Series: Festive Foods of the Fort

Special holiday foods made life at Fort Stanwix/Schuyler a little more tolerable during the cold winters of the American Revolution. Learn more about the ones that might've been seen and tasted here.

  • Article 1: Scottish Shortbread & Gunpowder Tea

    Small cookies and a tea pot sitting on an elk hide.

    Shortbread was one of the many decadent foods saved only for special occasions during the 18th Century. Learn about where it came from and how to make it here. Read more

  • Article 2: Dutch Speculaas Cookies

    Four small round cookies sit on a plate. Next to them, large wooden shoes filled with apples.

    As a Dutch colony, New York homes had the potential of smelling fantastic during the winter holiday season. Since many of the spices used in Speculaas were quite expensive at the time, families might only be able to make small batches of this tasty treat, especially in areas far from commercial ports and easily accessible cities, such as New York City and Albany. Read more

  • Article 3: Polish Hanukkah Apple Cake

    A bundt cake on a tablecloth. Next to it, a single lit candle.

    The Jewish community established itself in the colonies as early as 1654, when refugees from Brazil immigrated to Manhattan. By the American Revolution, there were Jewish communities in most of the 13 colonies, with the largest population in Newport, Rhode Island. The festive cake recipe here is not 17th Century, but could easily be replicated using ingredients available to the colonies during that time period. Read more

  • Fort Stanwix National Monument

    Article 4: Irish Potato Pudding

    A small round heap of potatoes, a pitcher of milk, bread, and a candle

    A tasty 18th Century dish with more than a few expensive ingredients, potato pudding is something that might've been saved to enjoy during a special occasion. Read more

  • Article 5: Abigail Adams’ Apple Pan Dowdy

    An pie/crumble style food sits in a dish in front of a christmas tree.

    There were many Germans in the Mohawk Valley of NY, as well as apple trees. So this is a dish that could’ve very easily found its way to a holiday table of one of the many families living along the Mohawk River in the 18th Century. Read more

  • Article 6: Johnny Cakes or Hoe Cakes

    Round, stiff, pancake-looking patties with irregular edges.

    Whether you know them as Johnny Cakes or Hoe Cakes, it seems as if everyone had a favorite recipe for these pan-fried corn cakes – General Washington even served them at Mount Vernon. Where do the curious names come from? Read more

Tags: food and beverage fort stanwix american revolution historic food recipes holiday celebration fostlanding foodways historic cooking cookbook cookies pie