorating ideas, or browse through the other DIY dog cakes and pupcakes for ideas.
Hungry for more tasty treats? There are all sorts of homemade dog treat ideas in our blog archives. You can use the category and tag labels to find other recipes that might be of interest or use our internal search tools to find something specific. Remember, treats (bought or homemade) are for spoiling your pup in moderation. We share ideas from treats that we’ve made ourselves for our pets, but different animals have different preferences (likes/dislikes), just like people. Some pets may have special dietary requirements and/or food allergies/intolerances. If you are ever in doubt or have questions about what’s suitable for your pet, have a chat with your trusted vet.
