Smith Island Cake

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Quick Bite

Smith Island Cake is Maryland’s official state dessert: a tall stack of thin cake layers with fudgy frosting between every layer. It is part cake, part engineering project, and pure Chesapeake sweetness.

History

Smith Island Cake comes from Smith Island, a small Chesapeake Bay community off Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The cake developed through generations of island baking, especially in homes where women baked thin layers one at a time.

The traditional version has eight to ten thin yellow cake layers with chocolate fudge frosting between them and over the outside. Thin layers made sense in older island kitchens, where baking conditions were more limited and small layers cooked more evenly.

The cake is often connected to watermen and oyster harvests. It traveled well, stayed moist, and offered a rich, energy-packed treat during long workdays away from home.

In 2008, Smith Island Cake became Maryland’s official state dessert. Today, it comes in many flavors, but the yellow cake with chocolate fudge frosting remains the classic.

Fun Facts

• The traditional cake usually has eight to ten thin layers.
• It became Maryland’s official state dessert in 2008.
• The layers are baked separately, which is why the cake takes patience.

Where to Try

Smith Island Baking Company Crisfield, Maryland
A major source for authentic Smith Island Cakes, with shipping and a Crisfield location tied to the island tradition.

Smith Island Cake Shop Maryland / online
A dedicated Smith Island Cake maker offering traditional and creative layered cakes.

Chick & Ruth’s Delly Annapolis, Maryland
A Maryland landmark diner where Smith Island Cake often fits right alongside crab cakes and other state favorites.

About the Game

This recipe is part of Van Life Challenge, a travel-themed board game from Gray Dog Games where players explore the United States, discover regional foods, and collect memorable experiences along the way.

Each featured food celebrates a real place, a local flavor, and the kind of delicious roadside discovery that makes every trip feel like an adventure.

Recipe

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Home-Cook-Friendly Smith Island Cake Serves: 12 Prep: 35 minutes Cook: About 1 hour 30 minutes Difficulty: Medium Style: Maryland / Chesapeake Layer Cake

Ingredients

For the cake

• 2 boxes yellow cake mix, plus ingredients listed on the boxes
• Or your favorite yellow cake batter for two standard cakes

For the fudge frosting

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 5 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Heat the oven: Heat the oven to 350°F.
2. Prepare the pans: Grease and line several 8-inch cake pans. If you only have two pans, bake in batches.
3. Prepare the batter: Prepare the cake batter.
4. Spread thin layers: Spread a thin layer of batter into each pan, about ½ cup per layer.
5. Bake: Bake each layer for 8 to 10 minutes, until just set and lightly golden.
6. Cool: Cool layers completely.
7. Start the frosting: Make the frosting by combining sugar, evaporated milk, chocolate, butter, and salt in a saucepan.
8. Cook the frosting: Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until smooth and thickened.
9. Add vanilla: Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
10. Stack: Stack the cake layers, spreading warm fudge frosting between each one.
11. Finish: Frost the outside and let the cake set before slicing.

Traditional note: To make it more traditional, bake eight to ten very thin yellow cake layers and use cooked chocolate fudge frosting, not fluffy buttercream.

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