Celebrate your dog’s special day with this meat cake for dogs, a savory and wholesome twist on the traditional dog birthday cake. Made with ground meat, oats, veggies, and frosted with creamy sweet potatoes, this recipe is perfect for birthdays, Gotcha Days, holidays, or just to show your pup some extra love.
This homemade dog cake with meat is more than just adorable, it’s packed with ingredients you can feel good about. It’s also easy to customize based on your dog’s tastes and dietary needs.
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A Meaty Cake to Bake for Dog Celebrations
Whether it’s your dog’s birthday, Gotcha Day, or National Dog Day, a special celebration calls for a special treat. And nothing says “I love you” like a cake for dogs with meat!
Dogs naturally love meat, and this meatloaf dog cake delivers. It’s layered, flavorful, and topped with a creamy sweet potato frosting. It’s fun to make, full of nutrition, and best of all, you get to watch your dog enjoy every last bite.
Why You Will Love This Meat Dog Birthday Cake Recipe
This dog birthday cake made with meat is a total showstopper and sure to bring on lots of tail wags. Here’s why this recipe is sure to be a favorite:
- Easy to make. Mix, bake, frost, and done!
- Wholesome ingredients. No fillers or questionable additives, just real food.
- Loaded with veggies. A great way to sneak in some added nutrition.
- Simple to customize. Change the meat or veggies to suit your dog’s preferences.
- Perfect for any celebration. Birthdays, holidays, Gotcha Days, or even just because!
Ingredients and Their Part in the Cake
This meat dog cake is made with real, dog-safe ingredients your pup will love. Here’s what you’ll need:
For the cake:
- Ground Turkey & Lean Ground Beef: Protein and nutrient-rich, these are the stars of this meaty cake!
- Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: Helps bind the meat together.
- Eggs: Add protein and are another binder for the cake layers.
- Diced Vegetables: Adds color, texture, and nutrients. Use your dog’s favorites!
- Curly Parsley: Dog-safe and adds a pop of freshness.
For the frosting:
- Sweet Potatoes: Naturally sweet, full of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.
- Cream Cheese: Makes the frosting extra creamy.
Optional topping:
- Dog Biscuits: Crushed and sprinkled on top for a fun and crunchy finish. See my pumpkin dog biscuits recipe for some tasty homemade ones to use.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
When making a homemade dog cake with meat, here are some helpful tips and safe swaps to keep in mind:
- Meat: Use a mix of ground turkey and beef, or just one. Ground chicken works too.
- Veggies: Stick with dog-safe vegetables like carrots, peas, green beans, broccoli, or squash. Use fresh, thawed frozen, or no-salt canned.
- Oats: Old-fashioned or quick oats both work well. Avoid steel-cut oats because they won’t soften and act as a binder.
- Sweet Potatoes: You can substitute 2 cups of plain pumpkin puree in place of sweet potatoes for the frosting.
- Parsley: Be sure to use curly parsley, not Italian flat-leaf parsley. Flat-leaf parsley contains compounds that are harmful to dogs.
- Decorations: Instead of crushed dog biscuits, use green beans or carrot sticks as cute “candles” for a birthday cake effect.
Equipment Needed
You probably have most of the kitchen items you need to make the cake. The only one you may not have is a set of small 6-inch cake pans, or you can use 6-inch springform pans.
How to Make Dog Cake with Meat
This layered meatloaf dog cake is easy to prepare and assemble. Here’s what to do:
To make the cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease or spray three 6-inch cake pans.
- In a large bowl, combine ground meats, eggs, oats, diced veggies, and chopped curly parsley.
- Divide the mixture evenly between the cake pans.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes or until fully cooked (internal temp should reach 165°F).
- Let the cakes cool completely in the pans on a wire rack.
To make the frosting and frost the cake:
- Soften the cream cheese to room temperature.
- Peel and dice the sweet potatoes, then boil until fork-tender.
- Drain and allow to cool completely.
- Mash or mix the sweet potatoes with the cream cheese until smooth.
- Frost each layer, stacking them, then spread frosting over the top and sides.
To decorate the cake:
- Crush dog biscuits in a sealed plastic bag using a rolling pin.
- Sprinkle over the top of the cake and around it.
Recipe Variations
This meat cake is easy to modify for a loaf-style cake or to make meat pupcakes:
- Loaf Cake: Use a loaf pan instead of cake pans. Increase baking time until the internal temp reaches 165°F.
- Meat Cupcakes: Use a muffin pan. Check for doneness after 20 minutes. Great for individual servings!
How to Store the Cake and How Long It Lasts
Because this cake is made with meat and perishable ingredients, it must be stored in the refrigerator or freezer:
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Wrap slices in plastic wrap and then foil or place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Can people eat this meat cake?
Yes! All of the ingredients in this cake are human-safe. If you enjoy meatloaf and sweet potatoes, give it a taste. You may enjoy having a slice for dinner.
Easy Homemade Dog Cakes
Want to make more special cakes and cupcakes for your dog? Check out these recipes:
- Apple Pupcakes
- Banana Cake for Dogs
- Carrot Cake for Dogs
- Carob Cake for Dogs
- No Bake Dog Cake
- Peanut Butter Pupcakes
- Pumpkin Cake for Dogs
Find lots of easy dog dessert recipes right here on Spoiled Hounds!
Meat Cake for Dogs
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 pound Ground Turkey
- ½ pound Lean Ground Beef
- 1 cup Old-fashioned Rolled Oats
- 2 Eggs
- 1 cup Diced Vegetables
- ¼ cup Chopped Fresh Curly Parsley (do not use flat leaf parsley)
Frosting
- 2-3 large Sweet Potatoes
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese
Optional Topping
- Dog Biscuits
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray three 6-inch cake pans with non-stick spray or grease them with coconut oil.
- Place ground turkey, ground beef, eggs, oats, veggies, and parsley in a large bowl. Combine well.
- Divide the meat mixture evenly between the three pans.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until browned and has an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove the baked layers from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pans on top of a wire rack.
Frosting
- Allow the cream cheese soften to room temperature.
- Peel and dice the sweet potatoes.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add sweet potatoes to boiling water and boil until tender.
- Drain the sweet potatoes and allow them to cool completely. Do not make the frosting with hot or warm sweet potatoes.
- Using a mixer or potato masher, combine the cream cheese and sweet potatoes well, until the mixture has a smooth consistency.
- Once cooled, remove one layer of the cake from the pan and place it on a serving plate or cake stand. Frost the top of the layer. Add another layer and frost the top. Add the third layer and frost the top and sides of the cake.
Topping
- Place dog biscuits in a plastic zip-top bag and seal the bag. Use a rolling pin to roll over the bag and crush the biscuits into small pieces.
- Sprinkle the dog biscuit pieces on the top of the cake.
- Slice and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Serving Amount
This recipe makes a 3-layer meat cake, cut into 8 slices (1 slice is a serving).
- Small dogs: A portion of a 3-layer slice, or make single-layer cakes, cut into 8 slices.
- Medium dogs: 1 slice.
- Large dogs: Up to 2 slices.
As a general rule for a meal, feed 1 cup of homemade food per 20 pounds of body weight. Always check with your vet if you’re unsure about portion sizes.
This looks amazing, but I do not have 6 inch pans; can 8 inch be substituted? Would you only do 2 layers or 1 layer?
Thank you in advance for your guidance.
To use an 8-inch round cake pan you would need to only put 3/4 of the meat mixture in the pan and put the remaining 1/4 in one or two ramekins. If you have a 9-inch round cake pan it would work great as a 1 layer cake.
Is there a way to make this smaller? Like just one layer?
The only way I can think of is to cut the cake ingredients in half and bake it in a 8×4 or 9×5-inch loaf pan. Then cut the frosting ingredients into a third. Note that baking time can vary in the different pan.
Our dog loved this for his 11th birthday in November! Since then I’ve been using the recipe but making meatloaf rather than cakes! All our family dogs love it! Thank you! 🐾
Oh wonderful! I’m so glad your dog enjoyed the cake for his birthday and you’ll be making it again for your family’s dogs.