Smith Island Cake is Maryland's official state dessert.

Proclaimed in 2008. Somerset County is where it lives.

The cake itself is a feat of patience. Eight to ten thin layers, each one baked and stacked by hand. The most iconic version is simple: vanilla cake, chocolate fudge icing. That's the one that made it to Annapolis. That's the one people drive hours for. No one can pinpoint the exact moment Smith Island Cakes became what they are. What the islanders do know is that baking them became a livelihood. A cottage industry built by women and families who turned a recipe into a steady income. Letters and local memory trace the tradition back more than fifty years. The origin may be uncertain. The cake is not.

Eleven places to find it. Start anywhere.

How the Trail Works

Four simple steps for your chance to win a free Smith Island Cake

1. Register once. Enter your name, email, and zip code below. We'll send you a personal trail link, no password needed, works on any device.
2. Visit a stop. Head to any of the 11 locations on the trail. Look for the Cake Trail sign and QR code at each participating business.
3. Scan & stamp. Scan the QR code with your phone. Each scan logs your visit automatically and adds a stamp to your passport. No app required.
4. Complete & win. Collect 6 stamps to be entered to win a free Smith Island Cake