Smith Island, one of the hundreds of islands in Maryland, is home to fewer than 400 residents. Nestled in the Chesapeake Bay, it’s only reachable by a ferry a few times a day. Given the inherent isolation of life on an island, culture and tradition at Smith Island has been well preserved.
One such tradition is the Smith Island Cake, a multi-layered cake that has roots that reach back to the 1800s. This layered cake is one of the country’s most historic desserts, but is also an incredibly regional dish, not nearly as widely known as the red velvet cake or cheesecake. In fact, there’s a good chance that you’ve never even heard of it, unless you happen to live in Maryland or along the Chesapeake Bay.
According to the Smith Island Baking Company, women would make their husbands this cake and pack it while they embarked on the autumn oyster harvest. It was a delicious way to remind the fishermen that they were “loved and missed” and a representation of the “prayers for a successful harvest and a safe reunion.”
About Smith Island Cake
Smith Island Cakes are known for their eight layers, though some have up to ten. Traditionally, a Smith Island Cake is a yellow cake with a thick, fudgy chocolate frosting with equal parts cake and frosting.
Notably, the layers are baked individually, instead of portioned with a cake slicer or leveler. Chesapeake Bay magazine points out that before the 1950s and ’60s, the island didn’t have electricity. Baking the cake in thin layers in a wood-fired oven was easier than managing thick cake layers in an unstable baking environment.
Despite being made for generations, it wasn’t until 1989, when folklorist Elaine Eff traveled to Smith Island to interview Smith Islanders and help create the Smith Island Visitor’s Center, that word got out about this unique dessert.
“Well-known bakers like Mary Ada Marshall say they learned it from their grandmothers, who in turn learned it from their grandmothers,” explained journalist Kristina Gaddy. “Eff tried to figure out if the cake originated with one woman, but she found it was truly ubiquitous on the island, and each matriarch had her own variation of the recipe and number of layers in her cake.”
In 2008, House Bill 315 designated Smith Island cake as Maryland’s state dessert, cementing its place in American confectionery history.
How To Make Smith Island Cake
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Pam Lolley, the Allrecipes test kitchen expert who developed this recipe, says the cake has “tender layers with a buttery vanilla flavor.” The ganache icing is sweet and chocolatey, and the layering ensures you get a taste of it in every slice. She recommends using aluminum pans to speed up the assembly and cooking process.
Allrecipes Tips & Praise
Chef Mo – Allrecipes Allstar
Allrecipes’ recipe testers suggest to assemble this cake on a cakeboard, then transfer to a stand before serving. The cake board helps keep the cake stable, and the layers lined up for the best possible presentation.
“This cake took a good part of the day to make but it was worth it,” shared one Allrecipes member. “The cake was moist and the frosting was great! I made it for a birthday party. So, I made each layer a different color. This made it fun. Adults and kids enjoyed it.”
Another suggestion is to use disposable pans for this recipe, since there are so many layers. Using multiple pans—instead of waiting for one or two to cool down completely—will not only speed up this process, but will help keep the cake batter fresh.
“I love this as we went to Smith Island and had some there,” shared a reviewer. “Great recipe. No changes.”
Make sure to line each cake pan with parchment paper. The cake layers are so thin that if they were to stick to the pan, the whole layer would likely be unsalvageable.
Make sure to enjoy!
Get the recipe: Smith Island Cake