Crossword Genius

Separate into layers of pastries served up with dotted frozen yogurt tops (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stratify

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'separate into layers' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'pastries served up with dotted frozen yogurt tops' is the wordplay.
'pastries' becomes 'tarts' (tart is a kind of pastry).
'served up' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'with dotted frozen yogurt tops' becomes 'ify' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'tarts' backwards is 'strat'.
'strat'+'ify'='STRATIFY'

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for stratify that I've seen before include "Classify or grade" , "Separate into layers" , "Form into layers" , "Classify, arrange in grades" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times.
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