Bologna Cake – A Retro Appetizer Making a Comeback

Bologna cake isn’t a dessert. It’s a savory, layered meat appetizer. It looks like a cake but tastes like lunch.Made with sliced bologna and cream cheese, this oddball dish is a Southern party legend. Think cold cuts stacked like a birthday cake and frosted with a thick, creamy spread.

It’s bold. It’s funny. It’s unforgettable .People serve it as a joke. Others serve it with pride. Either way, it always gets attention.

This guide covers everything—from ingredients and prep to storage and party tips. Whether you’re curious or committed, you’re in the right place.

What Is Bologna Cake?

Bologna cake is a no-bake, cold appetizer made from layers of lunch meat and cheese spread.

It looks like a birthday cake. But it’s built with bologna slices and frosted with cream cheese or mayonnaise-based spread.

This dish isn’t new. It’s been around since the 1970s. It started as a joke and became a Southern favourite.

The name “cake bologna” confuses people. But the layered design explains it. It’s sliced like cake. Served like cake. But it’s all meat.

Viral TikToks and retro cookbooks brought it back into the spotlight. Today, it’s part prank, part potluck star.

People make it for laughs. Then eat it because it actually tastes good.

 The History of Bologna Cake

Bologna cake was born in the American South during the 1970s.

Meat was cheap. Processed food was popular. Home cooks loved creative, no-cook dishes that made people talk.

It likely started as a party joke. Someone stacked bologna, spread cheese, and called it a “cake.” It stuck.

The dish appeared in church cookbooks and family potlucks. It spread quietly, mostly in Southern and Midwestern towns.

Years later, it re-emerged online. One viral video, shared by comedian Amy Sedaris, made it famous again. TikTok and food blogs took it further.

Today, it’s both a punchline and a proud appetizer. It’s weird. It’s nostalgic. And it’s ours.

 Bologna Cake Ingredients

Bologna cake uses just a few simple items. You’ll find most of them at any grocery store.

Core Ingredients

• Bologna slices – Use beef, pork, or turkey bologna. Pick thick, round slices for easy stacking.
  
• Cream cheese – Softened. It’s your “frosting.” You can also use cheese spread for a smoother texture.
  
• Worcestershire sauce or mayo – Adds flavor and helps soften the cheese. (Used in bologna mayo cake versions.)
  

Optional Add-Ins

• Onion powder – Adds a savory kick to the cream cheese mix.
  
• Mustard or pickle juice – Boosts tang and brightness.
  
• Shredded cheddar – Mixed into the frosting or used as a topping.
  
• Chopped pickles or olives – For decoration or texture.
  
• Crackers – Serve on the side. Choose buttery or crisp styles.
  

All ingredients should be chilled for best results. Room temperature items may cause layers to slide.