William Henry Harrison, the 9th American president, may best be known for serving the shortest term in office; he died of pneumonia on April 4, 1841, only 32 days after his inauguration in March. His vice-president, John Tyler, assumed the presidency and was henceforth called “His Accidency.”
As Whigs opposing the incumbent Jacksonian Democrat Martin Van Buren, Harrison and Tyler ran a zealous and creative campaign. “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!” was the slogan, which referenced the nickname (“Old Tippecanoe”) that Harrison received after serving in the conflicts that secured the Northwest Territory for white settlers. Though both Harrison and Tyler were members of the Southern aristocracy, the campaign employed emerging symbols of humble roots—the log cabin and hard cider—to bolster support among the working class.
While hard cider might have flowed freely on the campaign trail, other edibles inspired by the campaign were being prepared and served on the “home front”—most notably Tippecanoe Cake and Tyler Pudding Pie. Receipts (recipes) for both can be found in Gaines and Preston family cookbooks, which suggests not only what these families were eating but also their political affiliations. (Another hint might be that John and Letitia Gaines named one of their sons William Henry Harrison!)
Tippecanoe Cake
“Tippecanoe Cake,” sometimes called “Harrison Cake,” is a dense molasses spice cake, sometimes with raisins or currants added. Here is the receipt from Catherine Preston’s cookbook, which she attributes to Mary J.K. Gibson, perhaps a neighbor on Eden’s Ridge.
1 qt. flour, 1 pt. molasses, 1 teacup sugar, 1 teacup butter, 1 cup sour cream, 6 eggs, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, do ginger, 1 soda, dissolve in hot water added just as you put to bake.
*Note: “do” is an abbreviation for “ditto,” which means “the same.”
Tyler Pudding Pie
“Tyler Pudding,” also called “Tyler Pie” or “Tyler Pudding Pie,” is a sweet custard pie, sometimes with lemon extract or shredded coconut added. It was said to be a favorite of President Tyler. No doubt his 15 children enjoyed it too!
Letitia Dalton Lynn (“Lute”), granddaughter of John and Letitia Gaines, included a receipt for Tyler Pudding in her handwritten cookbook.
4 eggs, 2 teacups of sugar, 1 of butter, 1 of sweet cream, 2 tablespoonfuls of flour, make a crust for pie, place the batter in and bake slowly.
In the antebellum South (and in the White House), the women making these desserts were often enslaved cooks, who passed down the receipts in their own families and communities. In her cookbook/memoir, A Taste of Country Cooking, African-American chef Edna Lewis recalls that “there are many recipes for Tyler pie or pudding…The women of Freetown each praised the perfection of their Tyler pies. It was served throughout the year along with seasonal pies.” (Freetown was a community in Orange County, Virginia, near the birthplace of President Tyler, that was founded by formerly enslaved people after the Civil War.) Miss Lewis’s receipt is similar to Lute’s but with vanilla and lemon extract added.
Whether you’re a Whig or a Jacksonian Democrat—or neither!— we hope you will try these delicious desserts inspired by early American presidents!
William Henry Harrison
(1773-1841)
9th American president
Tyler Pudding baked at Exchange Place
by the Eden’s Ridge Hearth Cookery Society
John Tyler
(1790-1862)
10th American president
The mission of Exchange Place Living History Farm is to preserve and interpret the heritage of mid-19th century farm life in Northeast Tennessee. A private, non-profit organization, Exchange Place is maintained and operated primarily by volunteers and is supported by donations, fundraisers, memberships, and grants.
Exchange Place
4812 Orebank Rd,
Kingsport, TN 37664
423-288-6071