Homemade Suet Cakes for Wild Birds

Homemade suet cakes are an easy source of food for wild birds during the winter. They're also super easy to make with simple ingredients like shortening, peanut butter, oats, bird seed, and berries.

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If you've been following me on social media for a while, then you know that I'm a huge bird nerd! It's gotten even worse now that I have one of those bird feeders with the camera, plus a subscription to Birds & Blooms magazine - see! Giant bird nerd. I feed the birds all year round, but it's especially important to help them out when it's cold outside and food isn't as easy to find.

Along with our bird seed feeder, I also set up a suet feeder basket for our wild birds. Not only does hanging a suet basket attract different types of birds to the yard, but it's pretty beneficial to them when it's cold outside. Suet cakes contain a fatty base mixed with things like bird seed, oats, berries, and nuts. The suet provides an energy source for birds and helps them stay warm.

So last year, I started making my own suet cakes. It's easy to keep a big batch of them in the freezer. I individually wrap them, then place one in the suet basket when it's empty. Even though suet cakes can be found in a bunch of different stores, it's pretty cheap to make my own. You might also have most of the ingredients to make these already on hand.

Homemade Suet Cakes for Wild Birds

This is a simple recipe made with a handful of basics. I start with shortening to provide a fatty base. Then, I mix in peanut butter, oats, bird seed, and other bird-friendly ingredients. Once they solidify, I individually wrap them and keep them in the freezer.

Most recipes call for the shortening and peanut butter to be melted, but I find it's super easy to mix together and doesn't need to be melted. So in a large mixing bowl, I add all of the ingredients and mix until combined.

Then, I spoon the mixture into a glass storage container or baking dish and place it in the fridge so the suet solidifies. 24 hours is best.

Once the suet has hardened, I cut it into basket-sized squares (the quantity will vary depending on the size of the dish you use for the fridge) and individually wrap them to store them in the freezer.

When it's time to feed the birds, I place one suet cake in the basket and let them go to town! Keep in mind that this suet cake recipe is best for cold, wintry temperatures and will melt in warm weather.

I usually make a double batch of this recipe so I always have suet cakes on hand. Then, I hang the basket in our small oak tree. It's also next to a water source for them along with some bird houses. We've really made it cozy in our backyard for our feathered friends!

Did you make this Homemade Suet Cakes for Wild Birds project? Share it on social media using the hashtag #holokahome. Don’t forget to tag me @holokahome!