Reply
Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,164
Registered: ‎03-13-2010

Abe Lincoln's Favorite Cake Plus the Backstory and History - Interesting!

[ Edited ]

Mary Todd Lincoln White Almond Cake

 

 

Thomas Jefferson may get credit for popularizing ice cream in the U.S., but Abraham Lincoln had his own dessert of choice: a simple yet elegant vanilla almond cake.

 

Finding a recipe from over 150 years ago might sound impossible, but lucky for us, the internet has our backs. The recipe for Lincoln’s favorite cake appears in the 1974 "American Family Cookbook."

 

This vanilla almond cake, topped with a fluffy white icing, proves that even though our means of accessing a recipe might have changed since Lincoln’s day, it looks like our taste in desserts remains relatively unchanged.

 

The recipe claims Mary Todd Lincoln baked this cake for Abraham before they were married. He declared it “the best in Kentucky,” and, well, the rest is history.

 

It’s easy to see why this cake captured Lincoln’s heart. Its soft texture, almond flavor, and delicate frosting are timeless. And with accessible ingredients and straightforward instructions, it’s a dessert any home cook can recreate today.

 

The cake itself is simple and familiar, but it does have one ingredient that stands out: sliced almonds, mixed directly into the batter. This addition adds a subtle interesting texture crunch, in a good way.

 

If you’re unsure about almonds in your cake, you could always sprinkle them on top instead. Either way, this treat promises to be as memorable as its famous fan. For those interested, here is the recipe: P.S. I noticed in the picture that was provided, it didn't have the 'fluffy white frosting or cherries".  

 

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

 
  • 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 1/4 cups (about 7 ounces) toasted blanched almonds, finely chopped
  • 6 egg whites
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup candied cherries, finely chopped (Optional)
 

For the Fluffy White Frosting:

 
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 

Instructions:

  1. Grease the bottom only of a 10-inch tubed pan. Line with waxed paper cut to fit the bottom; grease the waxed paper. Set aside.
  2. Make the cake: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together. Cream butter with extracts. Add 1 cup sugar gradually, creaming until fluffy. Beating only until smooth after each addition, alternately add dry ingredients in fourths and milk in thirds to the creamed mixture. Stir in almonds.
  3. Beat egg whites until frothy; add 1 cup sugar gradually, beating well. Continue beating until stiff peaks are formed. Gently fold meringue into batter just until blended. Turn batter into prepared pan and spread evenly.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) for about 1 hour, or until the toothpick test comes out clean.
  5. Remove from the oven and cool for 15 minutes in the pan on a wire rack. Remove from the pan and cool completely.
  6. Make the Fluffy White Frosting: Combine all frosting ingredients except extract in the top of a double boiler. Set over boiling water and beat with a hand rotary or electric beater for about 8 minutes, or until soft peaks are formed when the beater is lifted upright.
  7. Remove from water and add extract; beat 1 minute.
  8. Frost completely cooled cake with Fluffy White Frosting. Decorate with candied cherries
Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life!
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,490
Registered: ‎09-08-2010

Re: Abe Lincoln's Favorite Cake Plus the Backstory and History - Interesting!

@ciao_bella  Wow! I love baking from scratch and that recipe looks delicious. I printed it and hope to make it soon. Thanks for the great post!

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,753
Registered: ‎07-26-2019

Re: Abe Lincoln's Favorite Cake Plus the Backstory and History - Interesting!

[ Edited ]

@ciao_bella 

 

 Thank you for sharing  the receipe. I love anything with almond flavoring ! Will definitely  make it  in February . I have to burn through all the goodies I had for Christmas & New Years celebrations.  

Hadn't thought of it before , but a good way to teach  American History to  my Grand child through  various desserts favored  by each President !

 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,490
Registered: ‎09-08-2010

Re: Abe Lincoln's Favorite Cake Plus the Backstory and History - Interesting!


@skatting44 wrote:

@ciao_bella 

 

 Thank you for sharing  the receipe. I love anything with almond flavoring ! Will definitely  make it  in February . I have to burn through all the goodies I had for Christmas & New Years celebrations.  

Hadn't thought of it before , but a good way to teach  American History to  my Grand child through  various desserts favored  by each President !

 


@skatting44  I love that idea! If there was a cookbook with the President's favorite deserts, plus the recipes. It's interesting and fun to make the delicious creations. 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,490
Registered: ‎07-18-2015

Re: Abe Lincoln's Favorite Cake Plus the Backstory and History - Interesting!

@ciao_bella 

Vintage recipes fascinate me.To be able to eat and taste the same thing that was eaten so long ago, allows us to share a time of so long ago.

I think it is the only sense we have, that actually " puts us there "

 

Fragrance is also another  way to share a time  and place of long ago, but it is more of a fleeting sensation.

 

Hope this is at least, partially understandable...lol

 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,164
Registered: ‎03-13-2010

Re: Abe Lincoln's Favorite Cake Plus the Backstory and History - Interesting!

[ Edited ]

@Flatbush wrote:

@ciao_bella 

Vintage recipes fascinate me.To be able to eat and taste the same thing that was eaten so long ago, allows us to share a time of so long ago.

I think it is the only sense we have, that actually " puts us there "

 

Fragrance is also another  way to share a time  and place of long ago, but it is more of a fleeting sensation.

 

Hope this is at least, partially understandable...lol

 


@Flatbush  I totally understand what you're saying and agree with you!  I've also have a 'connection' to vintage recipes.  Have you ever watched Jon Townsend on YouTube? He dresses in 1800 Century clothing and then cooks/recreates the authentic meals/food from old cookbooks or written recipes from the period.  He's in the 5th or 6th season of doing this on Youtube, and it's very interesting to learn the history of how the recipes came about along with the history of the period.  It's very popular and has over 600,000 views.   

 

If interested in watching some episodes, type in your computer's address bar:  Youtube Jon Townsend    

 

I'm sure you'll get hooked on watching it.  I know I have!

Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life!
Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,490
Registered: ‎07-18-2015

Re: Abe Lincoln's Favorite Cake Plus the Backstory and History - Interesting!

@ciao_bella 

Oh, I will be sure and look this up.

Thanks so much for the info.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,025
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Abe Lincoln's Favorite Cake Plus the Backstory and History - Interesting!

@ciao_bella That looks and sounds delicious! I'm a big fan of bundt cakes not only for their no-nonsense ease of slicing, but also because they always look so elegant with little effort on my part lol. Since I'm not a fan of meringue or egg white toppings, I think this cake would also be great with a drizzled icing, or even just a sprinkling of powdered sugar; it's very versatile.

 

One of the reasons I love cookbooks is for the stories and family histories surrounding the recipes, so thank you for this post! 



What worries you masters you.
Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,490
Registered: ‎07-18-2015

Re: Abe Lincoln's Favorite Cake Plus the Backstory and History - Interesting!

@ciao_bella 

I went to the site, and it is really right up my alley.

So much real history is wrapped up in such a pefectly normal, everyday, necessary activity.

THANK YOU for the suggestion.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,164
Registered: ‎03-13-2010

Re: Abe Lincoln's Favorite Cake Plus the Backstory and History - Interesting!

@Flatbush  My pleasure!  I knew right away you'd enjoy it since you have the same interest in the historical backstory on foods/recipes of the colonial period.  

Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life!