Hartford bakers revitalize Election Day tradition with patriotic cakes
A multi-tiered creation by a mother-daughter team won the fifth annual competition held at Connecticut's Old State House.
By Harvey Wilson ·
Election Day in Hartford, Connecticut, is no longer just a day for casting ballots. It is also a day for competing over elaborate desserts. The city held its fifth annual Election Cake Bake Off on Oct. 26. The event aims to restore a sense of community and celebration to the voting process.
The winner of the 2026 contest was a mother-daughter duo led by Sophia Grestini of Amy's Cakes LLC in Cheshire, Connecticut. Their creation featured four distinct layers. These alternated between sweet lemon blueberry and traditional spiced sponge flavors.
The exterior of the winning cake was decorated with red, white, blue, and gold accents. It included symbols associated with voting, such as an "I voted" pin, a ballot box, and an American flag. On the second tier, handcrafted fondant figures of a donkey and an elephant represented the two major political parties. A bald eagle sculpted entirely from frosting sat on the top of the cake.
A panel of judges evaluated the entries based on presentation, creativity, and taste. The winning baker received a commission to create the official birthday cake for Connecticut's Old State House in 2027. Nicole Sousa, the events and outreach manager at the Old State House, stated that the cake was delicious. She noted that the bakers clearly enjoyed the process of making it.
The tradition of the election cake dates back to 1771 in Hartford. At that time, the region was part of the 13 original colonies. Connecticut was one of the few areas where residents could elect their own officials. Early voters marked the day with parties, parades, and community-wide celebrations that often involved cake.
The original cakes were quite different from modern versions. They were tough fruit cakes often soaked in alcohol. The ingredients included massive quantities of goods. A single cake could contain 30 quarts of flour, 10 pounds of butter, and 14 pounds of sugar. It also required 12 pounds of raisins, three dozen eggs, and over a quart of wine or brandy.
These large cakes were baked to feed crowds of celebrating voters. Amelia Simmons, a writer, included a scaled-down recipe for this type of cake in her book American Cookery. That publication is widely recognized as the first American cookbook. The Old State House has hosted the competition for five years to keep this historical link alive.
Sousa described the event as a way to bring joy back to the holiday. She said the goal is to show that voting is a way to contribute to the country and the local community. The competition encourages professional pastry chefs and bakers to create non-partisan desserts that celebrate American democracy. The 2026 winner stands as a modern interpretation of a practice that began in the 18th century.
