Cake it ‘till ya make it. Getting the opportunity to blow out birthday candles year after year is a real treat in itself if you ask us. Aside from our usual wish of Benjamin Button-ing this birthday next year, the only other thing on our list is a freebie — everyone’s favorite ‘f’ word. This list of local businesses make getting older a whole lot sweeter with birthday specials worth celebrating.

Five Daughters Bakery

📍 Franklin, 12 South, East + West Nashville

Dessert for breakfast, check. Get a free donut at Five Daughters on your birthday. Pro tip: A candle on a milk chocolate sprinkle really sets the tone for the day.

M.L Rose

📍 Melrose, Sylvan Park, Capitol View + Mt. Juliet

One Rocky Road Skillet Cookie, coming up. This sweet freebie is a locally-made Christie Cookie. Plus, who doesn’t love vanilla bean ice cream with whipped cream, caramel, and chocolate drizzle?

The Villager Tavern

📍 1719 21st Ave. S.

Quite pawsibly the most unique birthday freebie. With a valid ID, you and your friends can get a dog bowl full of beer. Read more about this tradition here.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

📍 Locations vary

I scream, you scream, get a free cone of ice cream. Jeni’s offers a free single standard or trio-sized ice cream in a cup or cone on your special day — we recommend the buttercream birthday cake, of course.

Whitney’s Cookies

📍 Local pickup in Franklin

Saving some coin? Don’t mind if I dough. Whitney’s Cookies offers $10 off on your birthday. Pro tip: If you’re a late March baby, this month’s special flavors feature Girl Scout Cookie classics.

Toot’s

📍 Murfreesboro + Smyrna

We’re not tootin’ our own horn on finding this one, but what a deal. If you join the VIP club at Toot’s, you’ll receive a $10 coupon to be used for a birthday lunch or dinner. With $5.99 food specials, that’s enough for a meal for you + a date.