Mary Todd Lincoln’s Signature Dessert Was Abe’s Favorite originally appeared on Parade.
Not so long ago, if your mind pondered on Mary Todd Lincoln, you simply thought of her association with her famous husband, Abraham, the 16th President of the United States. But thanks to pop culture, we’ve been reintroduced to Mary in a whole new light.
At the 2025 Tony Awards, Cole Escola won the best actor award for their incredible portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln in the dark comedy play, Oh, Mary! Escola’s comedic performance of Mary Todd as an alcoholic, child-and-husband-hating wannabe cabaret star comes with a big dose of revisionist history compared to another famous portrayal of Mary by actress Sally Field in Steven Spielberg‘s 2012 biopic, Lincoln…or does it? Not unlike Escola, Field also plays Mrs. Lincoln as someone who was sassy and emotionally tormented. It goes without saying that Mary Todd Lincoln was complicated and we love that (perfection is so boring!)
Outside of her legacy as a first lady, Mary Todd enjoyed the finer things in life, like parties and good food. And it seems that Mary Todd didn’t just appreciate good food, but she also got into the kitchen and did some cooking herself, which included making her signature white almond cake.
Related: Rosalynn Carter’s Strawberry Cake Has a Surprising Vintage Ingredient
What Made Mary Todd Lincoln’s White Almond Cake So Special?
According to an article written by the National Park Service, Mary Todd’s love for white almond cake started when she was a child growing up in an affluent family in Lexington, Kentucky. Legend has it that a caterer named Monsieur Giron prepared the white almond cake for General Marquis de Lafayette during the French military officer’s tour of the United States in 1825. The Todd family tasted the chef’s cake during this time and practically begged for the recipe.
When Mary got older and started dating a little man named Abraham Lincoln, it’s said she made him the white almond cake and it won him over. Abe also loved it so much that he asked Mary to make it for dignitaries and visitors of the White House when he was in office.
Related: Michelle Obama’s Apple Cobbler Captures the Essence of American Baking
And we can see why Honest Abe and others were such a fan. The cake is light and tender like angel food cake but also super buttery and rich like a pound cake with nutty, floral notes from the almonds. As simple as the cake may seem to modern bakers, it was very special by 1800s standards. You have to realize ingredients like baking powder and baking soda didn’t exist yet and mechanical kitchen tools weren’t a thing either, so bakers had to really work to whip up enough air to properly leaven cake batters.
Related: Jackie O’s Simple Grilled Chicken is Tender, Flavorful and the Perfect End-of-Summer Supper
How to Make Mary Todd Lincoln’s White Almond Cake
To make this cake, the first lady relied on simple ingredients. It’s worth noting Mary’s original recipe has been tinkered with over time and the one we’ve referenced from the National Park Service website has been adjusted for modern bakers.
To make it, start by preheating the oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan. Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then gradually mix in sifted flour and baking powder, alternating with milk. Add almonds and vanilla, then gently fold in stiffly beaten egg whites.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean, which should take about an hour. Cool the cake in the pan for 15 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely for 1 hour before slicing and serving.
Related: Lady Bird Johnson’s Famous Lemon Dessert Is Perfect for Spring
Mary Todd Lincoln’s Signature Dessert Was Abe’s Favorite first appeared on Parade on Jun 16, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
