It’s Lamb Cake time!!! For the last two weeks I have been baking lamb cake after lamb cake in my grandmother’s vintage lamb cake pan. Why? Well, after this story came out in the Wall Street Journal, a ton of wonderful people emailed and snail-mailed me vintage recipes and tips to help me on my quest to make the perfect lamb cake. I have to admit I was very excited, so I decided to try out as many recipes and tips as I could.
And they worked!! Let me tell you, after one small mishap in the beginning, everything went smoothly, and not a single lamb lost his head! So, since a lot of people have been emailing me and asking me for help, I thought I would share all the tips I tested with you guys so you can all have great lambs, too!
1. Grease the HECK out of your lamb pan.
I cannot stress how important this is. Some of the vintage lamb pans, like mine, have so many tiny details in them that if you don’t get every single nook and cranny, you are going to end up with a disaster on your hands. Some people wrote to me and recommended Baker’s Joy or Pam in the spray can, but in the end I discovered that liberally applying shortening with a paper towel and carefully going over every bit was the best way to go. It may be time-consuming, but it gave me a good result every time.
2. Flouring your pan is MUST!
I have to admit, there have been many times when I have greased a cake pan and skipped the flour step, or used homemade pan-ease (which is just flour and shortening mixed) to get everything done in one step. This does not work with the lambs. You need both steps to ensure that the lamb pops out at depanning time. And make sure to keep an eye out for “naked” spots after flouring and go back over those with more shortening. Skipping the flour can end in disaster, so to avoid tears and tears, flour is a must!
3. Fill your lamb on the “face” side of the mold.
Put your lamb face-down on a large cookie sheet or sheet pan. Fill the lamb to just under the rim of the mold with your chosen cake batter. Be sure to spread batter gently into the ear cavities to ensure that your lamb actually ends up with ears. If you don’t do this, there is no guarantee that the batter will fill the ears during cooking.
And lambs without ears look really, really weird. Trust me on this one.
4. Add support to your lamb cake before it is baked.
This is time to add your structural support to your lamb cake. One of the recipes that was photocopied from a major cookbook and sent to me stated, in a matter-of-fact way, that the head of your lamb cake was bound to roll off, and not to worry about it. It claimed you could just use toothpicks and frosting to glue it back together and everything would be great. Which is sort of a lie. Anyone who has ever made a lamb cake and had the head come off knows it is a delicate procedure to get it glued on. You need a whole lot of sticky frosting and a couple thousand toothpicks, and when you are done the lamb looks like it is wearing a neck brace. And even after a patch job you are nervous come serving time.
I am going to be the first to tell you that this does NOT have to be the case. Yeah, it is possible for the head of the cake to roll off, but the chances will be greatly reduced with a couple of quick toothpick placements. The lamb needs one toothpick in each ear and the thickest food grade bamboo skewer or pick you can find for the neck. The skewer should be placed about one inch in from the top of the head and extend into the body. I did this with every lamb cake recipe I tested, and I didn’t have a single head roll off. Poke these down slightly into the cake and make sure they are covered with batter.
5. Tie your lamb cake mold shut with baker’s twine.
I am kind of ashamed to admit that this bit of advice, which I received from multiple wonderful people, was a complete revelation to me. I had previously, if you can believe this, been baking my lambs in two separate pieces and trying to glue them together with frosting. Why? Well, because if you put the top on without any string, the cake doesn’t rise into the second half of the mold. It just all oozes out through the cracks and makes a complete mess. I have been told that the oldest lamb molds were heavy cast iron, and this didn’t used to be a problem. The lamb mold I have, and that I am sure many people use, is made from aluminum and isn’t heavy enough to stay closed on it’s own. But a couple of sturdy pieces of string, tied tightly, eliminates the leakage and lets the cake rise into the second half.
Make sure your strings are tight and hold the mold closed! Even little gaps can let batter leak out.
6. Bake cake for the maximum amount of time called for in the recipe.
Once your lamb is tied up nice and tight, unless you are lucky enough to have a vintage Renalde mold, there really isn’t a way to check whether or not the lamb cake is done in the center. After I pulled a cake that was completely raw in the middle, I decided that unless you know your oven and have made your recipe so many times that you know exactly how long it takes, it is best to just leave the cake in for the maximum time called for in the recipe.
7. Cool cake properly before removing from mold.
Your lamb will crack apart if you try to shake him out too soon. The best method I found is this one: Let your lamb cool for 15 mins after removing it from the oven. Then cut the strings on the mold and remove only the back half. Let cool for another 15 mins before flipping the lamb over and attempting to remove the face.
8. Loosen edges on the face side completely before trying to de-pan your lamb.
Your lamb, if you made it properly, will contain sugar, and sugar is sticky. Especially the caramelized sugar around the edges of the pan. I run a sharp knife around the edges of the lamb cake, and then carefully pull the cake back from the edge to make sure it is free. If you skip this, things aren’t going to go well. Those thin little ears are going to be crispy and completely stuck to the edge of the pan. And we already covered how dumb the lamb will look without ears, didn’t we?
9. Let your lamb cool completely before trying to frost it.
I know, I know. You want to get the little sucker upright now, because you are proud of how he came out in one piece. But you must wait. If you try to make him stand now, he is just going to crack. I found it took about 90 mins after the final de-pan for the lambs to be cool enough to sit up straight.
10. Give your lamb a good base to sit on.
The same sharp knife you used to loosen your lamb is useful once again. Use it to cut off the bottom ridge created by the mold. This will give the lamb a good solid base. Also, remember that it will need some glue to sit upright. Use a knife to spread a good amount of your frosting over the base you plan on putting your lamb on. Then gently pick the lamb up and place him directly on the frosting stripe and make sure he is secured.
And there it is! Your perfect retro lamb cake, ready for frosting and decorating!
Must. Get. Lamb. Pan.
Yes! Must! I can’t lie; it’s really, really awesome.
8 cakes and 7 frostings!! Wow, you have been working like a mad woman to master those lamb cakes! I have to admit that it has made me a little less scared to do it though. Maybe I’ll drag out the lamb pan and give it a go at some point. Though, only AFTER you’ve done your entire series so I have the best lamb cake ever!
Could one use popsicle sticks to reinforce the head and neck?
You totally should take a crack at it! I have a couple really good recipes coming up, so you will no longer need to fear anything.
Sure, popsicle sticks are no problem as long as they are safe for food! I just say that because I have seen some craft ones recently that were a little questionable. I wouldn’t use anything in the cake that could be splintery, because getting splinters in your mouth is NOT fun. Eeesh.
OMG!!! Adorable! Thanks for all of those great tips Ruth, now I must go get me a rabbit cake mold! 🙂
Check your local antique store if you have one. That’s where I found mine.
Where could I get a lamb pan? My mom has a set of train pans that I’d love to use, and I bet most of these tricks would work for that, too.
Hi Sharla! Lamb pans are all over eBay. Just search for “vintage lamb cake pan”. They are also on Etsy and probably in your local antique store. Good luck!
Oh, and if you make that train cake, send a pic! 🙂
I have to hand it to you, you are DEDICATED. It looks adorable. You may already know this, but I’ll pass along a tip that another more experienced baker gave me, which is never to use butter to grease a pan. ALWAYS use shortening. She explained to me the milk proteins in butter “burn” or “seize up” in baking and can cause sticking, especially in the corners. I never thought there was any difference, but once I switched to only using Crisco I got along a lot better getting perfect Bundt cakes. Can’t wait to see the finished fluffy lamby-kins!
I am looking forward to seeing all the trials. I make one every year, but I always am looking for the perfect recipe. Pound cake or more dense cakes seem to handle the form better. The frosting preference has been a butter cream with Cognac flavoring.
Dear Ruth,
You ARE THE QUEEN OF THE LAMBIE CAKES! You have really de-mystified the beloved Lambie Cake. I want you to know that you have given me a new confidence & resolve to try once again to make the lambie cake of my dreams.
Best Wishes, Martha K.
i make a lamb cake every year, since my great grandmother used to do it we have all kept up the tradition. a few years ago i hit my peak and did it with fondant:
http://www.lizzythebotanist.com/2010/04/lambie-cake.html
i have a great cake recipe that i used (i made it up to work with the lamb pan) in the post, too. i’ve never reinforced my lambies and they’ve turned out great, but i guess better safe than sorry! it think the key is to use a nice heavy cake recipe and yes, grease + flour!
I have to admit that I am the worst at being patient for the cake to cool before removing the pan. That is probably why they ALWAYS stick in one spot or another. Is there a worry in letting it cool too long?
These lamb cakes are making me nostalgic for the panda bear cake pan we had when I was little. It had directions for a marble cake and a plan for black and white frosting. I loved making those cakes. Unfortunately, my mother thought they were way too much work, and I was horrified when I learned that she’d given the whole set away.
I don’t think so, Lou Ann, but to be on the safe side I would not wait for it to become completely cool before you take it out! I let a few cool a little longer than the recommended time and they still depanned okay.
Enjoyed your comments. The lamb cake has been a tradition of the O’Bryant family over 42 years. Unsure when my mother-in-law started the tradition but we are continuing that tradition this year with our grand daughter. I will be using her pan that is probably over 50 yrs old.
I make a lamb cake every year for Easter with my Nana’s pan… Never heard about adding the toothpicks for support inside… I will have to try that this year! I’ve never had the head fall off, but transport is always stressful! (Also, if you don’t have Baker’s twine, I’ve used dental floss.)
This is hillarious….a week of lamb cakes ~ LOVE it! Grandma use to make one for us when we were little….complete with green coconut grass, jelly beans & peanut butter eggs….and we’d look at it sitting on the stereo waiting not so patiently for Easter so we could eat it….of course the jelly beans seemed to somehow be gone by then!!
Thanks for the recipes, making one tonight ~ can’t wait 🙂
My mom and I just had a good laugh reading your tips and thinking about all of our Lamb Cake debacles over the years! We have been recording our experiences on a sheet of paper that we keep inside the lamb pan (We call it the lamb vault!). We have had to lay the cake down because it wouldn’t stand up and it has had major stomach problems before. We were both crying when you discussed the head falling off because one year we had it propped up with medicine bottles and toothpicks when we went to bed. In the morning the poor head was just laying on the counter! We will try the supports and the string idea too. This year we are proud to say our lamb is standing (for now)!! I think it’s about time for a piece too! Thanks for the great laugh and tips!
My grandmother always uses toothpicks to support the head and neck. Because of this, we tend to avoid that area.
Tying it shut is genius! Never thought about that…it will save me! I’m on trial #2 and it split because I didn’t “seal” the pan shut. My batter came above the pan half. Is that ok or should I take some out?
Hey Joanne! I would take out a bit of batter until it is below the pan half, unless you know that your batter doesn’t rise very much!
have a fairly new lamb mold – 10 years old and it measures 10″ across the base. i’m using a traditional lamb mold recipe which is pretty much a pound cake. anyone have any idea how long to bake and what temperature?
thanks!
Hey Stephanie –
Do you have the Wilton pan? If you do, here is a link to their instructions: http://www.wilton.com/shapedpan/Stand-Up-Lamb-Pan-Set If you still can’t find it in there, I would bake it at 350 degrees for 55 minutes, but that is just guessing on my part. Good luck!
I am using my grandmas old lamb mode. I believe its cast iron, it is pretty heavy. My first attempt, it came out of the mold fine but it didnt rise all the way into the second half :/ what can i do to fix this?! please let me know someone!
thanks :]]
Hey Amber!
Make sure you fill up the face half of the mold completely so that the cake will rise into the second (back) half. If you did this and the cake didn’t rise into the back half, then make sure your recipe uses the correct amount of eggs, sugar and leavening.
Good luck!!
Would you ever substitute real, cultured buttermilk (I make my own) for the 1 cup of whole milk? Do I dare try it? Easter is tomorrow, so no time for a do-over! Real buttermilk provides such a nice, tangy ZING but I’m worried about messing up your recipe. Help!
Hi Skotti!
I haven’t done it, but I imagine that you could. The texture would probably be slightly heavier, but otherwise it should work. No guarantees though! Good luck!
Thanks for all the advise. I used the boxed pound cake mix. It was the perfect amount and a great texture. I used silicone bands to hold the molds together while baking. I did not use the picks in the batter but before frosting the lamb, I put a skewer through the head and down the body to the cake dish. I will be taking this cake to my daughters home for Easter so it will help to keep it firm. I will remove it before serving. I also took your advise about the cooking time. I actually went about 10 minutes longer. The cake turned out perfect. This lamb cake mold was my mother’s and I know she will be smiling down on us and enjoying the smiles on her great grandchildren’s faces when the decorated lamb shows up on the dessert table!
Ok, I chickened out and didn’t use the buttermilk. Instead, I followed your directions to the letter and ….. SUCCESS! My little lamb is perfect and I am so thrilled! Thank you! First time it has ever come out perfectly. The toothpicks were the saving grace for his ears and nose.
My Renalde mold is now 63 years old. My mother passed it on to me 3 years ago after having baking one for 60 years straight! I remember as a child trying to find the perfect recipe to keep the batter from oozing out. We had the additional challenge of living in Boulder, Colorado at about 6,000 ft. elevation! I’m trying to keep the tradition going, but I have never tried tying the mold together with twine. Great idea. We used a brick on top once, but even that didn’t keep the batter in! Thanks for the great tips! Happy baking! I’m waiting for my granddaughter to arrive so we can decorate it together.
My future DIL was making a lamb cake for Sunday’s dinner, she called me for advice. I have never made a lambcake So I told her to tie the mold together, take a small brick (covered in aluminum foil) and place that on the mold. That should hold it. Haven’t heard from her yet, so I’m thinking that it worked!
Thanks for all of the hints. I was able to make the cake and not have the ears and head fall off. I’ll let you know how it tastes later.
I’ve been making a lamb cake for several years and never had any batter ooze out. I use the same exact mold as you do. It may be because I use a pound cake mix? Not sure but it might save time and twine for those who want to try it!:)
Thank-you so much for these helpful tips – Mum bought a lamb mould from a vintage fair and we had a go together. I wrote a blog post about it, and mentioned how helpful your tips were!
It has been a real pleasure & good laughs to read all the comments about making the lamb cake. I just bought a cast iron 14 inch mold (which had some rust spots) at an antique mall. Before trying to use the mold, I’ve put it into my selfcleaning oven for a few hours & will wash & dry it then season it with Crisco shortening. Having done that to my iron skillets, they work great.
I’ve ordered a booklet that’s supposed to tell me how to use the lamb mold, but have already learned the fun way from all you ladies. Thanks for all the tips.
It has been so interesting to read all of the comments. I am 70 years old and have been wishing I had my grandmother’s lamb cake mold for years! Little did I know that there were so many out there! Hers was very heavy, and she had trouble with the ears staying on sometimes! ANyway, She used a carrot cake recipe and white whipped cream cheese frosting,
After the lamb was frosted she sprinkled it with white coconut, out put on raisin eyes and s candy red hot heart mouth, Then she dyed more coconut green with food coloring and used it all around the base as grass. There were always tons of jelly bean “hiding” in the grass!
I am making my first ever lamb cake this Easter for daughter’s family, which includes two grandsons. It will be a surprise. I cannot wit until they see it!! THanks for a fof our \ehlship. DID you ever ue or do you know of someone who has used a carrot cake for the lamb??
MAny Thanks, Pam
I have my grandma’s vintage lamb cake pan. So which is the best recipe to use? I plan to make one on Saturday.
I’ve been given the task to bake the lamb cake this year after a 40+year hiatus. Please tell me if you had batter in both sides before you tied it together? I’m thinking “no” but would love confirmation.
Thanks, I’ve never used a mold!
Hi Christina –
Good luck on your lamb! Batter only goes in the “face” side, not in the back! If you need a good recipe, please try the Renalde cake, it is really good for lamb pans: http://www.midcenturymenu.com/2013/03/top-lamb-cakes-renalde-lamb-cake-with-vintage-birthday-cake-frosting/
Send me a pic when you are done, I am making a lamb cake gallery and doing a drawing for a vintage cookbook! 🙂
Hi Florene! I would use this recipe, it is a very good one for a lamb pan! http://www.midcenturymenu.com/2013/03/top-lamb-cakes-renalde-lamb-cake-with-vintage-birthday-cake-frosting/
Send me a pic when you are done, I am making a lamb cake gallery and doing a drawing for a vintage cookbook! 🙂
It worked!!!! Thank you soooo much for your research on these lamb cakes! I use my grandmothers vintage cast aluminum mold every year at Easter and have ALWAYS “glued” the two sides together with icing. I stumbled across your instructions on Pinterest the other day, and followed them completely. Just now, we removed the last part and our little lamb is perfect! 🙂
I am so excited to have found your post. I found an aluminum retro lamb cake pan in my closet – totally forgot I had it. It was my mother’s and I have wonderful memories of the cakes she used to make at Easter – both this lamb and a bunny cake. I need to find that bunny mold now!
With your wonderful directions, I’m going to give this a try tomorrow. If all goes well, my mother and brother will have a surprise when I arrive for Easter dinner with this wonderful childhood memory!
Thank you!!
Uh-oh… You’ve started a battle ROYALE in our household. My husband looks forward to Lambie Cake more than Christmas or any other holiday food. I use the same molds that you do, I was shocked and amazed by the tie it together revelation as well! However, my husband & sons are too disappointed at the loss of the gigantic frosting vein that I always needed to use to glue together the two sides of the lamb. They say it’s like that line of fat that makes a T-Bone steak so tender & delicious. Oh, the quandry you have wrought! But I’m glad you did – lots of fun experimentation in my household today! Thanks!
Yinzerella! You must be from Pittsburgh! Yes you need a lamb pan. Just made my lamb cake for the first time from my grandmother’s pan (which my mom presented to me a few weeks ago – I took the hint). Success! Will post picture after it is frosted. Kathy (from Pgh)
Thanks SO much! You saved my life, or at least my cake. I used my brand new cast iron mold once in the 60’s and a dear friend asked if she could borrow it. Upon returning it she mentioned ever-so-nonchalantly that she had lost the directions that came with it with all of the hints and tips for success. Since then I’ve been experimenting with different times and temps, sometimes with better results than others. I feel much more confident now. My only problem is that my younger daughter never thought to buy Crisco since she’s always baked with sprays like Pam, etc. Based on your remarks I’m afraid to use that so I think I’ll have to roll the dice on butter and flour. Hope it works! Good luck, everyone. Enjoy your lovely lamb cakes.
I inherited my grandfather’s cast iron pan…he was a baker and made many of these every Easter. It’s in the oven as we speak. Thanks for the tips!
Hi Ruth – I made my first lamb cake on Thursday and I followed your instructions to the letter. What JOY was caused by the making, the decorating and the revealing of the cake to the folks I gifted it to. Everybody LOVED it – it’s not a tradition here in the UK at all, so thanks to you I am the toast of the town!
I blogged about it here: http://www.silverscreensuppers.com/uncategorized/happy-easter-lamb-cake
A belated happy easter to you and yours and thanks for your sterling work introducing lamb cakes to the world! – Jenny xxx
Oh my gosh! I LOVE the google eyes! It looks delicious. 🙂
Thank you so much for your helpful tips with using the lamb pan! My Aunt has made a lamb cake every year for Easter for as long as I can remember. She typically uses a pound cake from the box. I had success with using a lemon bundt cake recipe. I also followed your guidelines with using supports for the ears and neck, tied the pan together and greased the pans generously followed by flour. I didn’t realize if there was any flour bare spots in the mould it could affect the cake, so I made sure every inch was well covered. My frosting from a marscapone and coconut recipe. Thank you for helping me continue the tradition for my generation with a lamb cake I can be proud of.
how do you clean the mold that hasn't been used for years and its a mess,
My Aunt Margaret made this for us when we were little kids! I was about 7. I just found this pan at an estate sale & bought for my sister who will be 65 this year… It was with out a box so sending her your excellent web site along with jelly beans & coconut… I got it all now piece by piece… she will love it!! Maybe I could talk her into making one for her friend Thomas Keller — Chef extrodinaire at the French Laundry…. what a hoot! Thank you for all the great tips!!
I did not use anything scratchy…… I boiled water & put mold in… then with tongs took out & cleaned a litte carefully… then back to water till all nooks & crannies clean…. it time consuming but so worth it!!
Hi… Try using Coconut Oil… to grease pans.. it melts immediately from hand heat & is delicious & really good for you!! Look it up on internet as it is the only thing I use for everything now—- what a Gift from God…..
I have my grandmother’s lamb cake mold but looking for the bunny mold she used to have – looks like bunny resting in grass – ears don’t stand up. My grandmother always made ears out of white paper since the actual cake ears didn’t really show once the cake was frosted. Does anyone know where I can find this mold? Wish I had a picture…
Hey Beth!
As far as I know, Animold made a crouching rabbit. Not sure if that helps, but that is the one I am aware of.
Not that the name will help you much, because most of the time the name of the company wasn’t on the mold anywhere. But I would start on eBay or Etsy, they always have a ton of cake pans for sale! I just got a rabbit one last year (not the one you are looking for, but one of the standing ones). Good luck!
I never thought about baking the two molds together. I’ve been making Lamby Cake for years and this is a great hint I’ll try come Easter!
A friend’s grandmother has been making these for a long time too, but instead of cake she uses the recipe for Rice Krispie Treats! I tried it and really like that method too. It can be frosted with White Mountain Frosting and decorated with coconut in the same way the cake is decorated. A Scotcharoo recipe using peanut butter would also be good.
Thanks for your helpful hints on making this with cake!
I have the lamb cake pan my mom used. She always made us a lamb cake for our birthdays. I tried to make one a couple of years ago. Disaster. Will have to try again using your tips. Thanks!!
This is wonderful! I have been making lamb cakes and having them fall apart for years! I am going to try your suggestions tomorrow and am hoping for much better results. Thank you.
I have had my mother-in-laws lamb mold for several years and finally decided to try it this year. My husband said it was always awful, hard as a brick. I am thrilled to find your hints!!!!
Maybe your reader could help me out on another “vintage” Easter “thing”. Crocheted bunnies, lambs or chicken “slip covers” for eggs. I cannot crochet and no one I know does either. We had these when I was little, back in the 50s. I have not been able to find them at craft fairs or resale shops. Any time I see a crochet person at a craft fair I ask if they can make them and get black stares or a negative response. Haven’t found patterns on line or at needlework shops. Any suggestions???? Thanks.
I was given the lamb and bunny pans many years ago , but with no instructions , thank you so much. I will finally be able make them!
Hi Judy,
Which “bunny” pan do you have? My grandmother had one…I don’t know what happened to it and have been trying for years to find a picture so I can track down a mold for myself. Her bunny cake mold was “resting” on all fours, ears down on the head. My grandmother used to make paper ears so they would stick up. Do you have this same mold? If so, can you send me a photo? Thank you!
Beth
A lamb cake was made for me every birthday 1 – 16. So I was the lucky one to inherit the iron mold. I’ve seen them on ebay too. My cakes had green coconut around the base, giving a finished look. The cousin who baked them tied a ribbon around the neck and used raisins for the eyes and cut a sliver from a raisin for a smile. She would bake them on one side them turn the whole mold over to finish baking. You can even use a pound cake mix if you’d like. I ignored her caution to use only boiled icing and used butter cream. Huge, huge mistake. The whole face drooped! Can’t wait to read your results.
We helped my grandmother make this lamb cake every year while we were growing up. She passed away over 35 years ago and this is the first year since then that I will be trying to make this lamb cake. Thanks for all the tips, most of they are very familiar sounding and happy to see we have them to refresh the memories. My biggest concern is that we live in the mountains (8K ft.) and wonder how to adjust a recipe to take this altitude into account. Any suggestions?
Great suggestions, wondered how to keep the head on. I actually have a bunny pan but experienced many of the same issues. The only thing I would add, is to turn the temp down to 325 and bake a bit longer. A baker suggested this to me. and I had no trouble with raw cake.
I have the old pan; I guess I just didn’t realize it was old enough to be ‘retro’. I refer to mine as the ‘damn lamb’. For the past few years, at least one of them has not been cooked all the way through. What gives?
My grandmother passed away 3 years ago and since that time we have been buying our lamb cakes from a bakery. I decided this year it was time to break out grandma’s lamb cake pan and try to make one myself. I had the pan out, the cake batter ready to go, until I realized I had no idea how to use the crazy pan! I followed your directions exactly and my very first lamb cake came out perfect! … Just like grandma’s! Thank you so much for helping create a cake so perfect it brought tears of reminiscence to my mother’s eyes.
I h ave been makink lamb cakes, bunny cakes snd even egg cakes every esster but now I am a celiac and a. Wondering how long to leave my celiac cake recipes in the lamb mold. If anyone has the answer, please let me know
a couple of years ago, while cleaning at my Grandmother’s house, we found a lambic cake in the cupboard. (The actual cake). It was from my sister’s 7th birthday. She is now 50! He was in sad shape, but still intact. It has been good for laughs ever since that day. Last night, my Grandma (she is 97) & I shared some good memories and laughs as we made a new lambie cake!! Following your instructions he came out of the pan perfectly! Today we will put his dressing on and prepare him for Easter! This guy is going to be a new tradition in my family! Thanks for help and I look forward to our new tradition!! Easter blessings to you!
I have my mother’s pan. I am trying it right now and she made it with pound cake or banana bread recipes. It is a heavier dough as no water is added. This year my 43 year old daughter will get one too for Easter. It has been 25 years since I have used my pan. Waiting for the 15 minute cool down. I used fine ground nuts in the pay to help keep it from sticking. If it doesn’t work, I will try again as I have more bananas.
Being a male baker and using my mother’s recipe, I found that the helpful tips I received was a very great help. But I still had some batter seepage from the oant when I tied the pan. Thanks again for the help.
I’ve been making lamb cakes for 35 years and I want to pass on a couple of tips. First tip, use Dromedary pound cake mix! It is the only box mix that makes a batter dense enough to support the lamb’s neck and head without supports. It also tastes great. This next tip is also very important so you get the best looking lamb. Second tip, buy two boxes of mix because you will want to slightly mound up the batter before putting the top half of the mold on. This will help your mold rise enough to fill the entire top half of the cake mold. I can’t stress this enough. Over the years I have forgotten to do this many times and I’ve been disappointed that my lamb was skinny! Since you won’t use all of the second box of batter, just make 5-6 cupcakes. It’s an early treat for all of your hard work.
I would leave the cake in for longer at a lower temp! Good luck!
I also use Dromedary mix. I made one cake yesterday using one box. It still had a section that was uncooked in the middle. I don’t know why. I baked it at 350 for an hour. I am using the old cast-iron mold. Help!
I inherited the iron lamb mold from my mother-in-law, who received it from her mother-in-law. And now my daughter-in-law has the mold. I had no instructions, but after reading all the above comments and just taking two cast iron molds out of the oven, I would add two other tips: tie with wire to make it easy to check for doneness, and don’t fill quite to the top edge to avoid having to pry the cake out of the pan:
Grandma used a wire coat hanger rather than string. My take is to use floral wire. Double or triple it up if you think the wire is too thin. Just lay it underneath the lamb (nose down) with plenty of length on either side and pull tightly and twist once or twice, say counter-clockwise. Then you absolutely can test for doneness with a toothpick; just pull out the rack, gently untwist the wire and lift the top (back side) off. Check with toothpick and remove from oven or just lay the top back on to bake a bit longer–no need to re-tie at that point. 50 minutes was just right using a Betty Crocker pound cake mix.–there was about a cup of batter left over.
ALSO…I’ve never had to use a knife edge to get the cake out. Don’t fill it quite to the brim–that’s when it overflows and then sticks in the pan (making crunchy ears). It’s a better trade-off to not have the backside of the lamb be completely full–icing will take care of that. Take care to get batter into the ears, which I learned to re-enforce with a broken & bent toothpick inserted into the batter (trim with scissors to avoid splinters). Cake will come right out if you have taken time to grease with Crisco and flour thoroughly!! Happy!
Love to see all the comments; we are working on a fifth generation–a wonderful Easter memory!!
Arlene, here’s what happened today when I made my lamb cake in a cast-iron mold. I used one+ boxes of Dromedary mix and I cooked it in a 350 degree oven for 55 mins. It came out okay. In fact I probably should have taken it out 5 mins sooner because the head and ears were overdone. I wonder if your oven is truly cooking at 350. Have you ever tested your oven with an oven thermometer? Also, I made sure my over was on for quite a while before baking the lamb cake. I’ve found that my oven needs a longer warm up to function closer to the temp I want.
This is the last time I use generic cooking spray. Part of the lamb got stuck; it wasn’t cooked through (You are probably right, it is the oven.), did I say
damn lamb’?
I found this series of columns today as I was researching how to use cake mix to make my lamb cake. (I was lazy today!) I love these columns.
All the advice I found online said to fill the face side, but my mold has the lip on the back side. So I would say check your individual mold. I have always filled the back with no problems, but today I filled the face side and the cake overflowed all over the oven! So I won’t do that again!
I have always used the recipe in The New Antoinette Pope Cooking School Cook Book by Antoinette and Francois Pope. This cooking school was well known in Chicago in the early and mid 20th Century and was the go to cookbook for my mom and her cousins.
Lamb cake was required for Easter when I was growing up, but neither my mom nor my grandma baked much. However, these cakes were readily available in the western suburbs of Chicago, especially in the towns with large populations of descendants of Slovak and Czech immigrants. We usually bought our cake from Fingerhut Bakeries, which was a well loved Slovak/Czech bakery. My mom tried making the lamb cake a few years, but eventually gave me her pan. I can’t buy the cake where I live so I have made them for years.
One major difference in the cakes we bought was that they had a heavy powered sugar coating instead of frosting. I have never been able to duplicate this, but prefer it over frosting and coconut..
I help an older lady who crochets and makes all those Easter things. She’s very prolific, makes tons of things….
Arlene, I’m so sorry. There is nothing more frustrating than to do all that work and have it not turn out okay. I only use vegetable shortening and flour. Next time I’m sure your cake will be fabulous.
I having been making my grandmother’s lamb cake for several years now. My mom made it for years after my grandmother’s passing. My nieces both purchased the same mold on ebay and are now passing the tradition down to there children which is so exciting to me. I wonder how old the cast iron mold I have is? I would imagine 1930’s or so. My dad was born in 1933 so I wonder if she had been making them that long.
Thanks! That’s exactly what I did (probably about 1-1/2 hours min at 300 degrees). The lamb came out beautifully! Happy Easter!
Thank you for the great step-by-step tips! Helped me make an awesome Lamb cake this weekend (to take to a party called “Lambstravaganza”!
Thank you so very much for this. I bought a lamb mold on ebay and told my grandkids I was making a lamb cake for Easter. – since we finally live close enough they can come over for Easter dinner. Then when I started to make it on Saturday I was wondering really how this thing worked so I googled lamb mold cake directions and it brought me to you. You are the best. My first lamb cake turned out excellent where it would have been a total disaster. Thank you.
I would add a tip about the comment to “only use shortening” to grease the pan. One exception, I make bundr cakes, using butter to oil the pan, and sprinkle, cocoa or cinnamon, for all kinds of cakes that I drizzle frosting over and sprinkle nuts over. They are very simple, and look decadent. Very easy twist for anything from chocolate cake to carrot cake.
I never realized so many people were into lamb cakes. Now I understand my sister. Every reunion, she wants to make a flock of them .Happy baking.
I will use these tips to make a stand up Santa Claus. Thanks so much!
also check the dates on your baking soda or powder to be sure they are not expired if the batter doesn’t rise well.
January 21st is the feast day of Saint Agnes who is my namesake. She is always pictured holding a lamb. My Mother would make the cake for me (and my jealous siblings). I inherited the cast iron Griswold mold. I’m missing my Mom so I made it for a church gathering tomorrow. My mother had a spice cake recipe that she got from an older lady that gave her the mold. She liked it better than the Griswold recipe. It’s a vintage recipe since it calls for nut meats and sour milk. It turned out great!
I have both the aluminum and cast iron pans, though I have never used the iron one. Just wanted to share that I have used the mold to create reindeer for Christmas parties. Frost with chocolate or light tan frosting and added chocolate antlers I made from melting chocolate chips and molding on wax paper.
Red hot for the nose, and voila!
Wonderful tips! Thank you! I have yet to buy a lamb pan or make the cake, but this will surely help. I have been meaning to make one for SO long! It was an Easter tradition when my mom was growing up. I have a photo of my mom and aunt as small children with my grandparents showing off the lamb cake my grandma made. (My grandma was Lithuanian making my mom half and myself, one quarter.) =)
I have my grandmother’s cast iron lamb mold. It is at lease 120 yrs. old. Would not be Easter without our lamb cake.
I use a box pound cake & it is exactly the right texture etc. for this cake. Dough must be heavy. I also use Pam baking spray & never have a problem. As a matter of fact I just made one & put in freezer for later decorating. Many friends will also want one & I do not lend out my mold. I will make the lamb & give it to the to decorate
I have a cast iron lamb that I have used successfully for 20+ years, learning that the Dream Whip is key. My nephew is gluten intolerant, and I am experimenting with a boxed gluten-free mix. Your original thread talks about 18 and 25 oz boxes, so I am going to make a double batch of the 14 oz package to compensate. here are the alterations I am planning: 1. Finish mixing with 1 minute of whipping. 2. Use Popsicle sticks to support neck (though I have not lost my head yet ) 3. Fill the face pan until it is mounded in the middle. I think these will address the features of the gluten that will be missing.
Do you have any other thoughts or suggestions on gluten free cake molding?
Hi Sue! Sounds like you’ve got it covered. Keep us updated on the results, I am sure many people will be interested to hear how it went!
Epic fail. The cake baked in the same amount of time, and even poured out of the head a little. But it did not rise. Test cupcakes did not rise either. Next suggestion, anyone? (I have pics, but no website). How do I share them?
Just figured it out… I think.
Sorry Sue, I really don’t know much about GF baking. What leaveners can you use? Baking powder? Baking soda? Maybe next time use extra leavener? Also, maybe extra beaten egg whites?
I am BRAND new to GF baking. My nephews are my inspiration to try more, and perhaps the lamb cake was too ambitious before knowing more about the science of baking. My leavening options were predetermined by using boxed GF mixes. I will recreate this with the halves open for this year, but I will take your suggestions to beat the egg whites and fold them into the batter. I think I will also work to get the cupcake test to rise and crown. With that procedure down pat, I should be better prepared for mold baking! Many thanks to you, your friends and readers for the interest and support. I will keep you posted on my learning curve!
Found this quite by accident while looking for lamb cake boxes. I have been making these for decades, having taken over from my mother. When I was a girl, the neighbor ladies would pass their molds around so that all of the ladies could make multiple lamb and bunny cakes! I am intrigued by your use of baked in reinforcement. I had not lost so much as an ear in nearly 20 years — until two years ago when all 15 of them stuck in the pans! it was the “new improved” PAM. I went back to shortening. A tip passed on to me that was very helpful was to put a ceramic bowl of shortening near the back of the stove where the oven vents. It will melt and stay melted. Then, I apply it liberally with a pastry brush. I freeze the cooled cakes and take them out as needed to decorate. It makes them much easier to handle and I can start baking earlier. Look for Vintage cast aluminum and iron molds on Ebay. New cast aluminum molds can still be found for about $80 at bakery supply houses. The cast molds won’t need string. You can insert a cake tester into the vent hole. By the way, my record for cakes in one year is 57!
Have you ever baked a yeast lamb cake? I am attempting to do make one this year. I usually make two cakes….chocolate and almond. This year…almond and yeast. Should be interesting. I don’t have a cast iron…using aluminum.
I haven’t! I would love to see the results. And I am doing and chocolate one and an almond one this year as well! We will see how they turn out.
Loved reading the comments! I made a lamb cake several years ago and I believe God has special love for innocents – I had no idea the cake might stick, the pans might leak or the head might fall off – and all was well. I will take proper precautions now that I have been warned! My dear friend makes hers a day early so I can use her pan. I am going to make it again this year as we are celebrating two March birthdays on Easter. I was looking mostly for frosting ideas but as I read the comments I began to feel like a heretic for making a chocolate one. Glad the comments went on to approve chocolate and even banana!
I had used Dromendary pd cake mix since the 60’s. When I married I used it to make my lamb. (I just started decorating then. In fact, I ordered my mold off the back of the cake box.) the cake always turned out OK. One day it disappeared of the shelves, I went to Betty Crocker. Now, in the last three years its back, but not the same recipe. It is the same as Betty Crocker’s pd cake mix. I bought a box and It was not the same. It seems fluffier. I have to use less batter, on the old cake mix I used the whole mix, it was tastier also. I liked all of the hints in your blog. My daughter just sent it to me.
Thank you so much for the tips! I followed them exactly, using my aunt’s original Lambie Cake pan and had success!! So proud of myself! Thank you and Happy Easter!
Thank you so much for your time, dedication, and sharing tips for making the lamb cake. I was dreading trying once again to make it “work” but was going to do or die. Now, I will do and not have to die!! May you be blessed and have a wonderful time making and sharing always.
Thank you, Sherry! I sure hope it works for you!!
Hooray, Rena!!! That’s great news. So glad it worked out!
I found my lamb pan @ Goodwill for $3.00. . .grandgirl is
making the cake today. . .her 1st lamb cake ever! The re-start
of a family tradition. What fun & memories.
I just took mine out of the oven. I was googling how to take it out of the pan, as I never remember. My grandmother used to make them and part of the conversation bringing out dessert was always which part of the lamb fell off! I have started doing a pound cake for strawberry short lamb. This will be the first year company sees it. I may have to put a bamboo skewer in it when I plate it to support the head. Sometimes, when there are issues, I just lay it down on the plate.
Ruth!
Thankyou so much for posting such detailed directions for baking a lamb cake! One of my husbands cousins passed away and she always made the Lamb cakes. Her brother called me looking for guidance…I didn’t have a clue! I told him I would look on Pinterest
and voila, there you were!
THANKS and hope you have a joyous Easter!
Does anyone have instructions for a ceramic lamb mold? I will try the tips for the cast iron mold today.
Okay, so my mom and I have been making lamb cakes with my grandma’s mold my whole life (and trying not to scream in frustration when it falls apart every.single.year), and today, thanks to you, I had total success! Perfect lamb cake. It only took me 33 years. Thank you!
I have a Renalde heavy cast aluminum lamb cake mold with the original recipe card and a pamphlet showing all the Renalde cake molds. This has never been used although I do not have the original box. After reading this I think the mold will go on the next sale. Thanks for the interesting article.
In our family it is a tradition that each ‘Hale’ child receive a lamb cake on their first birthday. From the early 1900s the tradition began and I am still carrying on the tradition as of 2017. Isn’t that just marvvy?!
My mother always made this Lamb cake every Easter. I wish I had been more involved. However, after she passed I have saved the lamb pan and found it again recently. After 21 years, I am going to attempt using her pan. So happy I found this site.
Can I use a carrot cake batter to make the lamb cake?
I have in the past! In fact, I am working on a carrot cake lamb cake recipe that I will be posting here very soon. Crossing my fingers that it will work!
I’m hoping thus works, did last year. My grandmother made this with a yeast poppyseed filled bread are and frosted it with 7 minute icing. She used the old iron one but I’m using the aluminum one. My question is us how do you freeze t and how long to that before frosting it. I’m trying to bake it earlier just in case I’d want to make another..
I’m going to make one in advance, too. This will be my first time, so if it doesn’t work out, I’ll have time to make a backup cake. Meanwhile, I plan to freeze my lamb (assuming it comes out fine) like I would freeze any other cake. Wait until it’s completely cooled, then wrap it up in plastic wrap. Then wrap it with freezer paper (I think aluminum foil would work also). Thaw in the fridge before frosting. It’s best to frost while it is cool.
I plan on using cake mix for vanilla cake. I’m worried that maybe I should make a denser pound cake instead. Keeping my fingers crossed…
Love this! I made 3 and all came out ok . I just have the aluminum one but until I read this they’d come out floppy. I’d have loved to use the Dromedary pound cake mix but have a difficult time even finding the Betty Crocker ones. Anyway, yes definitely use Crisco to coat it. I froze all 3 of them and probably on Holy Saturday will frost them per tradition in our family. My crazy husband wants one frosted with chocolate icing (heresy) but he will get that plastered with the coconut. Thanks so much for listing these instructions.
I have my grandmother’s aluminum cake mold & faithfully bake a lamb cake every year. She used a sort of spice pound cake recipe that she would mail us – frosted and all! every Easter. I’ve tried different pound cake recipes – even chocolate for that black sheep of the family – but have settled on a Cambodian coconut cake recipe called Num tirk doung. http://www.khmerkromrecipes.com/recipes/recipe172.html
I have my mothers cast iron pan and I wish I had paid attention when she baked the lamb cake, I only showed up when it was time for frosting. I could not get the lamb cake to rise into the back of the pan either…so I bake the halves separately and glue them together with frosting. Mom always used the 7 minute frosting from the Joy Of Cooking.
got mine from Amazon. I’m pretty sure it was from Wilton
Awesome post and you have some good tips although I have never had a problem with the head coming I guess I could see how that happens with different molds.
If your mold is aluminum and does not have a hole to test the cake just drill a hole in one or two of the high spots. Boom. Happy Easter.
I rescued my pan from my late husband’s grandmother. I have used it for over 44 years and have never had any problems with the head. The mold has to be over 80 years old. At Christmas I frost it with chocolate icing and add a cherry for a nose and you have Rudolph!
Hi Ruth, can you direct me to the recipes you tried in your 8 Cake recipe challenge. I just purchased a lamb mold and cant wait to make a lamb cake for Easter this year. Need a good recipe for a cake.
How far in advance would you bake your lamb cakes for Easter. I will be making them for my grandchildren to take to their teachers on Thursday before Easter, not sure how fresh they will be if I bake them a week early?
I checked one out of my local library…free for 2 weeks
Jackie, what kind of frosting do you use on your lamb cake please?
Lisa, I made my first Lambie Cake last year and used the boxed pound cake mix. I had no problems with it whatsoever. Texture and flavor were good.
Thank for all the information. My mother used to make this in the ‘50s, and now I have the mold and am going to attempt it for my grandchildren.
My mom gave me her lamb cake pan. It’s cast iron! It must be 60 years old or more. She made a mental looking lamb every year and now I do it. They look crazy but taste good. It has become a tradition which I will pass on to one of my daughters. I love the pre cook head stabilization idea!
What fun reading all this!! Chicago girl(1938!)43:yrs married and living in Ireland..from a big family and Lambie pan went missing! Guess he is hostage in a niece’s house somewhere! But..my daughter-in-law is from Berlin…and her mom is bringing mea terrific looking iron one that seems to lock together with metal pins! Can’t wait to try it,with all your hints…my mom used Antoinette Pope cookbook too, so will pull it out. I will recognize the right recipe by the batter smudges on the page! Either that or the Settlement Cookbook…best choc cake recipe ever.
If I hv time..may make the Black Sheep! But then, have to color eggs for hiding in the garden…will be back to this site! Love it, Sue!
How long did you bake the box mix in lamb?
Box mix lambs are 45 minutes at 350 for a vintage pan!
I would bake for an hour. I used a mix 2 wks ago and didn’t bake long enough. Epic fail! I Googled lamb cakes and all the recipes said to bake an hour, so I baked for an hour on my 2nd one and it came out perfectly. I have a vintage cast iron pan, if that makes a difference.
Can you use an angel food cake mix in a Lamb Pan? I have always used a pound cake recipe.
This year I want to try angel food mix as it is more ‘diet’ friendly! Ha! have loved your site for a few years now!
🙁 I started to go box cake but made one from scratch, mine barely has a but 🙁
It does! I’m using a vintage aluminum one, so that’s probably the difference. But glad you shared the bake time for the cast iron ones!
I have never tried angel food cake before! Sorry.
Oh no!
If anyone is looking for an older cast iron lamb mold….check on Ebay……..there’s a lot of them there.
Hi, I inherited my mother’s lamb cake mold. I remember her struggling with the head and ears too,she used toothpicks also to keep it together.
Since I e had it,I e only been filling the face side and laying the lamb down.
Now that I’ve read this post I’m going to try it your way.
I always use a box lemon cake,with cream cheese frosting and of course the coconut for fur.
I’ll see if that will work,but I’m thinking it will be too moist.
Happy baking everyone
Hi why doesn’t my cake rise very are into that top half.
Hi Barbara!
I am not sure what recipe you are using, so this is just guessing on my part, but make sure you are adding enough batter. If you are making a from scratch cake, make sure that your baking powder and baking soda are fresh and not expired. I hope this helps!
Ruth
Did it work?? I am wanting to do the same!
I’ve made these for years some worked some not so much I have my great aunts pan box and recipe 1938 but I will remember the hints here for the next one thanks
I solved the problem of my chocolate cake sticking to the lamb and rabbit pans. I use aluminum foil which I mold to the inside of the face pan then I use crisco and flour as usual. Works like a charm!
I’ve also used my lamb mold at Christmas for a reindeer. Just use chocolate frosting & a cherry for his nose.
Our cast iron lamb cake has been used for at least eight generations!! Do not know how old it is.
Happy Easter time everyone.
I enjoyed reading back on all the comments from years past and some current ones. I’ve been married almost 58 years, raising 5 children. When my children were still young at home, I started to make our Lamb cake and have done it almost every year since. So, now its a tradition, right??!! Every grandchild (11 out of 13) have been raised seeing this special Lamb at our family gatherings. Two grandchildren live overseas so don’t have the lamb cake. It is nice on how interested they are when it arrives, checking it out again for the year. We now have several other desserts as Lambie is now sliced into smaller slices, topped with fresh strawberries, scoop of ice cream and whipped cream. So, this year is very different with this Coronavirus 19 going around. My family have all be very observant in regards to staying home, only ones that have to go out do. Two daughters are nurses so they have to go to work. Grandchildren are at their homes from school and universities…so not gathering all together this year as we always have done BUT 5 decorated Lambs are being delivered tomorrow to each of their homes ( at front door) for their family, 1 per family, by my husband and I .
I have a vintage aluminum lamb mold, I think its a Wilton
Everyone stay safe and healthy , God Bless you
no! It doesn’t work!
Cute idea!!
Granny Sherry,Thanks for the adorable idea.
What a great idea! Thank you. Do you put antlers on it? If so what do you use?
Wow, this cake look amazing. In never get tired of baking so adding this to my favorites.
Jackie, I have the same but refurbished, mold you do. Do I need to crank up temp, time or preheat the mold first?
Amazing. Lamb cake is traditional in my family. I have the aluminum mold. Never got it right. Although they all tasted good. This year is a lamb cake bake off with friends who also use same mold. I’m confident now after reading your tips and tricks. Thank you so much.
No problem!!! Glad to help. And make sure you and your friends all send your lambs to our readers gallery and contest!!! https://www.midcenturymenu.com/10th-lambieversary-lamb-cake-contest-tips-recipes-the-10th-annual-readers-lamb-cake-gallery-and-giveaway/
I have tried to use my aunt’s cast iron lamb mold with box mixes and the lamb is very wet. I would try a box pound cake mix and see the results, do you adjust the baking time that is indicated on the box?
Thank you fir your detailed remarks! I bought my aluminum lamb mold when I was I was in high school (I’ll be 73 this year!) I never knew to tie the top lid on- I did know most of the other tips!
Great memories- my Buscia ( my Polish Grandmother) always ordered a Lamb Cake from a bakery when we were kids! That sparked me to try doing one myself🥰✝️🐑
I really appreciate your information, I’ve been making my lamb cake using my mother-in-law’s mold for about 50 yrs! It was always a challenge because I had no idea how to keep the ears on or for sure how to fill the pan. I had the same experiences as you mentioned. Thanks for posting! The internet is a wonderful thing!🐇🐇Hsppy Easter!😍
Happy Easter to you, too!!
I don’t reinforce the neck and head. Once it is baked and has cooled, I make sure that it can be removed from the aluminum pan, and then my mother taught me to put it in the freezer and let it freeze overnight. Then you can frost it without losing the head!
I don’t reinforce the neck and head. Once it is baked and has cooled, I make sure that it can be removed from the aluminum pan, and then my mother taught me to put it in the freezer and let it freeze overnight. Then you can frost it without losing the head!
Retroruth I have a Wilton bunny pan. Can’t get a recipe making the right amt for this pan. Any help?
I just came across this, I’ve baked or helped my mom bake lamb cakes for years. My cast iron mold belonged to my dad’s mom. We always had problems with sticking no matter how well we greased and floured the pan. Long after the mold was past on to me, I bought a Wilton train mold that included instructions on how to unmold the cake. The instructions pretty much followed yours. Let the cake rest for 10 minutes, remove the back and let cool for another 5 or ten minutes. Then put the back on the cake again and flip it over.(first run a knife around the edges of the cake and the front of the pan) then carefully remove the front (face) part of the mold, let the cake sit in the back half of the mold until it is completely cool. I use a recipe from my grandma,it’s basically a pound cake, I also have one that’s a chocolate cake recipe. Greasing and flouring the pan is really important as are the toothpicks.