martha jefferson randolph

Martha "Patsy" and Molasses Ginger Cakes

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Martha Jefferson Randolph*

President Thomas Jefferson*

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Jump to Recipe

First Ladies - 1800 to 1850

Acting First Lady Martha Randolph (daughter) and
President Thomas Jefferson
Acting First Lady 1801 - 1809
Quote from Patsy -

• "...the English are really a wonderful people, it is impossible to contemplate their works in every quarter of the globe without admiration."

​Factoids -

• Martha "Patsy"Jefferson was the daughter of Martha and Thomas Jefferson.  She began as Acting First Lady when her widowed father became President.
• Patsy gave birth to the first child born in the White House.

Bio -

• ​Martha, lived in Paris when her father, Thomas, was U.S. Minister to France.  It's noted that she was smart, fun, and not lacking for male admirers.  While in France, she studied art, music, and languages.
• Thomas Jefferson’s wife, Martha Wayles Jefferson, died 19 years before he became President.  He was skilled at hosting White House events on his own, but Margaret (Patsy), often helped with hosting. 
• Patsy spent a lot of time at Monticello, the family’s estate, and the White House.  She had 11 children, but was often separated from her husband, who suffered from mental illness.  Her father, Thomas, helped Patsy raise his grandchildren.  And, Patsy, an intellectual, often helped him with political matters.

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About Thomas - Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd President of the United States and the main author of the Declaration of Independence. During his Presidency, he completed the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the U.S., and supported westward expansion. Jefferson also promoted limited government and individual liberties, though he was a slave owner throughout his life.  
President Thomas Jefferson loved food.  His love of ice cream, macaroni and cheese, and tomatoes made these foods popular to America, even today.  He loved the "sipping chocolates" (hot chocolate) in France and brought it to popularity in Washington.

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Molasses Ginger Cakes

Thomas had two favorite cookies, coconut macaroons and molasses ginger cakes.  He enjoyed eating soft molasses ginger cakes at Christmas.  They are similar modern gingerbread cookies.  If you visit Colonial Williamsburg, you can purchase them at the Raleigh Tavern Bakery!  Or you can make them at home...

Ingredients
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar
2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 & 1/2 tsps baking soda
2 tsps ground ginger
3/4 cup softened butter
1/3 cup molasses (not blackstrap)
2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (unsifted)

Steps

1. In a large mixing bowl, stir together: flour, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.
2. In another mixing bowl, beat together on high speed:  softened butter and white and brown sugar until creamy.  Mix in molasses and vanilla.
3. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating on low speed until the dough is just a little sticky.
4. Cover dough and put in refrigerator for one hour or more.
5. Preheat oven to 350.  Prepare cookie sheets by greasing or lining with parchment paper.
6. Bring dough to room temperature.  With clean hands, roll tablespoon-sized chunks of dough into balls.  Space 2-3 inches apart on cookie sheet. 
7. Bake at 350-degrees for 12 minutes.  Cookies should look “cracked” on top.  If they aren’t, bang the cookie sheet on the counter a few times and return to the oven for a minute. Cool cookies on baking sheet 5 minutes, then on a rack.

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Portrait Credits*
Martha Jefferson Randolph (daughter) - Oil on Canvas, Thomas Sully, Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello - Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Engraving - Smithsonian Institution, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Thomas Jefferson - Charles Willson Peale, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons