Learn how to make DIY Birdseed Suet Cakes for your backyard birds. They're also excellent holiday hostess and teacher gifts that the kids can help with!
One of my favorite things to do once the weather starts cooling down and the birds have less natural things to eat in the yard (berries and worms) is to make suet bird seed cakes for them.
And why make them in boring square shapes when you can make them in fun shapes!
Well, I didn't make jello with it, because that would just be too obvious. And who wants to hear about making jello anyhow? Snoozefest!
I made DIY birdseed suet cakes with it!!!
That uses gelatin. So, come to think of it, I sort of made jello for you after all.
Come along as I take you through the journey of how to make something you can probably buy in the store for $1. It's so much more fun to make it yourself though!
Supplies:
- 3 cups wild bird food
- ½ cup boiling water
- 3 tablespoons Karo syrup
- 1 packet unflavored gelatin (Knox or a generic version)
- ¾ cup flour
- non-stick cooking spray - I prefer Pam, for obvious reasons 🙂
- a mold of some sort - jello mold, bundt pan, etc
- string, twine or yarn
- a straw if your mold doesn't have a hole for easy hanging
Directions:
Spray your mold with cooking spray
Mix the gelatin packet into the boiled water until it is dissolved.
Add flour and syrup until it is mixed well. It's going to look like a thick cake batter.
Add birdseed into the mixture and mix well.
Spoon ½ the mixture into your mold.
Push straw through the seed mixture to the bottom of the mold.
Add a bit of string (this is going to act like a piece of rebar in cement and add extra stability).
Spoon remaining seed mixture into the mold and compress it down as much as humanly possible.
Put mold into the fridge or freezer overnight to harden up and allow the gelatin to set.
Remove from the mold. If your seed cake doesn't slide out of the mold easily when you turn it upside down, sit the bottom of the mold in a shallow pan of warm water for a few minutes and the cake should pop out.
Gently remove straw and thread a piece of string through the hole for hanging.
I figure the birds can steal the "rebar" string to make their nests with when they're done eating through the cake.
I added an extra step of putting a twig in the hole as a little perch for the birdies.
I did not put that in the official directions, because so far none of the birds are using the darn twig. They'd prefer to just stand precariously on the top and eat the seed.
So much for my plan of a quaint photo of a cardinal sitting on the twig, eating the birdseed cake and smiling at the camera.
Tips and Tidbits:
This recipe is for a medium sized jello mold. If you were going to do a large bundt pan, you may want to double it.
Do not dilly dally when making this. Once the mixture starts to cool, you don't have a lot of time to work with it in the molds before it starts setting up.
If you plan to give these as gifts, please keep them refrigerated or in a cool place until you gift them.
If you're looking for a low-melt suet recipe that holds up better on warmer days, I have a recipe with peanuts and berries that the birds LOVE → No Melt Suet Cakes For Birds.
This Explains So Much:
About Karo syrup - My mom used to use this syrup for pancakes and waffles and such. The first time I ever had maple syrup was in college and I about gagged. It's funny that Karo syrup is what I thought syrup was supposed to taste like.
Needless to say, my Mom was not the best cook 🙂 I won't get into what she used for spaghetti sauce.
Now get out of here and feed the little birdies! They need to gain their winter five ten pounds like the rest of us.
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. You can read my full disclosure policy here.)
Some Other Post You May Enjoy:
Homemade Squirrel Repellent Recipe
Vintage Tin Dollhouse Repurposed Into Birdhouse
Vintage Snack Set Bird Feeder
Anu Varma
Wow, this is so cute!! I am visiting you via Wow Us Wednesdays and look forward to seeing you at My Dream Canvas.
michelle@decorandthedog
This is adorable! I'd have to get over my bird phobia to make it happen. 😉
Miss Kitty
This is so cute! My elderly parents like to birdwatch from their apartment but they can't have birdfeeders there. I could make some of these to hang in the bushes outside of their windows to attract more birds there for their entertainment...I don't think anyone would notice them but the birds. Thanks for sharing that tutorial! I saw this at French Country Cottage blog party.
Babs R
LOVE this idea! The heart shape is so cute.Thanks for the tutorial. Lucky birds.
Vickey
I'd love to make this. I 'm just wondering how long it will take this to melt in the hot sun?? Or maybe it won't.
Pam Kessler
I've not had one of these out in the heat of summer yet - it's still in the 30's here 🙁 But I would think they would hold up in all but the hottest part of the summer.
Brenda Young
Oh Pam my kids are so going to love making this project with me! Nice tutorial recipe that will hold up much better than peanut butter on pinecones! Karo on pancakes? I can't imagine, glad my mom was a great cook, we grew up on maple syrup - and now thats all I can use, well, kind of a curse actually because now my kids cant keep their hands off mine- that stuffs not cheap, and they pour it like its water! LOL
Carole Burkhard
What a great idea! My birds are eating me out of house and home {grin}! If I make some of these, maybe it will slow them down because it will be harder for them to eat, but they'll still get some treats! Pinning to Pinterest!
Jeanette Shaw
This is an awesome idea :} I started making them & couldn't stop. Couple tricks I found was to keep your hand wet & it won't stick to your hands while putting it in the molds & you can work with it much longer. . I used a couple aluminum muffin tins & a old tart pan. There in the freezer now & I'm excited. Here at the Jersey Shore we have a black bird called a Grackle (very destructive to suet) made them there own with sunflower seeds & larger kernel type bird food. Also took care of the squirrels (maybe they'll stop terrorizing my bird feeders) & used corn & old stale cookies & cereal I was gonna throw out.
My parents also enjoy watching & feeding there birds in NY State all year long, What a huge variety they have, especially finches. They buy suet by the 10 pack box. I'm sure they are gonna love getting these. Anyone who enjoys feeding the birds will love this. SOOO EASY. Let ur imagination run wild. NEXT PENNY GAZING BALL. Thank you again for a awesome idea
Minnie's Milestones
I love this recipe, definitely will try. Pinned!
Biker1100
Followed the recipe for the most part.. I didn't have any Karo in the pantry so I used molasses instead. Also added some PB and a quarter cup or so of cornmeal that was out of date. Seeing that 2 of my feeders are 8x8x2 I doubled the recipe and made 2 seed cakes using square pans.
Amy Marie Adams
These are beautiful and I want to make them. Wondering if you have a substitute ingredient for Karo syrup? I just read that Karo syrup is corn syrup sweetened with vanilla (never heard of it before) I don't know if that is a brand name, and if it is not sure I can get it where I live. Or can I use any corn syrup? Thanks.
Pam Kessler
I just Googled it and it appears that you can melt 1 cup sugar into 1/4 cup hot water and make a Karo substitute. Or I would think any corn syrup would work out also. Hope you enjoy making them - and the birds enjoy eating them 🙂
Anonymous
I will be doing this with my Montessori preschool class in small groups for a Valentines Day project. I love this idea and recipe however I am modifying it to be "nut free" and with cookie cutters. How quickly does it set? I'm wondering if I have time to pass the cookie cutter to each child? Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Cate
Hi Pam! I love your recipe! I came across it here over a month ago and have since spent every Saturday morning making a batch or two! I use large cookie cutters as my "mold" and even have used styrofoam cups filled halfway! The birds love these treats!! As an extra bonus, I sometimes spread peanut butter on one side of the seed ornament after it has hardened and then press the peanut butter side into loose sunflower seeds! We have quite the variety of birds flocking to our house to feast on these treats!! Thanks for a fun, easy recipe!!
Pam
Oh, I like the peanut butter idea!
Kim
I was wondering, I live in Arizona just outside of Phoenix, will this hold up during warmer days? I used to have a bird feeder when we lived in Tennessee and don't have it anymore, plus this looked a lot more fun to do than just filling something up.
Pam
I really don't think it would. It does fine here in Ohio, but once it gets past 75 degrees or so it starts to get soft. And I'm assuming it gets much hotter than that in Arizona 🙂
Linda aka Crafty Gardener
Thanks for adding a link to my all season suet recipe Pam.
I love the idea of using a jello mold to form your bird cakes. And the addition of a little twig is a great idea. I'll remember that for another time.
Nancy Young
Well, my favorite sandwich is tuna and peanut butter. Everybody I know thinks it sounds gross but for some strange reason I love it! Of course you have to add mayonaise to the tuna first...........
Tanya
I plan on making these as a way to raise money for shelter pets; I work in a pet food store. I am wondering, will these melt in warm weather? I don't know if using gelatin, they can only be used for cold weather.
Pam
They work well for winter, spring and fall, but I've found they tend to get too soft in the hot summer months. So warmer weather is ok, but not typical summer heat and sun. Good luck with your shelter fundraiser! I hope you raise lots and lots of money for the animals!
David K.
For those wanting to make seed blocks that hold up during the summer (95°- 115° where I live)- Use agar agar.
Most Westerners haven't heard of it but it's used in some Asian sauces and for desserts. In every way I've found it superior to gelatin (except for availability and cost- about $1/packet but varies).
If you don't have any good Asian markets close by purchase online, it comes sometimes in small packs of powder or sometimes in large pkgs of long solid strips (similar to kelp).
Below about 125° it will gel, and when used for birdseed blocks very little agar is actually needed. Out in the sun & heat it will simply dehydrate after a while but not go bad or get soft. Add karo or molasses if you like, and whatever else pleases you.
*HOT!
USE DISHWASING GLOVES, or mix and press with kitchen implements, etc.
Work quickly.
Pam
Thanks for the info!!! I will look for it at the store!
Lanna Seuret
Thank you for this thoughtful and easy recipe! I'm going to try making a woodpecker square cake .
As a long time birder, I believe you may have better luck with the "Landing Twig" if you break off all the smaller branches. Birds need a safe landing space and easy escape route in danger.
Darling heart picture though, and thanks for such clear snaps!
Tom
Hello,
What's the flour for in this recipe? Is it a binding agent?
Thanks!