The Vintage Heart Cake.
The Vintage Cake Trend That’s Taking Over – And Why I’m Obsessed
I’m going to jump straight into it—because if you’ve been anywhere near social media lately, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. The biggest cake trend right now? The vintage cake. And yes, it also happens to be my absolute favourite.
Also known as Lambeth cakes or over-piped cakes, these beauties originated back in the 1930s. They went out of style for a while, especially with the rise of sugar paste and fondant, but they’re making a huge comeback—and I couldn’t be happier. These cakes are all about the drama: intricate piping, layers of texture, and a serious retro vibe. Whether they’re pastel, bold and bright, heart-shaped, round, or tiered—I just love making them.
Last week was a full-on vintage week in my kitchen—Here’s a little behind-the-scenes of what I’ve been working on:
Classic White Hen Do Cake
A heart-shaped cake with all-white piping, elegant borders and pearls. Perfectly chic and timeless—this one headed off to a hen party and stole the show.Elegant 70th Birthday Cake
Decorated in soft pastel pinks with dainty buttercream roses and delicate ruffles, this one had a really graceful, celebratory feel. A beautiful choice for a milestone moment.Margaritas & Matrimony
This was the one I was most excited about! Inspired by those trendy “a tini bit older” themed cakes, this heart-shaped vintage cake featured a green base, with pink and green piped shells and ruffles to match the theme. It had a dripping chocolate effect, and a tilted margarita glass topper spilling out—such a fun one to create! It even travelled 3 hours and made it in one piece!Baby Shower Vintage Heart Cake
White, heart-shaped and piped in soft detail with blue ribbons and a sweet homemade mirror topper—this one was a total dream for a baby shower setup. So delicate and cute, it really captured that soft vintage baby aesthetic.Very Special Gender Reveal
This one meant the world—I had the honour of creating a gender reveal cake for one of my closest friends, and I even got to go to the scan to find out the gender early! The cake was a 5” round white sponge, decorated with pastel pink and blue roses, and filled with the big surprise inside. It was such a joy to make (and an even bigger joy to keep the secret!). Keep an eye out for the video to find out the gender!
Want to Try It Yourself?
If you’re tempted to give vintage piping a go (and you absolutely should!), a great starting point is the Wilton 4B nozzle. It’s versatile and beginner-friendly. You’ll also find plenty of online cake shops offering vintage piping kits if you’re looking to build up your tools.
Piping Tips:
Take it slow. A lot of the videos you see online are sped up—it’s easy to get disheartened if yours doesn’t look the same at first. But trust me, slow and steady wins the race. Precision and patience go a long way, and like anything, practice really does make perfect.
Let’s Talk Buttercream
For all my cakes, I use American buttercream. When I’m decorating, I temper it slightly so it’s smoother and easier to spread. This helps get that clean base coat without loads of air holes. (Spoiler: there will always be a crease or two—but that’s totally normal!) When it comes to piping those gorgeous shell borders or scrolls, chill your buttercream in the fridge for about 5 minutes before using it. Then, give it a good mix to soften it again. You want a texture that’s soft but firm—this helps keep the shape of your piping clean and defined.
Tools I Love
One of my absolute must-haves for these cakes is PME tins. I find they give the best shape and bake for vintage-style cakes—sturdy, reliable, and great for clean edges. Another handy tip: use a cake board that’s two inches bigger than your cake. So if you’re making a 6” cake, go for a 10” board. An 8” board can end up looking a little cramped once all that piping is on. A bigger board gives your work room to shine and just looks more polished overall.
Watch This Space
I’ve got more vintage cakes coming your way this month, and I’ll be filming the entire decorating process so you can get even more tips and inspiration. I’ll be sharing helpful tips, tricks, and behind-the-scenes moments to help you recreate the look yourself. Keep an eye out—they’ll be going live soon on my social media @cakewithme_05. Don’t miss it!
Let me know if you give this trend a go—I’d love to see your creations!
And remember, Life is better with cake so come Cake With Me!
With Love
Cake With Me x
