How to Make This Easy No-Fail Lamb Pound Cake Recipe
Lamb cakes are a classic—and nostalgic—Easter dessert. Coated in fluffy coconut and super sticky frosting or coconut-free and finished in swirls of creamy buttercream, they’re a love-them-or-hate-them cake that just screams “spring” (or, if you’re here in the Midwest like we are, “spring is coming eventually”). And while they might seem a little retro (and fussy—have you ever tried to get a lamb cake to pop out of a lamb-shaped mold?), if you’re going to bake one at home this year, you’re going to want the best-possible cake to serve as the base of your creation.
Lamb cakes can be made from a variety of different types of cake, but pound cake is a classic choice—and for good reason. Pound cake is heartier, sturdier, and more forgiving than your lighter, more delicate sponges, meaning it can hold up to the shape and decorations a bit more easily. Here, we’re sharing our go-to recipe for pound cake for a lamb cake, as well as our best tips to ensure lamb cake success.
Why You’ll Love This Lamb Pound Cake Recipe
It Has the Perfect Dreamy Texture: Triple-sifted flour means a lighter cake batter, plus the infusion of heavy cream helps yield the ideal crumb.
Super Stable: Pound cake is perfect for lamb cakes because it will hold its shape better, which is all the better for decorating.
Super Versatile: You can finish this cake pretty much any way you’d like: glazed, dusted with powdered sugar, frosted with a creamy frosting, coated in coconut, the options are endless.
Ingredients
Baking spray + flour (for pan prepping like a pro)
3 cups sifted cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temp
2 ¾ cups granulated sugar
6 extra-large eggs, at room temp
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup heavy cream
Step-By-Step Instructions
Prep the cake pan: Do NOT preheat the oven. Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Spray your lamb cake pan well with non-stick cooking spray. Add a little flour and use your hand to turn and tap the pan until it’s coated in flour. Tap out any extra flour.
Sift the dry ingredients: Sift the cake flour and salt into a large bowl three times. This will eliminate any lumps in your flour and make it extra fluffy.
Cream the butter and sugar: Add the butter and sugar to the base of your stand mixer and beat together for about 5 minutes, until it’s light and fluffy.
Add the eggs and vanilla: Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well between each egg. Then, add the vanilla extract and mix.
Add the flour: With the mixer on low speed, add a third of the flour, then a third of the cream. Repeat until you’ve added all of the ingredients (make sure you end with flour). Mix gently and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. This will make sure everything gets incorporated. Don’t worry if the batter looks a little bit curdled. Beat the batter on medium speed for three more minutes.
Bake your cake: Pour batter into the prepared pans, smooth the top, and place in the cold oven. Turn the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 50 to 55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the lamb pan for 30 minutes, carefully remove the cake to a wire rack, rounded side up, and allow to cool completely.
How to Decorate Your Lamb Cake
First thing’s first: make sure you let your cake cool (to room temperature, at least) before adding any decoration (especially any buttercream or other frostings). This is critical because creamy frosting added to a warm cake means a melty mess—not exactly what you envisioned for your holiday centerpiece. When you’re ready to decorate, though, we’ve got a few ideas for you to consider to make your lamb cake the knockout you were hoping for.
Dust with Powdered Sugar
Stand the cake upright.
Use a fine-mesh sieve to gently dust powdered sugar over your lamb for a super simple look. Want to take it up a notch? Decorate the serving platter or cake board around the cake with fresh-cut spring flowers and herbs for a chic finish.
Frost with Buttercream Frosting
Obviously, we love a good buttercream at ECBG. It’s creamy, rich, and delicious, pairs well with cake, and just about everyone loves it.
Stand the cake upright.
Make a batch of buttercream and use a piping bag with a star tip to pipe “wool” on your little lamb or create swirls and rosettes all over for a fluffy, textured finish.
With buttercream, the piping is the star, though you can simply spread frosting all over the cake and then add extra decorations. Add sprinkles or candies (jelly beans work great for this!) to the lamb's face, add a ribbon around its neck, or decorate the platter or cake board with fresh flowers, seasonal fruits, nuts, or herbs.
Coat It With Coconut
First, stand the cake upright. Then, cover the whole cake with a thin layer of buttercream or another type of white frosting. Gently press shredded coconut all over the cake (avoiding the face) to look like wool. Decorate the face with cut jelly beans or sprinkles, or pipe a little melted chocolate or dyed frosting on for the eyes and nose.
Dye a little bit of the shredded coconut green and arrange it around the bottom of the cake to make it look like your lamb is sitting in the grass. Consider adding a cute little ribbon around the lamb's neck or any other decorations you’d like.
When Should You Make a Lamb Cake?
Lamb cakes are often served after Easter dinner, but there are some other occasions when a lamb cake would actually be pretty appropriate. Here are a few occasions when a lamb cake would fit right in:
1. Easter Brunch
Seems obvious, right? A lamb cake is the perfect centerpiece for your Easter table, particularly if you’re going to add fresh-cut flowers, pastel linens, and the like to your table for a springy feel for your Easter celebrations.
2. Baby Showers
You might not think a lamb cake is really a fit for anything beyond Easter, but it would be a really sweet cake for a spring baby shower. It might be a little out of the norm, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be cute—especially if it fits with the theme.
3. Spring Teas or Garden Parties
If you have any spring teas, garden parties, or even brunches on your schedule this year, a lamb cake would be a cute little addition to a dessert table. Consider leaning into the nature/garden theme and decorate your little lamb with floral elements.
Pro Tips for the Perfect Lamb Cake
Make sure it’s stable: You don’t want your lamb falling over. If the cake feels like it’s a bit wobbly, use some buttercream to adhere it to the cake board or cake stand to keep it in one spot.
Pack it well: If you’re going anywhere with your cake, make sure you pack it up very carefully. Consider placing it in a box (maybe even one lined with parchment paper) to keep it safe while in transit.
Don’t overlook the decoration: Obviously, a good lamb cake starts with a great lamb cake mold, but it doesn’t end there. Once you’ve got the hang of the cake, turn your attention to the presentation and decoration. Add flowers or other natural elements, pull out the pastry bag, and make sure it looks as good as you know it’s going to taste.
FAQs
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Lamb cakes—and any cakes baked in intricate molds—can be tricky to remove from the pan, so you need to make sure you prepare the lamb mold correctly before you even add the batter. Make sure you grease and flour the pan very well to prevent sticking (and unnecessary heartache). You can use a pastry brush to make sure you get every little nook and cranny in the top of the mold.
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You can use pretty much any frosting you like best, but a buttercream, cream cheese frosting, or 7-minute frosting tend to work the best.
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You can decorate your lamb cake in so many different ways! Coat it with coconut, swirl on buttercream, give it a little face—the possibilities are endless.
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Wrap any leftover cake in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then place in an airtight container and store in the fridge. You can also freeze leftover cake if you'd prefer.
This lamb pound cake recipe will set you up for spring dessert success. Delicious and impressive, it’s a great choice for Easter brunch (or dinner!), baby showers, or any of your other more formal spring gatherings.
Want to boost your cake confidence? Take a cake decorating class with ECBG! We offer in-person classes in our Chicago bakery or online classes that you can take from anywhere. Make sure to check out Erin’s favorite baking tools so you’re ready to bake.
No time to bake your own Easter lamb cake? We’ve got you covered! Check out our Cake Shop for all the perfect spring cakes for your next event. They may not be shaped like lambs, but you're guaranteed plenty of adorable cakes to choose from.
