A Washington pie is a traditional American dessert that typically features two layers of a light, yellow sponge or butter cake. These layers are commonly filled with either a fruit jam, often raspberry, or a cream or custard filling. The top of the pie is usually finished simply, often dusted with powdered sugar, rather than being covered with a heavy frosting or chocolate ganache.
Historically, the Washington pie is considered by some food historians to be an older form or a direct precursor to the more widely known Boston cream pie. The primary distinction lies in the topping; while Boston cream pie is famously crowned with a chocolate glaze or ganache, Washington pie maintains a plainer appearance, highlighting the cake and its filling. The use of the word "pie" in its name is an anachronism from an earlier period in American culinary history, when round, cake-like baked goods were often referred to as pies, blurring the lines between what are now distinctly categorized as cakes and pies. Recipes for Washington pie can be found in American cookbooks dating back to the 19th century.