Feast your eyes on this delicious homemade banana cake for dogs! Lovingly made with dog-safe ingredients, it’s a tail-wagging delight.
This three-layer cake is one that you can feel happy sharing with your dog on their gotcha day, birthday, or when you just want to celebrate how happy you are that they’re in your life. It’s not just safe for dogs, but it’s good for them at the same time!
FYI – This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Why You and Your Dog Will Love This Cake
You can make this adorable little cake even if you don’t enjoy baking. It has only eight simple ingredients and bakes quickly in the oven. You’ll also love how you can customize it to fit your dog’s tastes.
You will have fun baking a cake for your furry friend. And they will be thrilled to finally share a cake with you! You might think this cake isn’t very sweet, but it’s safe for humans to eat, too.
Since it’s made with oat flour, it’s great for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities. You’ll love sharing cake with them that’s good and safe for them to gobble up.
Benefits of Bananas for Dogs
Bananas are one of the main ingredients in this tasty cake. They aren’t just tasty – they’re a nutritional powerhouse for dogs too! Packed with potassium, fiber, and vitamins C and B6, bananas can help support your dog’s heart health, digestion, and immune system. They’re also low in cholesterol and sodium, making them a great occasional snack.
Plus, the natural sweetness of ripe bananas makes them a delicious ingredient in dog-friendly treats like this cake.
Equipment Needed
You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make this cake. The only uncommon one is the small cake pans. You’ll need either 4-inch springform pans or 4-inch cake pans. But you can always use an 8-inch cake pan or make cupcakes instead (see variations below).
Ingredients
This banana cake is made with simple, wholesome ingredients that are perfect for your furry friend. Here’s a quick look at what each ingredient brings to the recipe. Oh, and the exact measurements are in the printable recipe card below.
- Banana – The star of the cake! Be sure to use a ripe one without any green on the skin.
- Creamy natural peanut butter – A favorite of many pups, peanut butter adds a rich, nutty flavor and is full of protein and healthy fats.
- Plain Greek yogurt – Greek yogurt is a great source of calcium and probiotics, which support your dog’s digestion and bone health.
- Coconut oil – This healthy fat helps keep your dog’s coat shiny and supports skin health, while also adding moisture to the cake.
- Eggs – Eggs are packed with protein and essential nutrients like vitamins A and D.
- Oat flour – Oat flour is a gentle, gluten-free option that’s easy on your dog’s stomach and provides fiber for healthy digestion.
- Baking powder and baking soda – These leavening agents help the cake rise, giving it a light, fluffy texture.
- Cinnamon – A sprinkle of cinnamon adds a touch of flavor and can help with inflammation and digestion in dogs.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
This banana cake recipe is easy to customize, and it has plenty of options to suit your dog’s dietary needs. Whether you’re looking for safe alternatives or just need a quick swap, here are a few important ingredient notes and substitutions to keep in mind:
Peanut butter – Always use peanut butter that doesn’t contain xylitol, as it’s highly toxic to dogs. If you’re out of peanut butter or prefer a different option, you can substitute it with almond butter or SunButter (sunflower seed butter). Just make sure the alternative is also free of xylitol.
Oat flour – You can easily make it at home by blending uncooked old-fashioned oats in a food processor or blender until they reach a fine, flour-like consistency. If you don’t have oat flour, you can substitute it with all-purpose flour or a 50-50 mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flour. Avoid using whole wheat flour alone, as it tends to make the cake too dense.
Greek yogurt – If you don’t have plain Greek yogurt, regular plain yogurt works just fine as a substitute. Just be sure it’s unsweetened and free of artificial ingredients that might not be safe for your dog.
Banana – While a banana is key to this recipe, if you don’t have one on hand, you can use ½ cup of pumpkin puree or applesauce as an alternative, both nutritious and dog-safe.
How to Make Banana Cake for Dogs
Making this banana cake for your dog is a breeze! Here’s how to whip up this tasty treat, step by step:
- Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Grease three 4-inch cake pans with a little coconut oil to prevent sticking.
- In a large bowl, mash the ripe banana with a fork until smooth. Add the peanut butter, Greek yogurt, coconut oil, and eggs, and stir everything together until well combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, add the oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Whisk to combine.
- Once combined, add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until you have a smooth batter.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Place them in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
- Once baked, remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool completely to room temperature in the pans.
- Mix the frosting by stirring together Greek yogurt and peanut butter in a small bowl until smooth.
- After the cakes have cooled, remove them from the pans. If you want a stacked cake, level the tops with a serrated knife.
- Spread the frosting over each layer and stack them.
- Add fresh banana slices on top for decoration, if desired.
Recipe Variations
Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting – Want to switch up the frosting? Combine 4 ounces of softened cream cheese with 3 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter for a rich and creamy option.
One-Layer Cake – If you don’t have 4-inch pans, use an 8-inch round cake pan instead. The cake will be thinner, so reduce the baking time to around 15-18 minutes.
Banana Pupcakes – Turn this recipe into banana cupcakes for dogs by using a muffin pan. Fill the cups 2/3 full and bake for about 15 minutes. For mini cupcakes, reduce the bake time to about 10 minutes.
Serving Size
How much dog cake should you give your dog at once? It depends on the size of your dog and what else you gave your pet to eat that day. This might be a healthy dog cake, but too much of it is not a good thing.
For this reason, do not let your dog eat the whole cake at one time. I suggest only giving your spoiled hound only one small piece of this cake. If you have a small dog, then a slice from a single layer.
How to Store the Cake and How Long It Lasts
Wrap the cake with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. Store the cake in the refrigerator. It will last up to 5 days.
For extended storage, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Wrap it in a layer of plastic wrap and another layer of aluminum foil. Thaw it in the fridge overnight.
Can people eat this banana cake?
Yes! This is a banana cake for dogs and humans. It’s great for folks who are watching their sugar intake. Try it to see if you like it.
More Recipes for Dog Cakes
Do you want to make more yummy cakes for your spoiled hound? Check out these recipes:
Find lots of easy recipes for dog desserts and dog treats right here on Spoiled Hounds!
Banana Cake for Dogs
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 ripe banana plus more for decorating
- 1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup coconut oil melted
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Frosting
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup creamy natural peanut butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease three 4-inch cake pans with coconut oil.
- Mash the banana in a large bowl. Add the peanut butter, Greek yogurt, coconut oil, and eggs. Stir until well combined and smooth.
- Place the oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Stir or whisk to combine.
- Add the flour mixture to the banana mixture and mix well.
- Divide the batter evenly among the greased cake pans.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
- Make the frosting, place the Greek yogurt and peanut butter in a small bowl. Stir until combined and smooth.
- Remove the cooled cakes from the pans. If stacking the layers, use a serrated knife to cut and level the tops of the layers.
- Spread the frosting on top of each layer. Stack the cakes for a layer cake.
- Just before serving, decorate the cake with fresh banana slices if desired.
- Store the cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
crickette says
Buddie loves it!
Renee Dobbs says
Awesome! I’m so glad Buddie loves the cake.