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The Origins of Smith Island Cake
Smith Island Cake is a confection that consists of many (usually ten) thin layers of cake separated by an equal number of layers of sweet icing.
Nobody is quite sure who first developed the concept of the Smith Island Cake, though it is believed to have been started as a variation on an English Torte. Frances Kitching, whose recipes comprise the island's official cookbook, is often given credit. An excerpt of an interview with Dave and Midge Patterson for the Crisfield - Smith Island Alliance newsletter has this to say about it: "When we asked about the origin of the famous, multi-layered Smith Island Cakes, she (Kitching) responded, 'Well, I don't know who made the first one ... I could've very well been. I don't know ... but my kids loved the icing as well as they did the cake ... ' So it seems that those fabulous, thin-layered cakes may well have evolve to satisfy the craving of children (and maybe a few grown-ups too!) for more of that sweet, tasty icing."
The most popular icing flavor is chocolate, but many bakers have branched out and now specialize in such exotic flavors as banana, orange, and coconut. The cake is usually yellow, though some bakers prefer to make it with chocolate batter.
The cake is a favorite at family gatherings and social events on Smith Island. It has become such a part of the island's culture that the visitor center on Ewell features a display of cake pans used to make this special dessert - and a video of Mrs. Kitching assembling one of her masterpieces.
The cake found its way over to the mainland and is now available for sale at bakeries and restaurants in Crisfield.
Visitors to the area who are lucky enough to sample Smith Island Cake don't soon forget it. In fact, a popular souvenir of a trip to Somerset County is a copy of Mrs. Kitching's cookbook - which, of course, includes a recipe for the island's beloved cake.
Smith Island Ten-Layer Cake-Mrs. Kitching's Original Recipe
2 cups sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into chunks (1 cup)
5 eggs
3 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 heaping teaspoon baking powder
1 cup evaporated milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup water
Cream together sugar and butter. Add eggs one at a time and beat until smooth. Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix into egg mixture one cup at a time. With mixer running, slowly pour in the evaporated milk, then the vanilla and water. Mix just until uniform.
Put three serving spoonfuls of batter in each of ten 9-inch lightly greased pans, using the back of the spoon to spread evenly. Bake three layers at a time on the middle rack of the oven at 350° for 8 minutes. A layer is done when you hold it near your ear and you don't hear it sizzle.
Start making the icing when the first layers go in the oven. Put the cake together as the layers are finished. Let layers cool a couple of minutes in the pans. Run a spatula around the edge of the pan and ease the layer out of the pan. Don't worry if it tears; no one will notice when the cake is finished. Use two and three serving spoonfuls of icing between each layer.
Cover the top and sides of the cake with the rest of the icing. Push icing that runs onto the plate back onto the cake.
Chocolate Icing for Ten-Layer Cake
2 cups sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
5 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 to 1 teaspoon vanilla
Put sugar and evaporated milk in a medium pan. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until warm. Add chocolate and cook to melt. Add butter and melt. Cook over medium heat at a slow boil for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add vanilla. Icing will be thin but thickens as it cools.
SMITH ISLAND CAKE VENDORS
NAME: Sweet Shop Bakery
ADDRESS: 341 W. Main Street, Crisfield, MD 21817
PHONE: 410-968-2200
PRICE: $ 25
FLAVORS: Chocolate, chocolate-walnut, banana, orange, and others
ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIRED: 1 - 2 days
SHIPPING/DELIVERY: pickup and will ship out of area with an additional
shipping fee. Call for details
CAKES SERVED LOCALLY AT: Sweet Shop's Main Street Location.
NAME: Kim East
ADDRESS: 3729 Lauren Ct., Crisfield, MD 21817
PHONE: 410-968-2188
PRICE: 9" - $20
FLAVORS: chocolate, banana, pineapple, orange, coconut, peanut butter cup,
strawberry-banana, mandarin orange, pumpkin spice, red velvet, German chocolate, devil's food, Black and Red (devil's food and red velvet alternating layers), Checkered Cake, and lemon.
ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIRED: one week
SHIPPING/DELIVERY: Primarily pick-up, but delivery arrangements can be Made
for cakes sold locally.
CAKES SERVED LOCALLY AT: Sidestreet Seafood Market & Restaurant, Crisfield
and Captain's Galley, Crisfield.
NAME: Beverly Guy
ADDRESS: 20943 Somers Rd., Ewell, MD 21824
PHONE: 410-968-2525
PRICE: 9" - $18 + $2 freight charge if picking up in Crisfield
FLAVORS: Chocolate is 9 layers all other flavors are usually 8layers.
Other flavors include: chocolate-peanut butter, devils food w/cream cheese icing or chocolate frosting, wet coconut, white coconut, orange glaze, banana, German chocolate, red velvet, pineapple, lemon glaze, carrot, pumpkin spice with cream cheese frosting, spice with cream cheese frosting, fig (extra charge), strawberry (in season), peach (in season). Will add nuts (black walnut or pecans) to any cake.
ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIRED: 2 - 3 days (More during holidays)
SHIPPING/DELIVERY: Will ship chocolate only. Delivery is made to Crisfield
by ferry boat. Delivery to Salisbury area by special arrangements.
CAKES SERVED LOCALLY AT: Bayside Inn, Ewell, Smith Island and the Cove
Restaurant, Crisfield
NAME: Dana Evans - Classic Cakes
ADDRESS: 1305 S Division St., Salisbury, MD 21804
PHONE: (410) 860-5300
EMAIL: info@classicsmithislandcakes.com
WEBSITE: www.classicsmithislandcakes.com
NAME: Lisa Evans
ADDRESS: 4005 Tyler Rd., Ewell, MD 21824
PHONE: 410-968-3053
PRICE: 9" - $20 + $2 freight charge if picking up in Crisfield
FLAVORS: chocolate, orange, banana, banana-walnut, wet coconut, devil's
food, butter pound cake w/cream cheese icing, pineapple-banana, red velvet, chocolate-peanut butter.
ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIRED: 2 - 3 days
SHIPPING/DELIVERY: Will ship chocolate and chocolate-peanut butter. Delivery
is made to Crisfield by ferryboat. Delivery to Salisbury area by special arrangements.
CAKES SERVED LOCALLY AT: Coffee Beanery, Salisbury.
NAME: Mary Marshall
ADDRESS: P.O. Box 665, Tylerton, MD 21866
PHONE: 410-425-2023
PRICE: 9" - $20 + $2 freight - Shipping out of area can cost anywhere from
$6 - $12 depending on the destination.
FLAVORS: whipped chocolate, cooked chocolate-fudge, chocolate-peanut butter,
Chocolate Lovers Delight (chocolate cake with chocolate icing), pineapple, coconut, devil's food, banana, orange, Tropical Bliss (pineapple-coconut), Almond Joy (chocolate-coconut), red velvet, strawberry (in season), chocolate-raspberry, lemon, key lime.
ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIRED: 2 days (More during holidays) SHIPPING/DELIVERY:
Will ship some flavors. Call ahead. Delivery is made to Crisfield by ferry boat.
CAKES SERVED LOCALLY AT: Drum Point Market, Tylerton and Market Street Inn, Salisbury
NAME: Robin Bradshaw
ADDRESS: 21159 Center St., Tylerton, MD 21866
PHONE: 410-968-1541
PRICE: 9" - $25 + $2 freight charge if picking up in Crisfield
FLAVORS: chocolate, banana, orange, coconut, pound cake
ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIRED: 2-3 days
SHIPPING/DELIVERY: No shipping. Delivery is made to Crisfield by ferry boat.
CAKES SERVED LOCALLY AT: N/A
NAME: Karen Coulbourne
ADDRESS: 2840 Byrdtown Road, Crisfield, MD 21817
PHONE: 410-968-1752
PRICE: $ 25.00
FLAVORS: All standards, Chocolate, coconut, banana, lemon, orange,
strawberry, peach, spice, as well as chocolate covered cherry and Neapolitan. Will customize cake with any combination of chocolate, candy (Reese's, Butterfingers, etc), fruit, jelly or jams. All cakes available with nuts (pecans and/or walnuts).
ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIRED: 48 hours
SHIPPING/DELIVERY: Will deliver locally, within a 40-mile radius
CAKES SERVED LOCALLY AT: N/A
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NAME: Classic Cakes Bakery
ADDRESS: 1305 S. Division Street, Salisbury MD 21801
PHONE: 410-860-5300
PRICE: Most cakes are $25, some of the specialty flavors are $28*,
Strawberry is $35**
FLAVORS: Chocolate, chocolate-peanut butter, peanut butter,
chocolate-walnut, Reese's, banana, banana-walnut, mandarin orange, orange, pineapple, lemon, coconut, spice, red velvet, devil's food, coconut-pineapple*, Butterfinger*, Cookies'n'Cream*, pumpkin* (in season),
strawberry** (in season)
ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIRED: 1 - 2 days (More required during holidays)
SHIPPING/DELIVERY: Pick up only
CAKES SERVED LOCALLY AT: Classic Cakes - Salisbury, Zia's Italian Restaurant - Salisbury, Dayton's Family Restaurant - Salisbury, Sweet Retreat - Salisbury, Harborside - Ocean City, Crab Alley - Ocean City, Marina Deck - Ocean City.
NAME: Cakes by David
ADDRESS: 745 S. Division Street, Salisbury MD 21801
PHONE: 410-742-1571
PRICE: 8 layers - $25.99, 10 layers - $35.99, 16 layers - $49.99
FLAVORS: Chocolate, chocolate-peanut butter, strawberry, lemon, spice,
German chocolate, peanut butter, carrot, can add nuts, chopped candy bars, jams, or jellies as well, and more. They can customize a Smith Island Cake to meet your needs. They also have a sugar free Smith Island Cake available.
ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIRED: 1 - 2 days (More during holidays)
SHIPPING/DELIVERY: They will ship chocolate w/chocolate icing, chocolate-peanut butter, and yellow w/chocolate icing CAKES SERVED LOCALLY AT: N/A
NAME: Marge Laird
ADDRESS: 21162 Tuff Street
Tylerton MD 21866
PHONE: 410-425-4471
PRICE: 8 layers 25.00 + $2 shipping on the boat; $30 for seasonal cakes
FLAVORS: Chocolate, Chocolate Reese's, Pineapple, Fig (in Season), Banana
ADVANCE NOTICE REQUIRED: 2-3 days please call ahead
SHIPPING/DELIVERY: Pick up or pick up from boat only
CAKES SERVED LOCALLY AT: N/A
NAME: Sharon Marshall
FLAVORS: Chocolate - yellow cake with cooked chocolate fudge type frosting, Chocolate Whip - yellow cake with whipped chocolate buttercream frosting, Chocolate Peanut Butter - yellow cake with cooked chocolate frosting and chocolate/peanut butter filling, Orange - yellow cake with cooked orange frosting is also an island favorite, Pineapple - yellow cake with pineapple filling available with cooked pineapple frosting or whipped buttercream pineapple frosting, Strawberry - white cake with strawberry filling and whipped buttercream frosting, Chocolate Decadence - chocolate fudge cake layers covered with your choice cooked or whipped chocolate frosting, Coconut - white cake with coconut filling and whipped coconut frosting, Ebony and Ivory- chocolate cake with white whipped buttercream frosting, Red Velvet - red velvet cake layered and frosted with whipped buttercream frosting, Pina Colada - yellow cake with whipped buttercream frosting flavored pineapple, coconut, vanilla and rum, and Banana - yellow cake with banana frosting and filling
INTERNET ORDERS: www.mysmithislandcake.com
Sample list of Flavors
Chocolate
Chocolate Walnut
Chocolate Coconut
Chocolate Raspberry
Banana
Banana Walnut
Orange
Mandarin Orange
Pineapple
Pineapple Banana
Pineapple Coconut
Coconut
Wet Coconut
Peanut Butter
Peanut Butter Cup
Pumpkin Spice
Red Velvet
German Chocolate
Devil's Food
Lemon
Red Velvet
Carrot
Pumpkin Spice
Spice
Key Lime
Butterfinger(r)
Cookies'n'Cream(r)
In Season Only
Strawberry
Strawberry Banana
Peach
Fig (extra charge)
Pumpkin
Customize Your Cake
Cakes can be customized a variety of ways. You can add nuts (usually black walnut or pecans), fruit (some only in season), candy bar pieces, jams or jellies to almost any cake depending on the baker. Some vendors already offer unusual combinations such as: Black and Red (devil's food and red velvet alternating layers), Checkered Cake, Neapolitan, Chocolate Covered Cherry, and more. These delicious cakes freeze well either whole, in sections, or by the slice.
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