Sleepy Hollow Sweet Cakes are a peek into the past with a literary twist. These cookies are inspired by what may have been eaten by the wealthy elite of the Dutch in Colonial America or the characters of that famous spooky tale.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow depicts a feast scene that shows what people during the Colonial Era would’ve eaten. Cookies at that time were a bit different than the cookies we are used to.

Sugar In Colonial America

When we think of colonial America, we seldom think of an abundance of sugar. Sure, there were things like honey and maple syrup, but sugar? Successful sugar plantations in the US didn’t come onto the scene until 1841 in the South, which makes it hard to believe the recipes being produced at the time. Yet when the story of Sleepy Hollow was written in the 1820s and took place in the 1790s, it was set in a Dutch community, who were connected with their home country of Holland, which was quite wealthy from trade and travel, and quite in love with sugar. Dutch recipes of the time have much more sugar than recipes from other ethnic groups in the colonies. Sugared fruit and little cakes (or koekje) had a decent amount of sugar (nothing in comparison to today’s baking ratios, but still pretty different for the time).

This modern adaptation doesn’t use colonial leaveners like pearl ash. Still, the taste and ratios of ingredients are quite similar to what would’ve been made at that time. 

Here, the dry ingredients are whisked together in one bowl, and the butter and sugar are creamed in another. The egg is added, followed by the wet ingredients, and finally the dry ingredients. 

The dough makes its way into a freezer or fridge to chill the dough (or you can do it colonial style and set it out on the back porch in the cold months). 

Finally, the dough is sliced or scooped and baked until the edges start to get golden. 

Whether you serve them warm or at room temperature, these Sleepy Hollow Sweet Cakes transport you to the dark and ominous evening of early colonial America. There’s a crunch on the outside of the cakes, but that texture gives way to a softer, more cake-like crumb in the center.

These cakes are a neutral canvas that you can amp up with apple butters, jams, and buttercreams. They’re great desserts to pair with a strong cup of coffee or tea for any casual or fancy occasion!