Charlie’s Birthday Cake Recipe
Have you ever dreamed of finding a friend who loves all the same things you do? I never expected that the friend who would share my taste in candy would be my horse! Just like Charlie, I love Swedish Fish and Red Vines, so when it was time to make his birthday cake, choosing the decorations was easy. Making it was pretty fun, too: one Swedish Fish for Charlie’s cake, one for me; one Red Vine for Charlie’s cake, one for me. By the time I finished, I’m not sure who’d eaten more of his birthday treats!
Making birthday cakes is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the people—and animals—I care about. In my family, no birthday passes without a proper celebration and a cake to match. I’ve always loved dreaming up ideas for my own cake and creating special ones for my parents, three sisters, friends, and dogs, so when Charlie’s birthday came around, I couldn’t wait to create one especially for him.
To me, a birthday cake is more than just something delicious to eat. The time and thought that go into creating one are part of what makes a birthday feel special, and I put just as much care into Charlie’s as I would for anyone else I love.
Supplies You Need
Small bowl
Knife
Spatula
8-inch or 9-inch round baking pan
Ingredients
Oats
Molasses
Apples
Carrots
Bananas
Swedish Fish (optional)
Red Vines (optional)
Instructions
1. First, wash the apples, carrots, and bananas thoroughly.
2. With a knife, cut the apples, carrots, and bananas into small pieces. Set aside.
3. Place the oats into the mixing bowl. You should have enough to make a crust that will cover the entire bottom of the pan.
4. Add the molasses to the oats in the bowl. Start by using about a tablespoon. If you need to use more to make it stick, you can add one more tablespoon to the mixture.
5. Using a spatula, thoroughly mix the oats and molasses together until the oats are evenly coated and it sticks together. This will form the base of the cake.
6. Transfer the oat and molasses mixture into the round baking pan and press it down evenly to create a firm crust around the whole pan.
7. Spread the cut-up apples, carrots, and bananas evenly over the top of the oat mixture.
8. Arrange additional apple slices on top if desired for extra decoration.
9. If desired, place Swedish Fish candies around the outer border of the cake to create a colorful decorative edge.
10. Again, if desired, place Red Vines on the top of the cake for decoration. This is optional,
but you can spell out “Happy Birthday,” your horse’s name, or your horse’s age.
11. Chill the cake for at least 30 minutes before serving so it can firm up slightly.
12. Present it to your birthday horse or pony.
Enjoy celebrating your horse's special day!
Important Note: Before giving your horse sugary treats like Red Vines or Swedish Fish, check with your veterinarian or trainer to make sure they are appropriate for your horse. Horses with certain dietary or metabolic restrictions, including conditions such as Cushing’s disease, may need to avoid sugary treats.
