Liver cake recipe for dogs

by | Sep 11, 2011 | 287 comments

Treat your furry friend to a nutritious and delicious homemade liver cake. Made with nutrient-rich organ meat, this cake is packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals, making it the perfect snack for dogs of all ages.

This liver cake recipe is a great source of energy and helps to support a healthy appetite. It’s also an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin B and folic acid, which are essential for maintaining good vision, a strong immune system, and healthy red blood cells. Copper, Iron and Omega-3 fatty acids present in liver helps to keep the dog’s digestive system healthy and aids in the absorption of nutrients. It’s also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for maintaining a healthy coat and skin.

This dog liver cake is easy to make and can be adapted to suit your dog’s dietary needs. If you’re unable to find liver, heart or kidney can be used as a substitute.

Follow our step-by-step recipe and images to make this healthy treat for your dog in no time.

 

Items Needed

  • 9″ cake tin
  • Hand Blender

Ingredients

  • 500g ( 1lb) of liver
  • 2 Eggs
  • 200g (7oz) Wholemeal flour
  • 1 crushed garlic clove or 1 small teaspoon of lazy garlic – optional. But isn’t garlic bad for dogs?
  • A splash of milk

Method

liver, eggs, milk in a jug

Step 1

Add the liver, the eggs, the garlic and a splash of milk to a jug.

blending cake ingredients

Step 2

And blend it. It should look a bit like a smoothie once done.

adding flour to cake mix

Step 3

Transfer the mix to a large bowl and add 200g (7oz) of flour.

mixed ingredients in bowl

Step 4

Mix ingredients until it’s a thick sticky goo. You can add a bit more flour if it’s not thick enough.  But it should be fine.

greases cake tin

Step 5

Grease a cake tin with a little butter.

liver cake mix in baking tin

Step 6

Empty your mix into cake tin, making sure it’s level.

liver cake baking in oven

Step 7

Put cake tin into the middle of a preheated oven at 160ºC (320ºF/Gas Mark 3) and cook for about 45 mins.

Liver cake just out of the oven!

Step 8

Right, it should now be cooked. Yummy!

liver cake

Step 9

It’s easier to cut while it’s still warm.

chopped liver cake

Step 10

Cut into squares and fridge. Freeze what you won’t use in a few days.

dog watching me baking

Step 11

If your dog is like mine, she will have watched you the entire time.

How to store

As a general guide if meat protein is present in recipe then it will last around 3 to 5 days stored in a cool place.  If it has second class protein in it eg. cheese, lentils, eggs, etc, then they will store for about 10 days in a cool place. You can use cake tins lined with baking paper – greaseproof. If there is no meat or second class proteins present then it will last around 3 weeks before they go soft like human biscuits.

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These dog treat recipes are now available to buy in book on Amazon.   An ideal gift!

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raw pig ears

By Jamie Shanks

BDWS is owned and run by me, Jamie Shanks. I’ve been a professional dog walker since 2010. When I’m not walking dogs, I’m usually at home entertaining my three dogs and attending to five hens and my vegetable garden. 

287 Comments

  1. Hi Jamie. Great recipe, easy to make although it can get messy. My German Shepard drawls for these. Great treat!

    Reply
    • Thanks Amanda!

  2. This is a great and easy recipe my puggle Ralfy has been going daft since I started making it jumping up at the oven!!
    Just a couple of questions how do I know when it is cooked and I have cut into bite size pieces about 1cm square how much would you reccommend per day?

    Reply
    • Hey Mags! Thanks for you comments!

      I go by how it browns at the top, it should be bready all the way through if cooked right.

      1cm size bits seem very small. usually I cut them into 1 inch squares. Just give as you would with normal treats – a few a day.

      Jamie

  3. Hi Jamie, I’ve made this recipe several times now – my dog loves it. He’s a sighthound, a Galgo, not renowned for their re-call & obedience, but some of the liver cake shaken about in a plastic bag guarantees his immediate attention. So, I thought sending a thank you is in order, if a little late. You have a fascinating website, really interesting, entertaining & informative. I confess my attention was initially caught up as you’re in Bishopton & my other half has a cousin there. What a lovely part of the world. The dogs you walk are a lucky bunch. Keep up the excellent work. Best wishes, Janet Ratcliff.

    Reply
    • Thanks Janet! I’m glad the liver cake helps. That’s interesting your other half has relations here. Do you know what street?

      Jamie

    • Hi Jamie, hope you didn’t think I was being rude – I didn’t see this until I looked again for the recipe to make some more cake (dog training class tonight).
      The relations live in Lang Avenue.
      Keep up the good work
      Janet

  4. Made some today using lambs liver and potato flour (to make it gluten free) So simple and my dog loves it. A money saver indeed.

    Reply
    • Thanks Jim. Send a pic if you got any left. But you are right, it is a money saver, I just bought 5 pig ears today for £5 – only have one left!

    • I go to butchers and get real pigs ears also pig skin/crackling and air dry in garage,the skin I cut into strips and make rawhide chews/doughnuts etc.If you in a nice hot sunny country hang outside to air dry.I get as much as I can carry when butchers is throwing out at night and keeps them going for months, any you don’t dry can be frozen till you are ready to dry. can be slowly dried in oven but if you like me I forget they are in the oven and only remember when the roast pork smell drifts upstairs at 2am and I cant remember if I switched off oven,

    • Hi Fiona!

      Butchers round here don’t seem to be much better than supermarkets and anything not mainstream has to be ordered in at cost which is frustrating. Can I ask, how much do you pay for real pig ears? They are raw, yeah?

      Jamie

  5. Thank you so much for this recipe, Jamie. My Papillon menagerie are on a raw food diet but turn their nose up at raw offal so this is how I get it in em. It’s been a lifesaver. So simple too. I put the liver through the fine bit of a mincer so then I can bung all the ingredients together in a bog bowl as one big batch 🙂

    Reply
  6. This is the recipe I always use, though it is easier to use chicken livers as they blend quicker and smoother. I add 1-2 t of garlic powder and they love it even more!

    Reply
    • Thanks Mary! I’ll try the chicken livers next time I make it.

  7. Hi Jamie, I just found your site and all your wonderful recipes. I’m hoping to make this liver cake tonight as my dog Lucy has suddenly lost all recall training and we need to start from scratch with a tempting treat to lure her to me. Do you think this would work with cous cous or mashed up sweet potato instead of flour? Any type of flour seems to make Lucy’s skin flaky. Thanks in advance for your help.

    Reply
    • I’ve done the dried liver treats too Jamie, Lucy loves them, in fact so did the two Lurchers who sniffed them out in my pocket from across the playing fields yesterday!

  8. I wanted something for my dog who has recently been diagnosed Cushing’s Disease, she’s hungry all the time & losing lots of weight, but has become a bit fussy since being diagnosed, so I thought this might perk her up. It has certainly done the trick, both dogs love it. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Thanks Nicola! I’m sorry to hear about your dog but glad she likes the liver cake!

  9. I’ve just put a batch in the oven. You’re right, I was watched the whole time!!

    Reply
  10. Hi Jamie! I just want to thank you so much for this amazing recipe. The liver flavoured treats where I live are too expensive and my beagle, Charlie, loves liver so much. I tried making this for him, just to test if he likes it and just so I don’t have to spend a ton of money on treats. He was taking a nap when I put them in the oven and as soon as they were done. He woke up and started jumping in front of the oven. Needless to say, he loves the brownies! Thank you so much for this recipe!

    -Jea

    Reply
    • Thanks Jea! Glad you and your dog like them! 🙂

  11. Hi, Can I ask how I check if its cooked through? May sound silly but I am more used to baking “regular” cakes than liver cake and have no idea how to tell when its done.

    Thank you

    Reply
  12. P.s also tried the tuna loaf which didn’t last long!!

    Reply
    • Hi Julie! Thanks for commenting! I hope your lab has a great 1st birthday! Liver cake is great for birthday treats!

  13. Hi, tonight I have just baked my first liver cake and my 11 month old labrador loves it, we now have a stocked freezer! She is 1 on the 10th April so will be making this as a birthday cake, great easy recipe thank you.

    Reply
  14. Hi, I regularly make these treats for my 9 year old dog, she loves them. I’m trying to get her to lose some weight, is there anyway of making them less fattening? Do you know how many calories per 100g?

    Reply
  15. this is terrific 🙂 I’ve made a similar liver “cake” and added bacon to make it even more tasty. I also use half liver and half lambs fry cos the smell of the liver nearly kills me when I make it LOL cream cheese and grated carrot can look good as “icing” too…. remember it’s just a treat though ^..^

    Reply
  16. Why cook garlic in the liver cake or tuna cookies recipe when this site in explaining the goodness for dogs having garlic, says that “Cooked garlic does not retain the medicinal properties found in fresh garlic”, so what is the point putting it in the recipe?
    Please help me understand the addition, or should I just leave it out all together?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Hi Diane! Garlic is added for flavour!

  17. Thank you for this recipe! Just cooked up a huge batch ready for a fundraiser for rescued English bulldogs!
    I think they might just love it, based on my own dogs reactions!
    Also doing the peanut butter biscuits!

    Reply
    • Thanks Leesha! Good luck with the fundraiser!

  18. Do you think it would work with a sub for the strong wheat flour? For the family members who shouldn’t eat grains? I am thinking of Potato flour as I don’t like rice flour due the recent news about the problems with rice?

    Reply
    • Hi, WestieMom. I’ve never tried it without wholemeal. You could try potato flour, chickpea flour or soy flour and let me know how you get on!

  19. Hi Jamie
    I work in a slaughter house , i can get liver easerly does it all mix the same ?

    Reply
    • Hi Howard!

      Yeah, any liver whether mixed with others or not is fine.

  20. Hi jamie forgot to ask is this low fat as i dont give my dog anything fatty dint want him to fet fat its cruel i think many thanks again
    Kind regards
    Sharon

    Reply
    • Hi Sharon. It’s not gonna make your dog fat but just remember it’s just a treat but a great treat for getting your dogs attention. Liver is relatively low in calories and fat and high in proteins, vitamins and minerals. Good luck!

  21. Hi Jamie many many thanks for this I have a border collie who doesn’t do anything I say he’s manic but I lad I know has this and my dog obeys him like a god now I can be the goddess for a change and hopefully train the little monkey i’ll make some and let you know thanks again really appreciate it.

    Reply
  22. Made this today with chicken livers, also brown rice flour and oats, worked a treat and went down even better!

    Reply
    • That sounds great Nikki! I’ve used chicken livers in dog food but never in liver cake!

  23. Fab recipe. ive made endless batches of it and my dog loves it! Also give to friends dogs and even raised some money with it for doggie charities, you cant lose as dogs just love it!

    Reply
  24. hi jamie my new pooch has never left my side since making liver cake she comes stright back when called dont quite know weather its me or the cake she returnes for but hay ho she comes back

    Reply
    • Thanks Ann! I’m glad your hound likes it! I’m always grateful to hear from people who try out the recipes and to hear that their dog likes them!

  25. Hi,

    I’ve read earlier in the thread that offal is suitable for a more mature stomach. From what age would you recommend for a working cocker? To be fair I think she’s pretty strong stomached! She’s eaten some vile things in her time and is only 16 weeks old! Despite panicking when she’s gobbled down fluff, jaffa cakes, bird poo, a maggot, various other bugs and got hold of a dead rat in her mouth before I could do anything to stop her, all of which have resulted in frantic vet calls, sleeping on the sofa to keep an eye on her and obsessive googling, but she’s been fine every time! Obviously I don’t want to do anything which will make her tummy uncomfortable but dying to try this recipe out! Thanks x

    Reply
    • Hi Gemma! It’s up to you. With my dog I used liver treats very early on. Liver is also a natural laxative so just small bits of cake to begin with so the body gets used to it. Too much too soon regardless of how old they may result in a bad case of the squirts!

  26. Dear jamie,

    dog LOVE liver cake. We use it in our obediecne classes ans dogs cant get enough. To make super special liver cake I would recommend using some garlic in there too, dogs go crazy for livercake made with garlic. What you forgot to mention as well at the start of the recipe is to OPEN ALL YOUR WINDOWS AND GET THE AIR FRESHENER READY. That should be step one 🙂

    Also, smellier the better. Pigs liver is super stinky so dogs love it and its really cheap too. If you want it to be bouncy and light as well, dash of milk once you’ve blended it all.

    Cheap £10 food blender (jug) is the best thing i’ve found making liver cake, can blend all the liver at once, eggs and garlic then just add to the flour. Saves the mess =D

    Also – one of my friends’ husband is a butcher and she waltz into training one night with black pudding cake?? Anything can happen =D

    Reply
  27. hi jamie cant wait to make cake i am training my new hound so here’s hoping she comes back when i let her off lead i will let you know

    Reply
    • Have fun Ann! She will defo come back! Let us know how you get on!

  28. Just made it for my dogs, they love it. Don’t think I’ll use. Hand blender next time, made too much mess lol! Great recipe

    Reply
  29. Love this recipe! I have a homemade dog treat book with a liver cake recipe, and I have made it many times for my golden doodle (who is very food-orientated!) However, your recipe is definitely better – less flour, for a start. I like to add some grilled and chopped turkey bacon as well as garlic. I do not believe there is a dog alive who would not love liver cake!!!! Thanks for some great recipes, Jamie.

    Reply
    • Thanks so much Sue!

  30. We are currently making this for Daisy, our collie. She is a stubborn little madam and has an attention span of a fish when it comes to training. However, we have found that liver cake will persuade her to remain engaged in training. She is currently watching us mix the ingredients and will lay in guard of the oven whilst it bakes too!

    Reply
    • Well done Angela, you are braver than many for even trying to make it! I’m sure it will turn out brill and Daisy will adore it! Have fun!

  31. Hi tried this today and oh my does Watson our border collie love it! Forgot the garlic by mistake but it doesn’t seem to matter to him. Thanks for the recipe it will be a regular in our household.

    Reply
    • Thanks Paula, that’s good to hear Watson loved it! I’ve never used garlic..yet. I doubt it needs it but if I have some next time I make it I will add it.

  32. Many thanks for recipe, have a treat apathetic dog I got at 5 years old and needed some training, with the help of my 3 other dogs showing how to do it and a few waves of the cake under the nose we had success at “down” after the third go with no physical prompts. Worked a treat 🙂

    Reply
    • Hey Dafy! I’m really happy to hear that!

  33. I have three doggies. Border terrier, lab x and a 14 month old dobergirl. We met a big boy dove at the weekend – 12 months old and 45kg – my girls only about 25kg and is very slight in comparison, not filled out. Made me feel guilty at possibly user feeding my girl.
    Anyway, the other dog had liver cake, never heard of it, hence my visit here and making it this morning!
    Made with 1.5kg pigs liver, 6 eggs including shells, 4 cloves garlic (most recipes seem to add it) (not to be confused with garlic salt which have undesirable elements) and flour – another recipe used equal measures of liver and flour but thar would be too thick … But they also added water / milk.
    Made in two door aga, simmering oven, in maybe two hours? Checked before I went out and looked good.

    The proof is in the eating but suffice to say dobergirl won’t be going hungry.

    Reply
    • Thanks James!

      Glad they like it. Loves dobermans and someday will get a girly dobe as I prefer girl dogs – I think they easier!

      Ah to cook with an Aga! Lucky you, love them, sometimes I use my woodburning stove to make the dog food.

  34. Thank you so much. I have been making this for my two ridgebacks for a year or so now and they are mad for it! My only problem is that I almost always get a crust that lifts during baking resulting in the cut pieces loosing their tops. Am I doing something wrong?

    Reply
    • Hmm, never had a problem with crusts before. What flour do you use? Are you using eggs and milk?

    • Do you use a fan assisted oven? I wonder if the temp is too high for a fan oven, I will try at a lower temp when I make the next batch next week 🙂

    • I have same problem but is no real problem just means the dogs and cats (they love it too) get a little extra treat whenI cut it up lol

  35. Just posted your link up on my Facebook page so you’ll find everyone will be baking for their pooch soon!! 😀 Did have to put a little “warning” though for the squeemish ones, regarding the pigs head :O xx

    Reply
  36. WONDERFUL!! Used it a few years back trying to get a feral dog into my house – 3 years on and she’s living the high life with us…and recently had to up my game with a foster boy who isn’t food orientated….well liver cake and tiny bits of smoked cheese are working a treat – literally!! Love the fact I can freeze this AND that I know EXACTLY what’s in it. Thank you so much! Bob Tails xx

    Reply
    • Thanks Bob!

  37. This is fantastic! So simple to make, and much loved by our two dogs – they will do anything for a bit of liver cake.

    Reply
    • Thanks for that Jo! Love hearing how dogs love their homemade treats!

  38. Made this for my dogs birthday, my two and all his doggie friends loved it!
    changed the wheat flour for rice flour due to them not having wheat and left out milk but it still turned out great.
    thanks for the great easy recipe but it has to be the most disgusting thing I’ve ever made lol

    Reply
    • Thanks Margaret! It is very messy and a nightmare to clean the hand blender afterwards but at least it’s pretty simple!

  39. Looks great! I’m baking this tonight for one of my retired greyhounds birthdays, problem is there’s two dogs..So is it better to double the mixture or bake two cakes? I guess doubling will take 3 hours to bake?

    Cheers!

    Reply
    • Hi Stu! This recipe makes one very large cake, enough for many dogs!

  40. My dogs love this recipe.i add apples or carrots too.

    Reply

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