A Tennessee political force and the seventh president.
Documented meal / preference
Ice cream was served at the White House reception after Jackson’s 1829 inauguration. Vanilla custard is our home choice for that recorded dessert course, made ahead so it is ready when guests arrive.
The president & the table
Presidential culinary histories associate Jackson with leather britches: green beans preserved by drying and cooked with pork. His public table could look very different. Ice cream and cake were served at the White House reception following his 1829 inauguration.
Behind this story
Jackson food traditions in presidential culinary histories; accounts of the 1829 inaugural reception.
APRON ON. HISTORY CAN WAIT.
Make it at home.
Our home adaptation · Serves 6 · Not yet kitchen-tested
What you’ll need
Let’s make it
Heat the cream and milk with the vanilla seeds and pod until steaming. Do not boil. If using extract, save it for later.
Whisk the yolks, sugar and salt. Slowly whisk in a ladle of hot cream, then another. Pour everything back into the saucepan.
Stir constantly over low heat until the custard coats a spoon and reaches 77–80°C / 170–176°F. Do not let it boil.
Strain into a clean bowl. Add vanilla extract now if using it. Cool promptly in an ice bath, then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Churn according to your machine’s instructions. Transfer to a covered freezer container and freeze for 2–4 hours for a scoopable texture.
About this home version
This is our smaller, lighter home adaptation, not a transcription of the surviving recipe.
Metric and US measures are approximate equivalents. For baking, use weights when you can.
