In this paper we describe the development of Cu/CeO2/YSZ anodes for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) that are active for the direct electrochemical oxidation of dry hydrocarbon fuels. A novel method for synthesizing thin-electrolyte, anode-supported cells is described. This method uses tape-casting of YSZ layers with graphite pore formers, followed by impregnation with aqueous solutions of Cu(NO3)2 and Ce(NO3)2. The performance of model SOFCs with Cu/CeO2/YSZ anodes while operating on a variety of dry hydrocarbon fuels, including methane, butane, decane, and synthetic diesel is reported.