A cake fit for a first lady (and several presidents) 

The last Saturday in April is National First Ladies’ Day. In honor of the event this year – which falls on April 27 – the Susan Lawrence bakery and Ronni Diamonstein, a former Westfair contributor and author of the recent children’s book “Jackie and the Books She Loved,” will be teaming for a book signing and slices of a cake inspired by then-Sen. John F. and Jacqueline B. Kennedy’s 1953 wedding. Created by the bakery’s Mark Kramer, the Jacqueline is white cake with layers of raspberry mousse, a layer of raspberry confiture and pale pink buttercream outside with an intricate lattice design and buttercream roses offering an engaging evocation of history. 

“Montilio’s Baking Co. made the cake for the wedding,” Diamondstein wrote us. “The presidential white cake recipe has been in the Boston bakery’s family for more than 70 years, and, as the name implies, it’s been a popular choice for many presidents. 

“It’s made with three layers of white cake interspersed with raspberry preserves and raspberry frosting, and it’s topped with sweet vanilla buttercream. Sen. John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier enjoyed this cake not only as their wedding cake but again at JFK’s Inaugural Ball in 1961. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush also opted to serve this cake at their Inaugural Balls.   

For those who’d like to try their hand at reproducing the original cake, here’s the recipe.