How to Make Seedcakes for Birds

Birds need more energy during the cold winter months than seed alone can provide. Making seed cakes is an inexpensive way of helping the backyard birds stay healthy and warm--and they'll come back for more!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 5 lbs. beef suet (purchase at the butcher shop)
• 2 cups chunky peanut butter
• 1 cup dried cranberries or blueberries
• 1 cup fine bread crumbs
• 1 cup Niger thistle seed
• 2 cups sunflower seeds (shelled)
• 1 cup millet seeds
• Paper liners for cupcakes
• Cupcake or muffin pans

1. Place the suet in a large casserole dish and bake it in an oven at 250 degrees until it has melted down almost completely (4 to 5 hours).

2. While the suet is melting, mix peanut butter, seeds, crumbs and berries in large, non-plastic bowl.

3. Set paper muffin cups in muffin pans. You will probably need to prepare two muffin pans.

4. As soon as the suet has melted, carefully pour the suet into the bowl of mixture of peanut butter and mix well. Depending on the amount of suet, the mixture might be thick or a juicy mess, but it doesn't matter. Once it cools and is frozen, it will be fine.

5. Transfer the mixture into the paper muffin cups, flattening the tops off. Cool and then freeze the mixture. Once frozen, transfer the contents into a large plastic bag to use as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• This process is easier when you do large batches at once. Birds love these and devour them, so have plenty in the freezer.
• Don't put these suetcakes out before you have consistent below freezing weather. Warmer days tend to melt them and make them go bad.