Layer cake

A cake built from two or more stacked layers of cake with frosting, filling or jam spread between them and usually covered with frosting.

Layer cake: A frosted layer cake with a slice cut out showing several cake layers and filling
  • Cakes, cookies, pastries and baked goods
  • Europe

Also called: sandwich cake

Layers are baked in separate pans or cut from one tall cake. Before stacking, domed tops are leveled so the cake sits flat. A ring of stiff frosting piped around the edge of each layer keeps soft fillings such as curd or jam from leaking out.

A thin crumb coat of frosting, chilled until firm, traps loose crumbs before the final coat goes on. Cooled, well-chilled layers are much easier to handle and frost than warm ones.

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Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. Layer cake (Q3356613), Wikidata