How to Make a Kefir Cake for Dogs

Kefir is an extremely unique and versatile ingredient, especially in baking. Its sharp, tangy flavor can add an interesting kick to just about any recipe, even when you’re baking treats for your furry friends. Besides being delicious, kefir is also super nutritious and is packed with essential nutrients and probiotics for gut health and digestive support. 

Ready to get baking? Let’s take a look at three great recipes for kefir cake for dogs that are sure to be the highlight of your pup’s day!

1. Doggy Kefir Cheesecake

Source: DeDamselfly on Instructables

This cake with kefir is every bit as delicious as it is appealing to look at. Its crust is made from dog biscuits, so use your dog’s favorites for a familiar, comforting taste to begin with. The crust, however, is what sets the stage for the main event: a delicious, hearty cheesecake-like filling made from gelatin, kefir, and fresh fruit that’s a sweet, tangy, and creamy treat, unlike anything your pup has tasted before. 

Last but certainly not least, the flashy garnish of fresh berries encased in a honey-gelatin mixture makes for the perfect flourish, both for your pup’s eyes and taste buds. Even though it looks and tastes absolutely perfect to your furry friends, it’s surprisingly easy to make, so feel free to give it a shot!

Ingredients

• Scant 1 cup crushed dog biscuits (Pick your pup’s favorite!)
• Coconut oil (enough to bind together the dog biscuits)
• Coconut butter
• 1 packet of gelatin 
• ½ cup milk kefir
• 1 cup kefir cheese
• 1 TBSP honey
• Dog-friendly fruit of your choice (e.g. blueberries)

Instructions

1. Using your hands or a pestle and mortar, crush the dog biscuits into small bits.
2. Combine the coconut butter and coconut oil to get the crumbs to stick together. If the mixture is too thick, add a bit of coconut oil until you reach the desired consistency.
3. Mix the biscuits and coconut butter/oil mixture together until a crust is formed. Densely pack this crust into the bottom of a cheesecake pan. Put the cheesecake pan in the fridge and allow it to set.
4. In the meantime, start on the cheesecake layer. Add the gelatin mix to the milk kefir and kefir cheese. Pour this mixture over the crust and return to the fridge to set.
5. Once the cheesecake layer has set, arrange fruit on top of it. Then, pour a mixture of honey, water, and gelatin over the fruit, cover it again, place it back in the fridge, and allow it to set.
6. Once the gelatin has set, remove the cheesecake from the pan, cut it into slices, and serve!

2. Kefir Cake for Dogs

Source: Facebook

Courtesy of Home Cooked Meals and Treats for Dogs on Facebook, this cake recipe with kefir is perfect for beginner dog bakers and kitchen experts alike. It’s designed to be a flexible recipe that can be made with just about any dog-friendly ingredients you have lying around the house, so it’ll be a delicious surprise for your pup, not just the first time, but every single time you make it! Best of all, it’s extremely easy to prepare and assemble. All you have to do is pick out your ingredients, prepare each part of the cake, assemble, serve, and impress your pup!

Ingredients

For the crust

• 1 cup unsweetened coconut shreds or any dog-friendly kind of seed
• 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil

For the cake filling

The original recipe creator says that just about anything can be used here, so feel free to get creative! They used:

• 1 cup ground beef
• 1 egg
• ½ cup shredded butternut squash
• Assorted organ meat and toppers (e.g. blue mussels, salmon pieces, liver)

For the outside of the cake

• ½ cup beef gelatin powder
• 1 cup liquid kefir
• 2 cups hot liquid like bone broth

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Using a small amount of coconut oil, grease a large cake pan.
2. To make the crust, mix together the coconut and coconut oil. Press the coconut and coconut oil mixture into the bottom of the cake pan, then place the pan in the fridge or freezer to allow the crust to set.
3. Next, start on the cake filling. Combine beef, egg, shredded squash, and your toppers of choice in a second cake pan, the same size as the first. Bake for about 80 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
4. With the filling done, move on to the outside of the cake. Start by mixing the gelatin powder and kefir, then allow the mixture to bloom for 4 minutes. In the meantime, bring the bone broth to a boil.
5. Once the broth reaches a boil, remove it from the heat and give it 30 seconds to cool, then add it to the gelatin mixture. If you want, you can add color with natural vegetables or powders like blue spirulina or beets.
6. Start assembling your cake by turning your cake filling out onto the crust. Then, put the cake and crust in the freezer for a few minutes to allow the two to bind together. Finally, pour the gelatin mixture over the top, place it in the fridge, and allow it to set for 30 minutes.
7. Garnish the cake by piping plain, room-temperature cream cheese onto the top of the cake, then sprinkle on toppings like dog treats, dehydrated sweet potatoes, or dehydrated steak, and serve!

3. Easy Kefir Birthday Cake for Dogs

Source: Big Dog Pet Foods

This kefir birthday cake is just about everything a dog baker could ask for: it’s healthy, it’s visually appealing, and dogs go wild for it every time it’s made. It can be made with everyday raw dog food as the base, so it’s easy to gather the ingredients. 

What really sets this cake apart, however, is the unique icing. It’s made from a combination of kefir, gelatine powder, and blue spirulina for color, giving you a healthy, sugar-free, delicious result that’s visually striking to boot. If you want a simple, easy, quick, option for a great kefir dog cake, this recipe is just the thing you need.

Ingredients

• 1 pound raw dog food of your choice 
• 200 milliliters kefir
• 3 tablespoons gelatine powder
• ½ teaspoon of spirulina
• 3 blueberries
• Garnishes of choice

Instructions

1. Place the dog food patties in the fridge for 24 hours to defrost, then use them to fill the cake tin and place the cake tin in the freezer.
2. Once the cake is completely refrozen, remove it from the freezer and place it on a cup. The cake should be hanging over the edge of the cup.
3. Place the kefir and spirulina in a mixing jug and mix them together until smooth. Add the gelatine powder, allow it to sit for 2 minutes, mix again, then pour the mixture over the top of the cake for a sort of frosting.
4. Smooth out the frosting with a spatula, garnish the cake with blueberries and any of your pup’s other favorite treats, and serve!

Looking for more delicious and healthy recipes for your furry friends? Visit The Dog Bakery’s blog today!

Rocky Kanaka

Rocky Kanaka is an entrepreneur, pet rescue advocate and dog dad to a rescue boxer named Flip, a blind Cane Corso called Kobe, and a terrier mix named Zoey. He's also a pet chef and owner of The Dog Bakery, which specializes in dog birthday cakes and fresh baked dog treats. His three dogs can't get enough of the dog cakes and treats!

Lorna Ladd

Lorna Paxton Ladd is a passionate dog lover and enthusiast of The Dog Bakery. She loves spoiling her 3 rescue dogs with dog cakes and jerky. A 15 year veteran in the pet industry, her aim is to educate pet parents on the best recipes, products, tips and tricks to optimize the human/canine bond. Her favorite product at The Dog Bakery are the customizable dog birthday cakes.