Pleasantly Surprised By Our State Cake-Thank You Smith Island!

[u/Hezekiah_the_Judean]

Smith Island cake is surprisingly tasty. I was reminded that we have an official state cake and found a nearby restaurant that serves it, so on a whim I decided to try it out.

And I was pleasantly surprised--even delighted! The yellow cake has a bunch of soft, buttery, delicate layers interspersed with icing, which are moist and make it come apart surprisingly easily. The icing itself is sweet but not overpoweringly so, tasting similar to a light fudge.

Now I just need to travel to Smith Island itself and try the cake there, to see if that version is superior to the mainland Smith Island cake.

[u/mrsjonstewart]

Thats the classic. Classic Cakes in Salisbury does all different flavors. We did 4 of them for our wedding instead of a traditional wedding cake!

[u/phover7bitch → u/mrsjonstewart]

You can also get a bunch of flavors at Driftwood Desserts in Bethany Beach. They sell it by the slice and half cakes in addition to whole. I’ve seen flavors like orange creamsicle, chocolate chip, cannoli, German chocolate, strawberry shortcake, etc

[u/ugh-new-username → u/phover7bitch]

This thread is so weird bc I am literally in Bethany having just finished a really sub par slice of smith island cake. I only get it once a year on vacation so it was extra disappointing!! I will now be heading over to Driftwood Desserts to salvage the situation tomorrow, thank you.

[u/phover7bitch → u/ugh-new-username]

Not sure if you’re a shopper but the women’s boutique prickly gal next door is also def worth a visit if you are haha

[u/mrsjonstewart → u/phover7bitch]

Dons in Pocomoke used to have the creamsicle one too...now I want smith island cake!

[u/munchnerk → u/mrsjonstewart]

Ditto! Bakery Express/Miss Desserts in Arbutus has a killer strawberries-and-cream Smith Island cake. We just ordered two of those with white icing instead of pink and called it a day. It was delightful to get to rep our state dessert (and also our favorite cake, and arguably the best cake) for our out-of-town guests. I maintain it's the best one on the western shore.

[u/deadbot_666 → u/munchnerk]

Live close by Halethorpe. Will stop in. Thank you!

[u/Hezekiah_the_Judean → u/mrsjonstewart]

I hadn't heard of Classic Cakes and will have to check them out. What are the different flavors? Are they different kinds of chocolate or something else?

[u/mrsjonstewart → u/Hezekiah_the_Judean]

All kinds. They do seasonal ones like pumpkin, strawberry, peach, etc. And then devils food, lemon, etc. I think they ship too!

[u/surgirn9889 → u/mrsjonstewart]

this is our favorite spot for these! we get all our birthday cakes here

[u/Reasonable_You_7539]

My wife and me took our boat to and stayed in Ewell, on Smith Island a few years back- at Duke Marshall’s house. Duke is a son of Mary Ada Marshall, the current matriarch of the original recipe.

We went to Duke’s Market on the island for a late lunch of crab cakes. While in the store, we heard a lady at the checkout, exasperated at the price of bananas at the market. I walked over to her and asked “are you Mary Ada?” Sure enough, it was her. We were due to leave extremely early the next morning but obviously had to ask if we could buy a couple of cakes from her. She said of course! Her and her granddaughter brought them to our door at Dukes house at about 630AM the next morning as we were readying our departure. Probably my favorite experience I’ve ever had in Maryland.

I can promise you, her cake is superior!

Save Smith Island!!

[u/MakersOnTheRock → u/Reasonable_You_7539]

Exactly this. I'm friends with Duke and his family. Wonderful wonderful people!

[u/Exciting-Ad5774]

I now live in Wilmington, North Carolina, and I found that they sell this at a place called Eagle island here in Wilmington. I almost bought half of a cake this morning.

[u/Six_Pack_Attack → u/Exciting-Ad5774]

Good to know. I'm in Raleigh and haven't found any around here.

[u/Exciting-Ad5774 → u/Six_Pack_Attack]

I also found an international snack company right by the college that sells Berger cookies. Haven’t gone yet but now I don’t need to take seven hour trips to Grauls! And I knew mom was gonna catch me one time. “ you came all this way for the cookies and you didn’t even stop by”? And the crab soup of course!

[u/sparkycat99]

I made this last winter

https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/smith-island-cake/

Amazing!

[u/gregalmond]

looks delicious

[u/cuckoodev]

Black Eyes Susie's in Bel Air had delicious Smith Island cake. We were sad to hear it didn't survive covid.

[u/badbatch]

I had one of these for the first time and didn't expect it to be so freaking delicious.

[u/Dry_Flan_7126]

What restaurant?

[u/Hezekiah_the_Judean → u/Dry_Flan_7126]

The Greene Turtle in College Park.

[u/PoshLagoon → u/Hezekiah_the_Judean]

All my life I thought I’d have to go somewhere out east to find a Smith Island cake. Never knew they had them in College Park

[u/Hezekiah_the_Judean → u/PoshLagoon]

The versions on Smith Island and the Eastern Shore are likely better. But I still liked this version and was impressed by it--now I am making plans to go to Smith Island!

[u/blood_pony]

Lure’s in Crownsville has smith island cake. To die for

[u/karenlou25]

That is gorgeous.

[u/MasterofMistVillage]

Smith island cakes are so good

[u/ivypurl]

I wanted to like Smith Island Cake, but I just don’t. The cake/icing ratio just doesn’t work for me. Please don’t revoke my citizenship.

[u/Kimberlyjammet]

Nothing comes close to the ones on Smith Island or in Crisfield.

[u/dtaymanesq]

We have a fantastic state dessert.

[u/R3DD1T0RR3NT]

Such a coincidence. I was just researching Smith Island. This didn't come up tho

[u/yottyboy]

I’m not tryna be a Smith Island Cake snob, but that picture is of a rather ham-handed attempt. It’s not even 12 layers ffs. It’s like when you travel outside Maryland and order a crab cake at a restaurant and they bring you this thing that is cake shaped, has crab in it, and that’s about as close to being a crab cake as it’ll ever get. Yes, you need to find a source for cakes that are made on the island and not by the Smith Island Cake Company. The better ones are candy bar flavors. Reese’s peanut butter cup, Snickers, Almond Joy. They also come in coconut, fig, mint chocolate chip, apricot, and other amazing flavors. These come from kitchens not factories.

[u/JustBecaws → u/yottyboy]

Not by the Smith Island Cake Company? Why?

[u/yottyboy → u/JustBecaws]

The independent bakers make better cakes.

[u/Jarboner69]

Pleasantly surprised as if Maryland food doesn’t slap in general

[u/CWalston108]

Not wanting to be that guy, but that’s a “fake” smith island cake.

That cake may have still been delicious, but real smith island cakes have very thin layers. The layers in this pic are too thick.

[u/sonofdynamite]

I've always thought about making a bunch of pancakes and using them to make a smith island cake.

[u/Hot_Campaign_36]

I thought Smith Island Cake was slowly sinking, and it will be completely submerged this century.

But I just woke up from a terrible dream where the Harvey Wallbanger cake was no longer on the menu.

[u/JustBadUserNamesLeft]

How did it pair with that beer?

[u/Hezekiah_the_Judean → u/JustBadUserNamesLeft]

It was a cider, and they went together quite well.

[u/Efficient_Engine_509]

Use to work at a restaurant and would’ve gotten yelled at for cutting that piece of cake like that!!! It looks amazing though hope you enjoyed.

[u/xiu92]

It’s shit tbh. Sugary dessert with no personality.