What was George Washington's favorite cake?

Family members and visitors alike testified that hoecakes were among George Washington's favorite foods. He invariably ate them at breakfast, covered with butter and honey, along with hot tea—a “temperate repast” enjoyed each morning.

How do you make a fire cake in the Revolutionary War?

Fire cakes were made of flour, water, and salt if it was available. There is no true “recipe” because everyone would make it a bit differently . They were given the name fire cakes because the dough was often cooked on rocks in the fire or directly in the ashes.

What is a George Washington cake?

The first written account of a “Washington Cake” is something called a creamed cake which is similar to a pound cake. Being a chemically unleavened dessert, it is this creaming method that gives the cake its rise.

What is the origin of Hoecakes?

Hoecakes and honey is a distinctly American dish. The recipe originated with Native Americans and subsequently was utilized by enslaved people and European settlers alike. Recipes varied, but the basic idea of a flat cake made of cornmeal mush spread all throughout the country.

WHAT IS A CAKE BOMB®? Cake Bombs® are miniature flavored cakes with the . flavor in the cake base as well as the glaze .

What was the dish in the Revolutionary War?

On the other side of the battlefield, the Continental Congress set the daily rations of the Continental Army soldiers at one pound of bread, half a pound of beef, and half a pound of pork (or one and one-quarter pound of beef, if no pork was available), one pint of milk, one quart of spruce or malt beer, and one gill ( ...

What was the fire cake in 1777?

Firecake or Fire cake was a type of quick bread eaten by soldiers in the French and Indian and the American Revolutionary Wars . They were made from a mixture of flour, water and salt and baked on a rock in the fire or in the ashes.

What was George Washington's favorite pie?

Apple pie seems to have been a favorite of George Washington. In an August 1779 letter from West Point inviting friends to dine with him, he noted that they might be treated to an apple pie “[The cook] has had the surprizing luck to discover that apples will make pyes,” the general wrote.

What was George Washington favorite cookie?

The recipe for George Washington's beloved Shrewsbury Cakes dates back to The Compleat Cook, an English cookbook first published in 1658. At the time the recipe was first printed, sugar was a luxury, so honey and dried fruit served as sweeteners.

What did George Washington like to eat?

As one of the richest landowners in Virginia, and in the nation, for that matter, he had access to exquisite delicacies, but his health limited enjoying some of them. As many people know, George Washington wore dentures, and he preferred to eat soft things, such as cornmeal “hoecakes,” puddings and soups .

Hoecakes: a Revolutionary War Recipe - My Beautiful Mess (2024)

Try this fun 18th century colonial cornbread recipe with your kids this Fourth of July. Hoecakes: a Revolutionary War recipe.

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I thought I’d do something a little interesting and different here on My Beautiful Mess. Since July 4th is upon us, I thought I’d share a simple recipe for hoecakes: a Revolutionary War recipe. This Independence Day, why not try something our founding fathers used to eat.

What Are Hoecakes

American Southerners were the first to create this cornbread patty. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure how to describe it. I did a lot of research before trying this recipe a few times. Hoecakes resemble pancakes, but they aren’t. At best, they might qualify as a distant cousin. Pancakes are soft and fluffy and made with flour. Hoecakes are denser, tougher, and to me, almost seem like a hybrid between pancakes and corn tortillas.

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A Quick History

In England in the 1600’s, a hoe was the name of what we now know as a griddle. Back then, it was common to bake cakes on griddles. In fact, cooking was very different back then. Food was cooked by a fireplace, specifically on the hearth. Cooks would place the pots and hoes on the hearth to cook. Then they’d move the pots close or far away from the fire depending on how hot it needed to be. Without cooking thermometers, women determined the temperature by how many seconds they could withstand the heat when their arm was placed in the fireplace (oven). Crazy, right? And you thought cooking today was a chore!

When settlers came from England, they had little imagination when it came to using corn. Corn had been domesticated by the Native Americans and to early settlers, corn was a crude substitute for flour. Since cornmeal didn’t not respond well to leveling agents and was naturally sweet, they simply fashioned it into small cake patties and fried it on a griddle. Thus hoecakes were born.

Hoe cakes were described as George Washington’s favorite breakfast in which he ate them slathered in “butter and honey.” Over the next century, hoecakes eventually became a dish of regional pride and a staple on the Southern colonial table.

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The Modern Hoecake

These days, hoecakes, also called Johnny Cakes, are still a regional favorite here in the South. Today, ingredients like egg, milk, even flour are added to make it closer to pancakes. Sometimes spices and sugar are added to sweeten it up. However, for today’s purposes, we’re going to eat it like the colonists did.

How To Make Hoecakes

Hoecakes are simple to make. They are simply cornmeal and boiling hot water mixed into a batter and fried in a small amount of peanut oil. I’m sure you can use other oils if you’re allergic to peanuts. The consistency of the batter should be fairly thick. Closer to a wet dough than a batter. If it’s as runny as pancake batter, you’ve done it wrong. Secondly, I recommend using a non-stick skillet. I personally prefer to use my cast iron one, but since I haven’t season it yet, we’ll use a regular pan. Aim for making them around six inches.

Hoecakes are traditionally made with white cornmeal, but since I have yellow cornmeal, that’s what I’ll be using today. As I mentioned before, you’ll needed to use boiling hot water to make sure they don’t break apart when you try to remove them from the pan.

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Hoecakes should have crispy edges and should be a glistening golden brown. Hoecakes are best when served warm. I recommend taking a cue from George Washington and using butter and either honey, maple syrup, and or cane syrup.

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Revolutionary War Hoecakes

Try this favorite breakfast of George Washington and staple of the Colonia South with this American Revolution time recipe.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Course Breakfast, Main Course

Cuisine American

Equipment

Skillet
Mixing Bowl
Spatula

Ingredients

2 Cups Yellow or White Cornmeal
2 Cups Boiling Hot Water
Pinch of Salt
Honey optional
Butter Optional
12 Tbsp Peanut or Vegetable Oil

Instructions

In a pot or tea kettle boil 2 cups of water
In a large mixing bowl, add 2 cups of flour
Add a pinch of salt
When the water is boiling, start by adding one 1 cup at a time. Slowly stir. Continue adding the second cup of water. Mixture should pour by should be very thick almost like a very wet dough.
Let stand for 10 minutes so the cornmeal can absorb the water
In a medium high skillet, add one 1-2 Tbsp of Oil
Once oil is smoking, pour batter into the hot oil. Flatten and round with a spatula
Cook for 10 minutes
Gently flip and cook for an additional 10 minutes
Serve warm with butter, honey, cane syrup or maple syrup

Keyword bread, breakfast, comfort food, cornbread, cornbread recipes, cornmeal, flatbread, fried bread, pan fried, recipes of the south, southern recipes, unleaven bread