Austrian cardinal slice,[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]
Cardinal slice was created in 1933 by L. Heiner[4] café pastry chain in honor of Theodor Innitzer.