Carob Cake for Dogs

Definition

• Carob is an all-natural chocolate substitute. It comes from the carob tree and is often available in a powder that very closely resembles cocoa powder. Carob is caffeine-free and contains about three times the amount of calcium found in cocoa powder. While unsweetened carob is sweeter than unsweetened cocoa, the taste and texture are a bit different. However, Fido, who has hopefully never tasted chocolate, will never know the difference.

Recipes

• Carob cake recipes abound on the Internet. Many of the same carob cake recipes used to make cakes for human consumption will work just as well to make a cake for Fido's own consumption. A simple Internet search of "carob cake for dogs" will also yield recipes specifically made for dogs. You can also experiment and come up with your own recipe, using carob powder as you would cocoa powder to make a faux chocolate cake.

Basics

• If you have ever baked a cake for human consumption from scratch before, you likely have a good idea of what goes into your carob cake for dogs. All purpose flour, milk, margarine, eggs, baking powder, vanilla extract, and of course, the carob will be needed. Different recipes call for different amounts of these ingredients.

Embellishments

• There are a variety of ways to decorate a carob cake for Fido without using icing, which is jam-packed with sugar and preservatives. Some people make a simple cream-cheese icing by whipping it with heavy cream until it's nice and fluffy, while others make icing out of yogurt or even mashed up bananas with a bit of food coloring.

Considerations

• Carob is a safe chocolate substitute for dogs. However, when making Fido a cake, make sure that chocolate is not the only food that can harm him. If you're unsure whether certain ingredients are harmful to dogs, check with the U.S. Humane Society's website, which has an extensive list of foods that can harm dogs. Raisins are on that list, so keep them off your carob cake.