A Girl, A Dog & the World's Best Canine Carrot Cake

Ok, it's probably just best to get the confessions out of the way right off the bat.

Yes, that IS a homemade doggie birthday cake. And those are fresh baked doggie treats on the plate in the background. And that gift bag IS for Dex and contains his birthday presents (which we bought from Harrods, because we are sick and also seem to have forgotten there is a global recession on.)  And we also might have had a little party for him.  With balloons.  And bubbles.  And cake.  Lots and lots of cake.   

But now I ask you, honestly, do you see anything other than 100% shamelessly unabashed puppy delight here? I only wish I loved my own birthdays half as much. 

My dog loving friends back in the States will surely understand my despair over not having access to the fabulous arsenal of doggie confectionary that is Three Dog Bakery for this special occasion.  I don't mean to say that London doesn't have it's share of doggie specialities for the occasionally over enthusiastic parent (who me??) but well, it's kinda just not the same. 

This conclusion ultimately forced me to take matters into my own hands and hunt down the world's best doggie-safe cake recipe.  In the interest of full disclosure, I have to say that the trial run produced a cake that was a little...well, anemic.  True, It was a birthday cake, but really more of a sad kind of soul who preferred to sit among the shadows in the corner rather than be the brash candle-waving life of the party.  

This obviously wouldn't do.  

In the end I went for the Frankenstein approach, which essentially consisted of my blending the best and/or most appetizing doggie safe foods with a number of recipes I adore from the book I talked about here and....voila!  I present to you the world's best tasting, doggie-safe carrot cake (*a subjective claim of course, but Dex has said he'll totally back me on this.)

What you'll need for the cake:

2 cups flour

2 tsps baking soda

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 cup shredded carrots1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup or canola oil

2/3 cup of applesauce (smooth or chunky)

1/3 cup honey

2 eggs

Instructions:

1. Beat eggs together. 

2. Add oil, vanilla, applesauce, honey and peanut butter. Mix well. 

3. Stir in carrots. 

4. Add flour & baking soda and mix. 

5. Spread into greased 8 inch pan (round or square)
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. 

*Be sure to check the center of cake to ensure it is fully cooked as it will be quite dense. 

Frost when cooled

What you'll need for the icing:

8 ounces cream cheese (lowfat or fat free)

2 Tbsp honey

3 Tbsp plain yogurt (lowfat or fat free)

1 tsp vanilla flavoring

4 Tbsp flour (approx)

Instructions:

1. Mix the cream cheese, honey, yogurt and vanilla until smooth and shiny. 

2 Add in the flour while blending slowly.  

*Should you want the consistency a little thicker, add additional flour 1 Tbsp at a time.