Dolly Varden Cake

Dolly Varden cake is an iconic cake that’s especially popular at children’s birthdays in Australia. The cake was named after a character named Dolly in one of Charles Dickens’ novels (Barnaby Rudge) and the ensuing fashion style with bright colors, bold patterns, and different layers of fabric.

The earliest recipe for the cake calls for four layers: chocolate, a white layer made with egg whites, a rose layer made with cochineal, and a yellow layer made with egg yolks, along with the frosting. Once baked, the multi-colored layers are stacked to create a visually attractive cake, and nowadays the layers come in a variety of flavors and colors.

What sets this cake apart is the addition of the centerpiece – a Barbie (or similar) doll is placed in the center of the cake so that the cake itself acts as the doll’s skirt.