America's Melting Pot

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1776-1800 - Early American colonial households and bakers honoring George Washington.

Washington Pie

Name: Washington Pie
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup sugar; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 2 large eggs; 3/4 cup milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3/4 cup fruit preserves (raspberry or strawberry preferred); Powdered sugar for dusting

Washington Pie is a layered dessert combining cake and fruit preserves, dating back to late 18th-century America. This simple yet elegant sweet features moist cake layers sandwiched with jam or jelly and optionally dusted with sugar, reflecting colonial baking practices and early American tastes for fruit desserts.

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Difficulty

Medium

Prep time

30 minutes

Cook time

20 minutes

Total time

50 minutes

Servings

Region

Pennsylvania German and New England commemorative baking kitchens

Era introduced

1776-1800

Introduced by

Early American colonial households and bakers honoring George Washington.

Recipe tools

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The Story

Washington Pie dates to the American Revolutionary period and is named in honor of George Washington. This dessert was a practical and popular treat in early American households, using simple ingredients commonly available. It consists of cake layers filled with fruit preserves, showcasing early American preferences for sweet, fruit-based confections suitable for celebrations and gatherings during the country's formative years.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup fruit preserves (raspberry or strawberry preferred)
Powdered sugar for dusting

Equipment

Cake pan
Oven
Mixing bowl
Spatula
Measuring cups and spoons

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F (175C).
In a bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
In another bowl, cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time to butter mixture, beating well.
Alternately add dry ingredients and milk to butter mixture, starting and ending with dry.
Stir in vanilla extract.
Pour batter into two greased and floured 8-inch round pans.
Bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Cool cakes completely, then spread preserves on one layer and top with second layer.
Dust top with powdered sugar before serving.

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