Introduction to Atomic Cake
RIVER NORTH — In 1951, the United States was in the midst of the Atomic Age. The nuclear weapons test sites outside of Las Vegas were becoming such tourist traps that the city was renamed Atomic City. Perhaps in an effort to bring some of that atomo-mania to the Midwest, a Chicago baker named George Kremm created the aptly named Atomic Cake — a towering, three-layer dessert — sometimes in the ’50s, according to the Tribune.
The Creation of Atomic Cake
The cake starts with a bottom layer of banana cake, topped with fresh banana slices and Bavarian cream. The middle layer is a chocolate cake, topped with fresh strawberries and a strawberry glaze. On top of it all is a yellow or vanilla cake covered with hot fudge and iced with whipped cream. The Atomic Cake’s exact origin story is a bit murky: It’s believed Kremm had the idea while working at the original Calumet Bakery in South Deering but didn’t debut it until he opened Liberty Bakery in Roseland.
A New Twist on a Classic
While its roots remain somewhat disputed even among Chicago’s veteran bakers, Atomic Cake’s status as an iconic South Side specialty is not. This summer, Downtown pastry chef Carla Henriques has created a spinoff of the cake — by reimagining it in a glass.
Hawksmoor Chicago pastry chef Carla Henriques tops her 13-layer Atomic Sundae with chocolate shavings. Credit: Provided/Hawksmoor Chicago
Henriques’ Atomic Sundae at Hawksmoor Chicago, 500 N. LaSalle Drive, is a 13-layer creation. Fans of the cake will recognize the main flavors of banana, strawberry and chocolate, but Henriques has added twists. She swaps the Bavarian cream for vanilla custard and strawberry jam for the strawberry glaze, and she layers roasted banana ice cream between chunks of the three cake flavors.
The Inspiration Behind the Sundae
Henriques is from Portugal. When Hawksmoor Chicago was in the planning stages, she visited to get to know the city and its food. “Two of my best friends [told] me about this crazy cake from south Chicago that is just full of colors, full of flavors that shouldn’t work — but does work,” she said. Henriques immediately went to Weber’s Bakery, 7055 W. Archer Ave., and bought its version of the Atomic Cake, called a Banana Split Torte.
Irene carries a tray of freshly made Atomic Cakes at Weber’s Bakery, 7055 W. Archer Ave., in Garfield Ridge on Aug. 7, 2205. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Where to Find Atomic Cake
Henriques would have loved to offer her own version of Atomic Cake at Hawksmoor, but the River North steakhouse “doesn’t really do cakes,” she said. A sundae was the perfect solution: It could include all the Atomic Cake flavors and incorporate Henriques’ vision with a touch of Hawksmoor flair sprinkled in, she said. You can find Atomic Cake at bakeries mostly on the South and Southwest sides and south suburbs. Among them:
- Calumet Bakery, 18349 Torrence Ave. in Lansing
- Weber’s Bakery, 7055 W. Archer Ave. in Garfield Ridge
- Wolf’s Bakery, 3241 W. 95th St. in Evergreen Park
- Astoria Café, 1107 Maple Ave. in Lisle
<img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newppack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/08/AtomicPaczki-1024×768.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1" alt="The Atomic Paczki exists — but only as an occasional special at Orland Park Bakery, 18301 S. LaGrange Road in Tinley Park." class="wp-image-912097" srcset="
