The little layer cake, so called because it's composed of lots of little layers, is a Southern tradition that dates to the 1800s and can be found throughout the South, including at Wilmington-area bakeries.
The minimum number of layers is thought to be 10 but some cakes reach heights of 18 or 20 layers of extraordinarily thin, individually baked layers of vanilla or yellow cake that are draped with icing before the next layer is added – making an ideal (for some) ratio of cake to frosting.
The most traditional versions use a boiled chocolate fudge or caramel icing that soaks slightly into the layers. News outlets like Southern Living magazine and The New York Times have written about this cake tradition, from Alabama chocolate layer cakes to what’s
known as the Smith Island Cake of Maryland.
Here’s a look at where you can find one, or a slice.
Nancy Jo’s Homemade
This bakery has a 37-year history in North Carolina, including a Brunswick County location at 8600 E. Oak Island Drive. Their desserts include cakes, pies and a popular banana bread. But their signature dessert is a 12-layer chocolate cake made by hand.
Eagle Island Fruit & Produce Stand
This is one of the locations that sells Nancy Jo’s products by the slice. Find them individually wrapped by the cash register at 2500 U.S. 421 in Wilmington.
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Burney’s Sweets & More
The 15-layer chocolate cake features prominently on the website for this North Carolina bakery, which has more than a dozen locations, including in Wilmington, Hamstead, Shallotte and Southport.
Pine Valley Market
While not quite 10 layers, Caroline’s Cakes in South Carolina does make a few seven-layer cakes, which have been endorsed by Oprah Winfrey. You can find the caramel version stocked at this market with two locations in the area. They just have to be thawed before serving.
Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Where to find a slice of Southern layer cake history in Wilmington
