Homemade lard suet cakes is the topic of the day. My backyard birds devour my DIY lard suet cakes within days. So, rather than continually spend money on commercial suet cakes, I started making my own. Whether there are fights over the food in your home or in your backyard, you know the food is good. So, I suggest that you start making homemade suet cakes for your backyard birds. Especially, if you want to keep them coming back to your feeders.
Furthermore, Suet cakes are a great source of heat and energy for birds in the winter. And, you can get creative and create your own recipes. I have created tons of recipes for my backyard birds, and it was fun making them. Especially, with my grandkids. Beef stew is the flavor of the day. Lets get started.
Beef Stew Lard Suet Cakes:
- 1 cup chopped boiled potatoes (Be sure to remove the skin).
- 1 cup grated raw carrots (Raw carrots are good for the birds eyes).
- 2 cups of black oil sunflower seeds
- 1 cup of oats (I forgot to include them in the picture below).
- 1 cup beef lard (I used the fat from my ground beef)
- 1/2 cup regular lard if needed
- containers to mold your mixture (container should be at least 5 x 5 so it will fit into a suet cage)
Note: This recipe makes 2 suet cakes.
- Step 1 – Melt 1 cup of lard in a pot, and than allow it to harden.
- Step 2 – Melt melt the lard a second time and allow it to harden again. You can add more lard here if you don’t think you have enough for your mixture.
- Step 3 – Melt the lard again.
- Next, mix your birdseed, oats, potatoes, and carrots thoroughly while the lard is melting. Once the ingredients are mixed well, pour the melted lard over the mixture. Stir the mixture so it is covered well with the lard. (You can save a little lard to pour over the mixture once it is packed in the containers).
- Pack the mixture into your containers. ( I spray my containers with Olive Oil before I add the mixture to ensure an easy removal).
- Pour the last of the melted lard over the mixture in the packed containers.
- Freeze or place your containers in your refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
- Last, remove the suet cakes from your containers and store in a freezer bag in the freezer or refrigerator until you need them. (I mark my bags with the type of suet cake that I’m storing. For example, Beef Stew).
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Some of the birds that visit my suet cake feeders are:
- Woodpeckers
- Mockingbirds
- Northern Flickers
- Carolina Wrens
- Tufted Titmouse
- European Starlings
- Downy Woodpeckers
- Hairy Woodpeckers
- Pileated Woodpeckers
- Black-capped Chickadees
- House Finches
- Sparrows
Finally, check out my carrot raisin suet cake recipe before you leave. It’s another favorite of my backyard birds. You may also like Understanding Suet.
