Smith Island cake is the island's edible landmark: many thin layers of cake, traditionally yellow cake with cooked chocolate icing, stacked high enough to look slightly improbable. It became Maryland's official state dessert in 2008.
The cake began as a practical Chesapeake sweet, baked in thin layers that were easier to cook in older stoves and sturdy enough to send out with watermen. Today you can find it in island restaurants and bakeries, and eating a slice after the ferry ride is part of the visit.