From Smith Island to Annapolis: Where to Get a Slice of Smith Island Cake

On a small island in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay, the kitchens are busy whipping up Maryland’s state dessert. For generations, families on Smith Island have created an eight- to ten-layer treat that has become famous. If you want to try a bite, you don’t have to make the four-hour trip (plus a boat ride) from Annapolis. We have several ways you can have it yourself, right on our side of the bay.

What is the History of Smith Island?

Prior to the 1600s, Smith Island was “a waypoint for Native Americans.” English and Welsh colonists settled there in 1686 and it has been home to watermen and their families ever since. It’s a series of islands with three communities—Ewell, Tylerton, and Rhodes Point. There are only about 270 people who live there.

While watermen continue their traditions, the island’s economy also relies on tourism and the popularity of Smith Island cakes.

What is a Smith Island Cake?

The origins of the cake recipe are murky, but legend has it that the wives of watermen created it while their husbands were out working. The lore, according to Dishing Up Maryland, a cookbook by Lucie Snodgrass, says, “Over the years the height of the cake grew as the women competed against each other to see who could make the most layers.” Nowadays there are bakers still upholding the tradition both on the island and off of it, sending their creations all over the state and even all over the country.

The traditional recipe for a Smith Island cake makes a classic yellow cake with a chocolate fudge icing. The layers are baked in eight or more 9-inch pans, with three in the oven at a time. The icing is cooked on the stove and added to each layer while the baker builds the cake carefully.

(While it resembles a Hungarian dobosh torte, and some people think it was inspired by this European creation, I couldn’t find clear evidence of this. I think human history has plenty of examples of similar ideas popping up in different parts of the world. And Smith Island was a very isolated community until recent times. But that’s just my two cents!)

Today, you can find almost any flavor combination you prefer. Double vanilla, lemon cream, German chocolate…you name it, you can make it. As long as it has enough thin layers, you can probably call it a Smith Island cake.

And if you want to bake it yourself, there are a ton of recipes out there. You can use Mrs. Frances Kitching’s recipe on Visit Maryland’s website, or Susan Evans’ recipe from the cookbook Dishing Up Maryland by Lucie Snodgrass. The former recipe uses unsweetened chocolate for its icing while the latter uses cocoa powder. Give both a try and see which one you prefer!

Where Can I Buy Smith Island Cake Near Annapolis?

There are a few ways that you can have your own slice of Maryland history. Many local restaurants offer it for dessert. Some grocery stores sell whole cakes, half-cakes, and slices. A couple of companies will bake a cake and have it delivered to your home. Let’s get into all of these options.

Restaurants

Boatyard Bar & Grill

This Eastport mainstay claims to get its cake fresh from Smith Island—by ferry! And they’ll have more than just the classic cake for patrons, such as a red velvet cake. They serve a slice with whipped topping on the side and chocolate sauce drizzled over it. If you want to complete your meal with iconic Maryland food, you might as well have a couple of Boatyard’s “All Killer, No Filler” crab cakes, too!

Address: 400 Fourth Street, Annapolis, MD 21403
Hours: Kitchen—Monday to Thursday, 11 AM to 10 PM. Friday, 11 AM to 11 PM. Saturday, 10 AM to 11 PM. Sunday, 9 AM to 10 PM.
Cake Source: Smith Island Bakery.
Price: $9.99

Keratsini Greek Kitchen

This Greek restaurant in Annapolis Harbour Center makes delicious gyros AND offers Smith Island cake.

Maybe you didn’t expect this combination, but you know what goes great with cake? A gyro. OK, maybe not at the exact same time, but Keratsini in Annapolis Harbour Center makes an excellent lamb-and-beef gyro. And their cake comes from a bakery and pizzeria in Baltimore called Yia Yia’s that specializes in custom cakes. Their take on Smith Island uses a buttercream frosting and white chocolate shavings. It isn’t on their dessert menu, so be sure to ask if they have some in the back.

Address: 2478 Solomons Island Road, Annapolis, MD 21401
Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 11 AM to 8 PM. Friday to Saturday, 11 AM to 9 PM.
Cake Source: Yia Yia’s Bakery, Baltimore.
Price: $7.50

Leeward Market Cafe

The best part about buying a slice of Smith Island cake from Leeward Market in Eastport is that they are not stingy with the whipped cream! Smith Island cake has a tendency to be dry, so eating it with whipped cream is the way to go. Order from the counter—it’s right there in a glass cake stand—and take your plate to a sunny back room. The cake comes from the bakery on Smith Island because, as the employee said, “It would be cheating if it wasn’t [from the island]!”

Address: 601 Second Street, Annapolis, MD 21403
Hours: Every day, 7 AM to 3 PM.
Cake Source: Smith Island Bakery.
Price: $8

Park Tavern

The Smith Island cake at this restaurant in Severna Park will come with some whipped topping and a mint leaf, which adds some color. You could always indulge in one of their cocktails, such as a Bloody Mary for brunch, a glass of wine at happy hour, or an espresso martini after dinner. Call ahead to make sure they have some cake that day.

Address: 580 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD 21146
Hours: Monday to Friday, 11 AM to 10 PM. Saturday, 10 AM to 10 PM. Sunday, 10 AM to 9 PM.
Cake Source: Smith Island Bakery, according to its menu.
Price: $12

And at These Restaurants:

Markets and Grocery Stores

Annapolis Amish Market

In the Amish Market at the Harbour Center, you can grab a slice, a half-cake, or a whole cake in almost any flavor combo.

While traditionally, Smith Island does not have a Pennsylvania Dutch community, the bakers at the Amish Market can still make a mean Smith Island cake. Next to the deli counter, they have not only the traditional yellow cake, but also a number of combos. Grab a slice, a half-cake, or a whole cake the next time you’re there to grab your favorite Amish Market items.

Address: 2472 Solomons Island Road, Annapolis, MD 21401
Hours: Thursdays, 8:30 AM to 6 PM. Fridays, 8:30 AM to 6 PM. Saturdays, 8 AM to 3 PM.
Cake Source: Amish bakery from Lancaster, PA.
Price: $5.95 per slice

Green Valley Super Market

In Green Valley’s bakery section, Smith Island cakes sit in a freezer. They come from Chesapeake Bay Gourmet, a subsidiary of Soft Stuff distributors.

This grocery store carries frozen Smith Island cakes in their bakery section. At the time that I visited, there were two options: red velvet and carrot. I chose the carrot cake, which was very tasty and moist from having been frozen. However, the cakes that the company that sells to Green Valley are backordered, but more should be in stock in the upcoming weeks.

Address: 1238 Bay Dale Dr, Arnold, MD 21012, 4681 Mountain Rd., Pasadena, MD 21122, and 8095 Edwin Raynor Blvd., Pasadena, MD 21122
Hours: Arnold—6 AM to 10 PM. Mountain Road—7 AM to 9 PM. Edwin Raynor—Every day, 6 AM to 10 PM.
Cake Source: Chesapeake Bay Gourmet, a subsidiary of Soft Stuff, a cold-storage and distribution company. They work with a bakery in New Jersey to make the cakes before freezing them.
Price: $35 for a whole cake

And in These Stores:

Giant Food and Safeway carry cakes from the Smith Island Baking Company in Crisfield. Visit their website to learn which stores have these products.

Home Delivery

Smith Island Bakery

They have a number of flavor selections (including gluten-free), though as I write this, there are a few that are out of stock. The post office delivers the box to your home. Inside, the cake will be in a thermal bag that keeps the temperature cool. The parchment paper on the top took off a little bit of the icing, but if I needed to, I could have made a little more to cover it up. It’s obvious this was handmade in the best (and most delicious) way. You could even pass it off as your own…but we’d rather give credit where credit is due!

Address: 20926 Caleb Jones Road, Ewell, MD 21824
Price: $85 for a nine-inch round cake.

Smith Island Baking Co.

This company, which is based in Crisfield on the mainland, uses the national food- shipping brand Goldbelly to send you its cakes via UPS. You can order not only the usual cake flavors but also gluten-free cake, Smith Island ice cream, cake bites, or a sampler of different flavors. They’ll come in a heavily fortified box with dry ice to keep it fresh. The instructions say very clearly that it should be kept away from children, pets, and science-loving adults who are unsupervised. Inside, you’ll find a smooth and professional-looking cake, which makes this a good option if presentation is important.

Address: 45 West Chesapeake Avenue, Crisfield, MD 21817
Price: $90 for a six-inch-round cake.

This cake is both a simple and a complex dessert. The classic combination of yellow cake with chocolate icing is always a winner, but it’s the construction of the cake that makes it special. Support local businesses and Maryland culture with a meal of Chesapeake Bay specialties—crabs, oysters, rockfish…and Smith Island cake!