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100 Worst Rated Cakes in the World

Last update: Sat Apr 19 2025
100 Worst Rated Cakes in the World
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01

Cake

CÓRDOBA, Spain
2.8
Pastel cordobés
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As the name suggests, this traditional dessert hails from the city of Córdoba. The cake consists of two layers of flaky puff pastry and a filling made from threaded squash jam, also known as cabell d’ángel or angel’s hair. The filling is traditionally made from Figleaf gourd, while the original version also includes an unusual addition of diced ham.


Before it is served, the cake is usually dusted with cinnamon and sprinkled with sugar. It can be enjoyed warm or chilled, and it is typically served with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. On November 17, people from Córdoba celebrate the national Pastel Cordobés Day when free portions of the cake are provided for all the attendees, while one of the most popular versions of the cake is found in the monastery of Santa Isabel de los Ángeles in Córdoba. 
02

Cake

PORTUGAL
2.9
Bolo rei
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Bolo Rei (lit. King’s cake) is a staple Portuguese dessert that is traditionally prepared and consumed during the Christmas holidays, from the 25th of December until the 6th of January. This round cake with a hole in the middle is typically covered with crystalized sugar, dried fruits, and nuts.


Although it has origins in France, the cake made its way into Portugal during the 19th century.

MOST ICONIC Bolo rei

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03

Cake

FRANKFURT, Germany
2.9
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Frankfurter Kranz is a classic German cake that originated in Frankfurt and was created around 1735. This cake is known for its distinctive crown shape, symbolizing the city's historical association with the German emperors as the place where coronations took place.


The cake consists of multiple layers of sponge cake, which are filled and frosted with a rich buttercream. Often, the layers are interspersed with a layer of red jam, adding a tangy contrast to the creamy filling. The entire cake is then coated with more buttercream and adorned with golden toasted almond brittle, known as krokant, giving it a crunchy texture and an elegant appearance. 
04

Cake

SKÅNE COUNTY, Sweden
3.0
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Skånsk spettkaka or pyramid cake is a visually appealing conical cake from Scania, Sweden, traditionally made using only fresh eggs, sugar, and potato flour. This spit cake has been baked in Sweden since the 1600s, and the first recipe for it was found in Susanna Egerin's cookbook dating back to 1733.


In the past, only the wealthier people could afford this delicacy, but today anyone can enjoy its unique taste. The ingredients are mixed using a special technique, then formed into a sticky batter. Afterwards, the batter is slowly baked on a rotating mould at a high temperature, layer by layer, until it develops a golden-brown color (with irregular spikes on its body) and a pleasant aroma. 
05
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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. 
06
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This layered Icelandic dessert is known as randalín or vínarterta (Vienna cake). Although the cake is incredibly versatile and its exact form and ingredients are often debated, it traditionally consists of thin shortbread layers that are coated with rhubarb, prune, strawberry, or apricot.


The cookie-like layers are usually flavored with vanilla, cardamom, or cinnamon, and the entire cake is sometimes garnished with icing. Vínarterta originated in Iceland, but nowadays it enjoys more popularity in Icelandic communities in the United States and Canada. 
07
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The peppered bread of Ferrara is a traditional Christmas fruitcake studded with whole almonds, hazelnuts, and candied fruit. It is flavored with cocoa, honey, cinnamon, cloves, and (sometimes) black pepper - hence the name pampepato. Its origins can be traced back to the 15th century.


According to legend, the cloistered nuns of the Corpus Domini monastery in Ferrara—inspired by an old recipe of the great Renaissance cook Cristoforo di Messisbugo—created the cake to be sent to the great personages of the time, including high clergy, which is why Ferrara's fruitcake is also known as pan del papa, meaning bread of the pope

MOST ICONIC Pampapato di Ferrara

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08

Cake

SEGOVIA, Spain
3.1
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Ponche Segoviano is a traditional cake originating from Segovia. This layer cake looks like a big rectangle of custard and marzipan that are topped with caramelized sugar which is decorated with a criss-cross design. The recipe of the original cake is a patent-protected secret, but it's probably made with a combination of eggs, sugar, milk, flour, lemon peel, cinnamon, and almonds.


The cake was invented in 1926 by a confectioner named Frutos García Martín at the El Alcázar cafe. It soon became popular in the town, and King Alfonso XIII (who loved the ponche) told the inventor to take the cake to the Universal Exhibition in Barcelona, where it won the gold medal in 1929.

MOST ICONIC Ponche Segoviano

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09
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Bolo-Rainha, translating to "Queen Cake" in English, is a traditional cake that is closely related to the more commonly known Bolo Rei, or "King Cake." It is especially popular during the Christmas season and the festivities of the Epiphany (Dia de Reis) on January 6th.


Similar to Bolo Rei in its brioche-like texture, Bolo-Rainha is made with a rich, sweet dough. However, it differs primarily in its fillings and toppings. While Bolo Rei is characterized by its use of candied fruits, Bolo-Rainha typically does away with these candied fruits and instead focuses more on nuts like walnuts, almonds, and sometimes hazelnuts. 
10

Cake

GUYANA and  2 more countries
3.1
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An integral part of Caribbean cuisine in festive times, especially around Christmas, black fruit cake is a unique dessert filled with nuts, dried fruits, warm spices, and burnt sugar syrup - giving it a rich and bitter chocolate flavor and a typical deep black color.


Although the cake has numerous variations regarding the ingredients, rum is always mandatory. Black fruit cake has roots throughout the Caribbean, dating back to the 17th century when English settlers brought over their tradition of the English pudding, which was modified by the slaves and their descendants into a decadent rum cake over the years. 
11
Cake
SICILY, Italy
3.1
12
Cake
GENOA, Italy
3.2
13
14
15
16
Cake
NEW ZEALAND
3.2
17
18
19
Cake
CATALONIA, Spain
3.3
20
21
Cake
NANTES, France
3.3
22
Cake
DUNDEE, Scotland
3.3
23
Cake
NORTHERN IRELAND
3.3
24
Cake
UNITED KINGDOM
3.3
25
Cake
ZUG, Switzerland
3.4
26
27
28
29
Cake
FLORENCE, Italy
3.4
30
Cake
PARIS, France
3.4
31
Cake
DIJON, France
3.4
32
33
Sweet Bread
GRONINGEN, Netherlands
3.4
34
Cake
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
3.5
35
Cake
NORWAY  and  one more region
3.5
36
Cake
CROATIA  and  3 more regions
3.5
37
Cake
MADEIRA, Portugal
3.5
38
39
Cake
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
3.5
40
41
42
Cake
LUCCA, Italy
3.5
43
Cake
NATISONE VALLEYS, Italy
3.5
44
Cake
CHUBUT PROVINCE, Argentina
3.5
45
Cake
ALGARVE, Portugal
3.5
46
47
Chocolate Cake
BUCHAREST, Romania
3.5
48
49
Cake
GOA, India
3.5
50
51
Cake
UNITED KINGDOM  and  one more region
3.6
52
53
Cake
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands
3.6
54
Chocolate Cake
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
3.6
55
56
Cake
PHILIPPINES
3.6
57
Cake
LOUISIANA, United States of America
3.6
58
59
Cake
ARGENTINA
3.6
60
61
62
63
64
Cake
PORVOO, Finland
3.6
65
Cake
GENOA, Italy
3.6
66
Cake
BUDAPEST, Hungary
3.6
67
68
Cake
CATALONIA, Spain
3.6
69
Cheese Dessert
CORSICA, France
3.6
70
Cake
YORKSHIRE, England
3.6
71
72
73
74
Cake
ABRUZZO, Italy
3.6
75
76
77
Cake
NETHERLANDS
3.7
78
79
80
81
82
Cake
VIENNA, Austria
3.7
83
Cake
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
3.7
84
85
Cake
SAN JOSÉ DE BALCARCE, Argentina
3.7
86
Cake
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
3.7
87
88
Cake
SAXONY, Germany
3.7
89
90
Cake
MISSISSIPPI, United States of America
3.7
91
92
93
94
Cake
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
3.7
95
Cake
SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, United States of America
3.8
96
Cake
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
3.8
97
Chocolate Cake
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
3.8
98
Cake
SICILY, Italy
3.8
99
100

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “100 Worst Rated Cakes in the World” list until April 19, 2025, 18,254 ratings were recorded, of which 13,264 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.