Easy Homemade Suet Cake Recipes to Attract Wild Birds

Besides providing water and shelter, one of the easiest ways to attract wild birds to your yard is to provide them with sources of food. Even if your home landscape includes native plants that serve as natural food sources, supplies will be scarce when it’s cold outside. That’s why it’s so important, especially during the harshest days of winter, to keep your birdfeeders as well as your suet holders full.

Both local and migratory birds benefit from the nutrition found in suet. Of course, premade cakes and suet balls are readily available online and at your local home and garden retailer. But, as with most foods, homemade is best.

Suet requires little time and no special skill to make. Best of all, wild birds love it! And they'll flock to your yard to get it.

Before You Start Cooking

If you plan to make suet cakes, select the containers you'll use before you begin. Empty tuna cans work well, as do 11 x 7 x 2 inch glass, metal, or foil baking pans. Coat the container(s) lightly with cooking spray. If you're making suet balls, no containers are required.

Next, assemble the following ingredients. For thicker suet, add more dry ingredients. If making suet balls, you may have to add up to 6 C. cornmeal.

2 C. lard*

1 cup peanut butter

3-5 C. cornmeal

1/4-1/2 C. flour

1-2 C. oats

Optional Ingredients for Homemade Suet Cakes

Also consider using at least two of these optional ingredients: 1/4 cup sugar or less, 1/2 cup raisins or other dried fruit, 1/2 peanuts, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, and 1/2 birdseed mix.

*Note: Most major grocery stores carry lard. Look for it in the international foods section. I use the El Mexicano brand.

Directions for Making Suet Cakes at Home

In a regular kitchen pot, melt the lard and peanut butter over low heat, stirring occasionally. Allow the mixture to cool for about 10 minutes. Then stir in the flour, cornmeal, and oats with a spoon. If you're using sugar, add it, too.

Once the ingredients are well mixed, add the optional items, such as dried fruit, seeds, and nuts. When you're finished, the warm suet mixture should be thick.

If you're making cakes, scrape the suet out of the pot and spread it into your container(s). Chill it in the refrigerator or freezer. When the suet has set, unmold it or cut it into pieces with a sharp knife.

If you're making balls, allow the suet to cool to room temperature before forming them. Wetting your hands will keep the suet from sticking to your fingers.

More Suet Recipes

For most, the recipe above is ideal. With the exception of lard, it’s comprised of ingredients almost everyone has in their pantry. There are lots of ways to vary it, too, depending upon the optional ingredients you choose.

However, it's not the only suet recipe available. Many more exist. Some include bacon grease. Others recommend adding baked goods, like crackers and bread, as well as ground dried meat.

More Comfort Food for Birds

Here's another concoction that birds love, especially during winter. It's sort of like bird granola. No special holders are necessary. Just toss it on the ground! Or, if you're feeling fancy, place it on a tray or platform feeder.

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then, over low heat, melt two cups of cooking grease or lard. Remove the melted grease from the heat, allow it to cool a bit, and then stir in the following ingredients:

5 cups cornmeal

3 cups flour

1 cup barley

2 to 3 eggs

1 cup uncooked rice

Thin the mixture with water or milk until it’s the consistency of cake batter. Spread it into a baking pan, and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Once it’s cool, crumble it with your fingers. It’s ready to serve!