Cross section of cardinal slice
Commercially sold cardinal slice

Austrian cardinal slice, or simply cardinal slice (German: Kardinalschnitte) is a traditional Austrian cake. The white and gold colors of cardinal slice reference the colors of the Catholic Church, however, according to another source, the colors reference the Vatican. These colors appear because of its ingredients; genoise sponge mixture and soft meringue. Outer layers of the cake are a little bit crunchy, and the texture is airy and light. It is generally recommended to be enjoyed with dessert wine.

History

Cardinal slice was created in 1933 by L. Heiner café pastry chain in honor of Theodor Innitzer.