Go Back
Lambeth-style birthday cake decorated with white buttercream, pink piping, sprinkles, and tall pastel candles
Chef Emilia

Lambeth Cake

A show-stopping vintage-style cake with ornate piping, this Lambeth cake tutorial teaches you how to bake and decorate a masterpiece using classic techniques with a modern flair. Perfect for weddings, birthdays, or any celebration that deserves elegance and nostalgia.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: British, Vintage
Calories: 480
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 full vanilla cake recipe, baked and sliced (for 6-inch cake)
  • Confetti sprinkles (optional, for funfetti layer)
  • 6x vanilla buttercream recipe (use 5x for smaller version)
  • Gel food coloring (pink, orange, yellow, green)
  • Small sugar pearls (for flower centers)

Equipment

  • 4 cake pans (6-inch or 8-inch)
  • Mixing bowls
  • Offset spatula
  • Piping bags
  • Assorted piping tips (104, 4B, 17, 69, 352, 129)
  • Cookie cutter (for piping guide)
  • wire cooling rack
  • Cake stand

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease four cake pans. Use 6-inch pans for a tall cake or 8-inch pans for a wider version.
  2. Prepare vanilla cake batter. Divide evenly into 4 bowls. Color 3 with food coloring and add sprinkles to the fourth.
  3. Pour into pans and bake. Bake 6-inch layers for 30–35 mins, 8-inch for 25–30 mins. Cool completely on a wire rack.
  4. Slice off domed tops to level layers. Prepare 6x buttercream. Stack layers with buttercream between each.
  5. Apply a crumb coat. Chill for 30 minutes. Then apply final coat and chill another hour.
  6. Tint remaining buttercream into desired colors. Tone down brightness with a tiny drop of warm brown if needed.
  7. Use cookie cutter to mark piping guides. Start piping with orange buttercream using tip 104 for ruffles and garlands.
  8. Layer pink ruffles over orange, pipe shell borders in pink and yellow. Add top border and swirls using tip 4B.
  9. Use tip 129 to pipe flowers, place pearls at centers. Pipe leaves with tip 352 and green buttercream.
  10. Chill until serving. Insert candles for celebration if desired. Slice with a warm sharp knife to preserve details.

Notes

Use gel food coloring for vibrant results. Chill buttercream slightly if too soft. Insert candles or fresh edible flowers for finishing touches. Refrigerate if your kitchen is warm to preserve detailed piping.