How To Decorate A Lambeth Cake

November 16, 2021 • The Cake Decorating Company

The Lambeth method dates back to the 1930s, named after Joseph Lambeth who was known for championing this ornate style of cake decorating. But despite the methods being almost 100 years old, many of today's social-media savvy bakers are breathing life into these old-school techniques!

That's right, the Lambeth cake is IN, and there's no sign of it going anywhere!

What is a Lambeth Cake?

Lambeth cakes use a royal icing over-piping technique to create intricate depth using lots of layers of icing. Often referred to as 'overpiping', it's easy to see why with the dramatic but elegant end results of overlapping scrolls, details and garlands.

Here's a fantastic demo in this Lambeth Piping How-To video from our friend Sarah at @bake.works! To see her demonstrate each piping tip a little more closely, check out this YouTube short!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nHGNNZY3Go

How to pipe a Lambeth Cake

The keys to a perfect Lambeth are the right piping tips and lots of practice!

Depending on the design you have in mind, you'll need a variety of different shaped piping tips (or piping nozzles). An open star tip is great for creating the signature Lambeth cake swirls and shell shapes, while a petal tip is great for ruffles and garlands. You might want to use a flower tip and a leaf tip to create floral designs.

Check out our fantastic piping tips category to start building your collection. Buy individually, or invest in a set like the incredible Wilton Deluxe Piping Set. This has a great selection of nozzles and a coupler, which is a handy tool for switching between tips while decorating!

Once you're all set with your tools, it's just a case of practicing. A Lambeth Cake is all about consistency, so don't expect to be an expert on day one - just focus on your technique.

And a final note is not to rush it. These designs are highly intricate, so take your time - especially in letting any initial layers of royal icing set. Don't risk messing up your beautiful work to save a few minutes!

Lambeth Cake Tutorial

If you're still unfamiliar, or are looking to try out your first ever Lambeth cake, here's a super easy to follow tutorial from baking duo @meetcutecakes_

Jen and Amber have been kind enough to create a step-by-step guide with all the products she used so you can recreate at home.

Products Used

Vanilla Frosting (900g)
Squires Kitchen Professional Royal Icing
Choctastique Stainless Steel Scraper (Medium)
Oneway Premium Piping Bags
Colour Mill (Baby Pink & Lavender)
No #22 Open Star Piping Tip
PME Fine Tooth Open Star #362 Piping Tip

Method

1. Mix 3 drops of Colour Mill's Baby Pink colouring into 600g of vanilla frosting.

2. Beat the frosting on a medium speed for 5 minutes until the frosting has a silk consistency.

3. Roughly cover your cake with the pink icing, then smooth over the edges using a scraper. Top Tip: apply extra pressure where the heart meets the middle to ensure a define heart shape.