Layer Cake is a hybrid cannabis strain bred from Wedding Cake and a GMO x TK Skunk line, known for a sweet vanilla dough base cut with garlic, diesel and skunk. It was bred by Swamp Boys Seeds in Florida and took first place for Best Hybrid at the 2021 Connoisseur Cup, according to SeedFinder. Most listings put it between 20 and 28% THC, with a relaxing body high and a happy, talkative head.
Layer Cake Strain at a Glance
| Type | Hybrid, often described as indica-leaning |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Wedding Layer |
| Lineage | Wedding Cake × GMO x TK Skunk |
| Breeder / origin | Swamp Boys Seeds (Florida) |
| THC | 20–28% (typical lab range) |
| CBD | Under 1% |
| Dominant terpenes | Myrcene, Limonene, Beta-caryophyllene |
| Aroma and flavor | skunk, diesel, garlic, sweet dough, earth, vanilla, earthy, pepper |
| Reported effects | relaxed, euphoric, tingly, talkative |
| Best for | evening use, unwinding after work, experienced consumers |
| Flowering time | About 63 days |
Where Layer Cake Comes From
Layer Cake comes from Swamp Boys Seeds, a Florida seed company. SeedFinder lists the cross as Wedding Cake x GMO / TK Skunk, Leafly describes it as a mix of Wedding Cake, GMO, Triangle Kush and Skunk, and Weedmaps names Wedding Cake and GMO Cookies as parents with the GMO side crossed to Triangle Kush and Skunk #1. Read together, the sources agree: a Wedding Cake mother bred to a GMO-based male that carried Triangle Kush and Skunk. Swamp Boys is known for working Triangle Kush, a Florida OG cut, into its lines.
SeedFinder reports that Layer Cake won first place in both Best Overall Caregiver Flower and Best Hybrid at the Connoisseur Cup in 2021. The original release was regular seed rather than feminized. Leafly lists Tiger Cake as an offspring, and some reviewers note that it has been sold in the UK under the name Wedding Layer.
One caution on the name: a few guides note that other breeders have released strains called Layer Cake, and SeedFinder carries at least one other entry. The Swamp Boys version is the one Leafly, Weedmaps and SeedFinder describe, and it is the one profiled here.
Layer Cake Effects: What It Feels Like
Leafly reviewers most often tag Layer Cake as relaxed, tingly and euphoric, and Leafly’s description adds uplifted. Weedmaps users report relaxed and euphoric, and its description mentions a talkative, happy headspace with strong physical relaxation. SeedFinder describes a fast onset and a relaxing body high that keeps some mental clarity, and it recommends the strain for evenings.
The GMO side shows up as weight. At higher amounts Weedmaps notes sleepiness, and Leafly flags it for experienced consumers because of its THC. A small amount fits a relaxed dinner or a long conversation; more is better kept for nights with nothing left to do.
Layer Cake Terpenes, Aroma and Flavor
Layer Cake splits the difference between dessert and funk. Leafly’s flavor tags are skunk, vanilla and pungent, and Weedmaps users report earthy and vanilla. Descriptions add garlic, diesel and skunky earth over a sweet dough base, finishing peppery. Weedmaps notes that some selections lean sweeter while others lean toward diesel, and Leafly reviewers have called the smell smoky, tobacco-like or just funky.
Leafly lists myrcene as the dominant terpene, followed by limonene and caryophyllene. Myrcene gives the earthy, heavy base, limonene a touch of citrus brightness, and caryophyllene the peppery bite on the exhale.
- Myrcene: earthy, musky and herbal, also found in mango and hops
- Limonene: bright citrus, also found in lemon and orange peel
- Beta-caryophyllene: peppery and spicy, also found in black pepper and cloves
Terpene levels vary from grower to grower and batch to batch, so check the lab label on the package. Learn more in our guide to cannabis terpenes.
Side Effects and How to Use Layer Cake
Leafly reviewers list anxiety, dry mouth and dry eyes as the most common complaints. Sleepiness is common at higher doses. SeedFinder notes that while some users reach for it to relax, others report the opposite, so start low until you know how it hits you.
How strong Layer Cake feels depends on the batch, your tolerance and how you consume it. Start low, go slow, and read our guide to dosing cannabis.
Do People Use Layer Cake for Medical Reasons?
Leafly readers most often mention reaching for Layer Cake during anxiety (32%), depression (20%) and stress (20%). SeedFinder also mentions anecdotal use for sleep, while noting these reports are unverified. None of this is clinical evidence.
These are user reports, not clinical findings. For what research actually supports, see our cannabis health and research section, and talk to your doctor before using cannabis for a health condition.
Growing Layer Cake
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Flowering: About 63 days
- Yield: Good
- Height: Medium
- Environment: Indoor or outdoor
SeedFinder lists a flowering time of about 63 days, a good yield and medium height indoors and out, and says topping or low-stress training keeps it shorter. Weedmaps describes a bushy plant with sturdy branching and short internodes, dense resin-heavy buds and occasional purple color late in bloom, with flowering commonly around 9 weeks. The original Swamp Boys release was regular seed, so expect some variation between plants. Tight, dense buds and short internodes mean outdoor growers in wet autumn climates should thin the interior and watch closely for mold.
Home-grow rules depend on the state: adults can grow at home in states such as California (six plants per residence), Michigan (12 per residence) and Oregon (four per household), while Washington and Illinois allow home growing only for registered medical patients. Check your state in our cannabis laws by state guide before you plant anything.
Strains Like Layer Cake
- Wedding Cake: its parent
- GMO Cookies: the garlic and fuel side of its lineage
- Garlic Breath: another GMO-family hybrid
- Kush Mints: a related dessert and gas profile
- Ice Cream Cake: another Wedding Cake descendant
Browse more hybrid strains, the full strain directory, or our guide to cannabis strains.
More Hybrid Strains to Explore
Lemon Cherry Gelato · Lemon Cookies · Lemon Diesel · Lantz · Lady Liberty · La Bomba · All hybrid strains
Where to Buy Layer Cake
Dispensary menus change every week, and Layer Cake may be sold under its own name, as a cross or as a pre-roll or vape. The fastest way to find it is to check store menus online before you go. In San Francisco, browse San Francisco dispensaries and check the menus at stores like Obsidian Dispensary and Potent. In Grand Rapids, browse Grand Rapids dispensaries and check the menus at stores like Olswell-Grand Rapids and Jars Cannabis. You can also browse licensed dispensaries in every state we cover. Adults 21 and older can buy with a valid photo ID; see cannabis laws by state for purchase limits.
Layer Cake FAQ
Is Layer Cake indica or sativa?
It is a hybrid that often leans indica. Leafly lists it as a hybrid, Weedmaps as indica, and SeedFinder describes indica-style growth.
What is Layer Cake a cross of?
Wedding Cake crossed with a GMO x TK Skunk male, per SeedFinder. Leafly lists the same family as Wedding Cake, GMO, Triangle Kush and Skunk.
Who bred Layer Cake?
Swamp Boys Seeds, a Florida breeder.
How strong is Layer Cake?
Leafly and SeedFinder list about 24% THC, and Weedmaps gives a range of 20 to 28%.
What does Layer Cake taste like?
Vanilla and sweet dough over skunk, garlic and diesel, with a peppery finish.
Is Layer Cake good for sleep?
It can be at higher doses, since Weedmaps notes sleepiness, but smaller amounts are more relaxed and talkative than sedating.
For adults 21+ in legal states. Strain information reflects breeder descriptions, lab data and user reports; effects vary by person and batch. Not medical advice.
