How to Make Liver Cake
This is the world's most popular homemade dog treat—and for good reason! It's incredibly simple to make, uses cheap, everyday ingredients, and your dog will absolutely love it.
Liver is easy to find in any supermarket (Morrisons is a great bet) or from your local butcher. The recipe calls for roughly 500g (about 1lb), but don't worry if your pack is a bit more or less—this recipe is very forgiving. If you don't have liver, you can easily swap it for other proteins like minced beef, kidney, heart, chicken livers, or even tuna!
This cake is perfect as a training treat, a special birthday cake, or even to sell at fairs. You can top it with cream cheese for a "frosting" or bake the mixture in a cupcake tray for individual pupcakes (check out my pupcake recipe for details).
For this recipe, you'll need a 9" cake tin. You can find one online here.
Equipment
- 1 9" Cake tin
Ingredients
- 500 g Liver (approx. 1lb, a standard pack)
- 2 Eggs
- 200 g Wholemeal flour (200g = 7 ounces)
- Splash of milk
Instructions
- Add the liver, the eggs and a splash of milk to a jug.
- And blend it. It should look a bit like a smoothie once done.
- Transfer the mix to a large bowl and add 200g (7oz) of flour
- 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.
- Grease a cake tin with a little butter.
- Empty your mix into cake tin, making sure it’s level.
- Put cake tin into the middle of a preheated oven at 160ºC (320ºF/Gas Mark 3) and cook for about 45 mins.
- Right, it should now be cooked. Yummy!
- It’s easier to cut while it’s still warm.
- Cut into squares and fridge. Freeze what you won’t use in a few days.
- If your dog is like mine, she will have watched you the entire time.
I love it! I made this for my baby boy for the 13 wonderful birthdays I was blessed to share with him! I lost the recipe when I moved and my friend’s pup turned 1 yesterday… wanted to surprise her with the birthday cake Mikey loved so very much!
Thank you so much for sharing! I’m making it tomorrow!
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
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!
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
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!
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
Have fun Ann! She will defo come back! Let us know how you get on!
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
Thanks so much Sue!
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!
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!
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 🙂
Hey Dafy! I’m really happy to hear that!
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.