Our Favorite High-Style Lambeth Vintage Cake Ideas
Have you seen those classic, traditional-looking cakes that feel a bit retro and are absolutely decked out in fancy, over-the-top piping? They’ve been having a real moment lately (particularly the heart-shaped versions), but did you know that that style of piping has a name—and a really rich history?
This super fun cake is called a lambeth cake—and it’s experiencing a full-blown revival. We love this trend at ECBG, which you may already know if you’ve seen our cakes on social media or out in the wild.
Here, we’re diving into the world of lambeth cakes, from where they came from, to some of our favorite styles, and more.
What’s the Deal With Lambeth Cakes?
Lambeth cakes originated in the 1930s in England, where they were popular for high society weddings and all kinds of different royal events. Created by Joseph Lambeth, the lambeth method of cake decoration takes real skill.
Lambeth’s signature style involved super intricate and layered piping work. While he worked primarily with royal icing, today’s version includes buttercream varieties and so much more. To pull off the look, you’ll need a steady hand (so your piping looks polished, not sloppy), plenty of piping bags and decorative piping tips, and a whole lot of practice.
Lambeth piping shows off a cake decorator’s skill, artistry, and attention to detailed craftsmanship—while these cakes have gotten some little modern updates, they still give off a decidedly retro feel. That being said, they’re tons of fun and feel a bit playful too, so they fit in well at birthday parties, bridal showers, and so many more special events. Plus, they're an edible work of art, with tons of intricate piping details that cake decorators specialize in. No practical pastries here.
ECBG’s Take on a Lambeth-Style Cake
Lambeth cakes are so popular right now and, as a result, ECBG has a few different iterations of the style. Here’s what you’ll find in ECBG’s Cake Shop:
So Coquette
This chic, feminine cake couldn’t be cuter. It’s great for a birthday, Valentine’s Day, baby shower, or girls’ night in. Swathed in lambeth piping and covered in fresh raspberries, this cake screams “centerpiece.”
Eat Your Heart Out
This vintage-style cake is the perfect choice for birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother's Day, or even when your friend finally dumped that partner you couldn’t stand. Swathed in elaborate swoops of buttercream along the top of the cake and bottom edge and sprinkled with edible pearls, this cake is ready for its moment in the spotlight.
The Tini
Made for martini lovers, ECBG offers a version that takes inspiration from a classic dirty martini (complete with decorative olive garnish) and another that takes inspiration from a classic espresso martini (with espresso beans, of course). Both are decorated with gorgeous lambeth piping on the sides of the cake and edible metallic sprinkles. Go for the cute and punny “a tini bit older” or pick a message that resonates with you (or the martini lover in your life). It's a lambeth cake with a modern twist.
Trophy Wife
This metallic stunner demands to be the center of attention. Decked out in rows of intricate piped details in edible metallic (choose from gold, silver, or rose gold), it’s glam, fun, and the ornate style of cake makes it perfect for just about any occasion.
White Wedding
While this cake can be customized in any number of ways, one potential customization includes plenty of pretty swoops of buttercream with ruffled garlands around the top edge of the cake or the bottom of the cake. Perfect for an engagement party, anniversary, or small wedding celebration, this cake is a lovely yet still understated centerpiece for any dessert table.
Why We Absolutely Love Lambeth-Style Cakes
Though there’s a time and place for something more minimalist, we can’t help but swoon for these intricate, elaborate, maximalist masterpieces. Here’s why:
Create something totally custom: There are so many ways to make a lambeth cake your own. Choose your color scheme, the amount (and style) of piping, any message you want on the cake, additional decorative touches like sprinkles, edible glitter, or add-ons like cherries, and more.
They demand to be noticed: These cakes are—let’s be honest—social media gold. They’re gorgeous and glam and tons of fun. Why wouldn’t you want to share them?
Perfect for so many different occasions: These overly decorated cakes are the ideal centerpiece for weddings, birthday parties, girls’ night out, anniversary parties, and more.
FAQs
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There’s nothing super different about the cakes themselves. lambeth-style frosting is just a decorative finish. This style of decorating a cake uses buttercream or royal icing to cover the cake in dramatic, maximalist ruffles, swoops, shell borders, and more. It’s super glam and very retro.
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Definitely not! There’s a reason it feels retro and fun—lambeth-style cakes have been around for a long time. The style is going through a major comeback right now thanks to social media trends and the rise in maximalism.
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One of the best things about lambeth cakes is that they work for just about every single kind of event or special occasion. We love these cakes for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, engagements, showers, promotions, holidays, and more.
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Store leftover cake in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in a layer of plastic wrap and placed in the fridge. Don't serve the chilled cake directly from the fridge, however. When you're ready to eat, pull the cake out and let it come to room temperature before slicing and serving.
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Making a lambeth-style cake isn’t for the faint of heart (talk about layers and layers of icing), especially if you don't have much cake decorating experience, but if you’re up for the challenge, you should at least try to set yourself up for success. Shop Erin’s favorite cake decorating tools so you know you have everything you need to pull off your ambitious design. All you'll need after that is a little patience and lots of practice.
Need to brush up on your cake decorating skills? We offer online cake decorating classes and in-person classes at our Chicago bakeshop. Register online to join us!
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If you’re hoping to place a semi-custom order from our Cake Shape, we require at least 5 days’ notice to pull together your cake. Because we’re not a retail bakery, every cake is made to order. This schedule gives us enough time to make sure your cake is baked and decorated to perfection
If you’re looking for something more custom, reach out to learn more about the custom cake process (or the wedding cake process!). We need at least two weeks’ notice for custom cake orders. Make sure to plan ahead!
Lambeth cakes are so chic and fun and totally glam. They’re well-suited for everything from birthdays to milestone celebrations to an extra-special girls’ night out. Whether you’re placing an order or grabbing a piping bag yourself, these cakes are worth the effort.
