Angelica Singleton Van Buren

Angelica and Apple Pie Cookies

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First Ladies - 1800 to 1850

Angelica Singleton Van Buren*

President Martin Van Buren*

Acting First Lady Angelica - President Martin Van Buren's Daughter-in-Law
Acting First Lady from - 1838 - 1841
Quote from Angelica - Angelica asked her mother for advice and recipes!  She wrote to her mother:  "I want to get you to have your Recipe book copied in full and all your little stray recipes which you know to be good."
Factoid - Angelica met her husband, Abraham, the oldest son of President Martin Van Buren, through her cousin, famous First Lady Dolley Madison.  
Bio -

• Martin's late wife was Hannah Hoes Van Buren.  Martin and Hannah had known each other since childhood and were distant cousins.  Hannah died of tuberculosis in 1819, seventeen years before Martin became President.
• Since President Van Buren was a widower when he became President, his daughter-in-law, Angelica, assumed First Lady duties.  Angelica married Martin's oldest son, Abraham, in  1838.  She was Dolley Madison's cousin and received much help in her hosting duties. 
• Angelica, an heiress, was well-educated, vivacious, and known for her chin-length signature curls and beauty. Born to a very wealthy family, she was also well-versed in society norms of the times, a skill that helped her as Acting First Lady. 
• Angelica, at 20, was the youngest woman to fill the role of Acting First Lady. Angelica captured the hearts of Washington when she singly hosted her first event, the 1839 New Year's Day Reception.  However, Angelica's popularity was up and down; the following year her style change to more formal and wasn't appreciated by all.  It wasn't a bad change, Angelica established a dignity and sophistication for future First Ladies.

About Martin - Martin Van Buren struggled with a severe economic downturn known as the Panic of 1837 during his presidency. He promoted limited government and opposed the expansion of slavery, but his economic policies were widely criticized. Van Buren failed in his bid for re-election.

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Apple Pie Cookies

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President Van Buren liked simple food and his love for fruit and especially apples, was well-known.  I could not find a cookie recipe for him; Angelica prepared apple cakes for him.  He would have loved these Apple Pie Cookies!  Makes 12.

Ingredients
3 tablespoons salted butter
2 apples, peeled and diced 
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons apple juice or water
1 tablesoon cornstarch
1 (14-oz.) package refrigerated pie dough (2 crusts) 
For Icing -
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 to 3 teaspoons heavy cream

Steps

1. Melt butter over medium heat and add the diced apples.  Cook until the apples are a bit soft. 
2. In a cup, stir together apple juice and cornstarch.  Set aside.  
3. Lower heat  a little and add the brown sugar,  juice of 1/2 lemon, and cinnamon, stirring and simmering for about 3 minutes until the liquid starts to reduce.   Add the cornstarch and stir until all has thickened.  Remove from heat. 
4. Preheat the oven to 350° F.  Prepare a cookie sheet by greasing or lining with parchment paper. 
5. On a floured surface, roll out the pie dough into a 12-inch circle.  Use a 3-inch cookie cutter or 3-inch diameter glass rim to cut 12 circles.  Arrange them on the cookie sheet.  Take the leftover scraps of dough and roll them out to cut two more 3-inch circles. 
6. Roll out the second piece of pie dough into another 12-inch round.  Cut this one into 1/2-inch wide lattice strips for cookies.  Then cut into 4-inch pieces.  
7. Spoon out 1 tablespoon of the apple mix into the center of each cookie circle. Then place 3 strips of dough sideways on top and 2 strips going up and down. (see photo)  You can weave them, if you wish. Trim the edges and and seal edges by pressing together with a fork.
8. Bake in preheated 350° F oven for 18 - 20 minutes until golden brown.  Cool completely on a wire rack.
9. Stir together the powdered sugar and cream for glaze.  Drizzle over cooled cookies.​

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Recipe Card

Portrait Credits*
Angelica Van Buren - Henry Inman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Martin Van Buren - Henry Inman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons