🍰 This 1866 Cake Recipe Was Written by a Free Black Woman America Forgot

Malinda Russell’s Raspberry Tea Cake is more than dessert—it’s a bold historical document from America’s first published African American female cookbook author.

📖 Who Was Malinda Russell?

Long before Julia Child or Martha Stewart graced bookshelves, there was Malinda Russell. In 1866, she published A Domestic Cookbook, the first known cookbook by an African American woman. And yes—it was filled with refined, creative, and uniquely Southern recipes like this one: Raspberry Tea Cake.

🍓 The Recipe: Raspberry Tea Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white sugar
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 2 cups sour cream
• 3 cups flour
• 1½ teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 1 pint fresh raspberries

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C).
2. Grease an 11″x7″ baking pan and line with parchment paper.
3. Mix melted butter and sugar in a bowl. Add sour cream and stir well.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and nutmeg.
5. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Gently fold in the raspberries.
6. Spread batter evenly in the pan and bake for about 23 minutes or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool before serving. Enjoy with a warm cup of tea and a nod to history.

🎬 Watch the 29-Second Video

We told Malinda’s story and showed the recipe in under 30 seconds. Watch it now: https://www.youtube.com/embed/w3GRRE2do38

Watch on YouTube

📌 Save It on Pinterest

Want to share Malinda’s recipe with your followers? Here’s a pin that tells the story visually.

Pin title: This 1866 Cake Recipe Was Written by a Free Black Woman America Forgot
Description: Discover Malinda Russell’s 1866 Raspberry Tea Cake—simple, rich, and revolutionary. Learn her story and bake her legacy.

Malinda Russell changed American food history. Now it’s your turn to make sure she’s remembered—with every bite.