Sugar Artists: Dog and Cat Themed Cookies, Cupcakes and Cakes

Planning a party takes considerable creativity, time and money. Whether you work with a party planner or do it yourself, one detail that everyone seems to be obsessed with these days is the baked goods. Whether you opt for cookies, cupcakes or cakes, sugar artists are available to help you express your passion for animals in the form of dog or cat themed baked goods!

Dog or Cat Themed Cookies

Susanna Caliendo of Rolling Pin Productions is a sugar artist who loves to create animal cookies for her clients. She has captured many images in cookies, including the Target Bull Terrier for induction into Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum and the cover of my petiquette book for its launch party at the swanky William Secord Gallery. 

According to Caliendo, baking and decorating custom cookies can be challenging for many reasons.  As a result of Susanna wanting her cookies to taste as good as they look, it took her three years to develop a recipe that tastes good and  performs well.  

“Although my clients are always surprised that my cookies actually taste good, performance is what counts. What I mean by performance is that my cookie recipe has to create cookies that withstand handling for hand-painting, applying edible photo paper as well as shipping them across the country,” she explains.

For Caliendo there are other challenges when making dog cookies. To make her treats as real as possible, she has to spend time researching the animals so that she can accurately sculpt the cookies. Moreover, certain animals are harder to create than others.

“For example, if I am working with dogs, I prefer to work on dogs with fur (like an Afghan) or a stocky build (like an English Bulldog) because I can make them with thicker legs. If I am making a batch of Papillion cookies, for example, I have to worry about their thin legs breaking in transit,” she explains.  To rectify this problem, she will suggest to a client to just capture the pet reclining, sitting or just the face to ensure shipping success.

Also, Caliendo recommends if you are ordering dog themed cookies for the upcoming holidays, do so as soon as possible so that your baker will have time to make them. Also, don’t forget to ask the baker how long they stay fresh. Custom cookies individually wrapped should stay fresh for at least 3 weeks.

Dog or Cat Themed Cupcakes 

At one time, cupcakes were mainly thought of as a make-at-home dessert at parties for children under 10 years old, but that’s no longer true. Ever since Carrie and Miranda sat outside of the Magnolia Bakery in an episode of Sex and the City, the increasing demand for cupcakes has inspired bakers and entrepreneurs to open "cupcakeries" throughout the country which offer a multitude of flavored offerings, seasonal and holiday selections, custom catering and how-to classes.  

Moreover, with the 2008 release of Karen Tack and Alan Richardson’s book, Hello, Cupcake, a growing trend has emerged to create whimsical cupcake creations using candy. In their book, the authors provide instructions for animal lovers and baking enthusiasts to make animal-themed cupcakes. Specifically, I like how they made their Pupcakes (cupcakes in the shapes like Westies, Yorkies, Pugs, Dalmatians, Collies, Beagles, Daschunds, Schnauzers, Chihuahuas, Labradors, Bulldogs and Sheepdogs) created with wafers, marshmallows, Starbursts, Tootsie Rolls, jellybeans, Junior Mints, caramels and  M&Ms. 

Since the release of their book, dog themed cupcakes prepared in their unique style are now found at most bakeries and cupcakeries, even being sighted at Whole Foods Bakery.

Experts agree that it is difficult to ship custom cupcakes so find a local bakery that delivers or that is close enough to your home to pick up your order.

Dog or Cat Themed Cakes

Although Charm City’s Duff Goldman and his wacky group of friends/employees have wowed viewers with his animal-themed cake creation during his ten season hit show, Ace of Cakes, many dog lovers and baking enthusiasts continue to discuss the Best in Show cake competition episode on the Food Network’s Challenge.

In the Best in Show challenge, competitors had to create purebred dog cakes  while dog fancier and co-host of the Westminster Kennel Club, David Frei, was called in to help with the judging. After the eight-hour challenge, Atlanta’s Highland Bakery Sugar Artist, Karen Portaleo, won for her depiction of a white Standard Poodle, made in yellow cake with white vanilla buttercream, fondant and modeling chocolate. To make the dog appear as life-like as possible, Karen used a cotton candy machine to make the fur.   

“That was her winning move”, says David Frei. As a dog show judge, Frei was also impressed that Karen created her dog according to the “standard.”  The standard, the specifics as determined by the American Kennel Club, is used by the organization judges when evaluating a dog in the show ring. 

Over the years, Karen has made many dog cakes. Some of her most notable depictions include “Arthur,” the beloved English Cocker Spaniel of Sir Elton John, a part-time Atlanta resident and “Olivia,” the Shih Tzu of Jamie Lynch and her wife. Most recently, she made me an Uga, (the name of the lineage of white Bulldogs for the University of Georgia at Athens) for my “Pet Tailgating” segment on CBS’s Better Mornings in Atlanta.

Things to Keep in Mind When Ordering Pet Themed Baked Goods

According to Portaleo, when working with clients, it is important to remember that a custom-designed cake is the center point of the event, and should wow guests.

“When making an animal themed cake, it is important to thoroughly discuss the subject matter with the client.  For example, when making a pet cake, you need to know if you are making an exact replica of their Pug or a just Pug cake,” she says.  

Karen advises if you are working with a sugar artist to make a dog cake, bring pictures and tell the artist about your pet. “If your cats sit in the window sill, your dog sleeps in a specific spot, or your bird tilts his head a certain way, tell the artist so that you can provide them with inspiration."

When ordering a cake, she also advises to keep it tasteful.  “What you might find funny (i.e. a dog pooping), other guests might find distasteful,” she says.

Additionally, once your cake order is ready for pick-up or delivery, make sure you have a thorough understanding of how to cut the cake. “Don’t forget to ask for cutting directions,” says Julie Senter, Karen’s Executive Assistant.  “If at a venue, save yourself some grief by having the caterer cut your cake because custom cakes can be fairly complicated to cut.”

Julie also recommends having the cake delivered. 

“Delivery is the safest because your bakery knows the best method for transportation and sends assistants with tools to fix the cake if there are delivery mishaps,” she explains.     

And lastly, to preserve your cake, she suggests wrapping it tightly a few times around with plastic wrap while trying to eliminate as much of the air as possible to keep the rest as fresh as possible.

Whether you are ordering black cat cookies for a Halloween party, having zoo-themed cupcakes for a children’s party or a dog cake to celebrate the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, animal-themed baked goods are sure to be a big hit with your guests. 

Just remember, as with any sweets, eat in moderation!