Hartford bakers celebrate democracy with a four-layer patriotic cake

Sophia Grestini of Amy's Cakes LLC in Cheshire, Connecticut, and her mother took first place in the fifth annual Election Cake Bake Off held on October 26. The competition, organized by Connecticut's Old State House in Hartford, challenged professional pastry chefs to design a non-partisan, election-themed dessert. Grestini's entry was declared the official Connecticut Election Cake for 2026. The win grants the bakers a commission to produce the Old State House's birthday cake in 2027.

The winning confection consisted of four distinct layers. The interior alternated between sweet lemon blueberry and traditional spiced sponge flavors. The exterior was finished with red, white, blue, and gold accents. Specific decorative elements included 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 at the very top of the structure.

A panel of judges evaluated the submissions based on presentation, creativity, and taste. Nicole Sousa, the events and outreach manager at the Old State House, noted that the bakers were motivated by a desire to win as well as a fondness for the holiday and the craft. Sousa stated that the event aims to restore a sense of joy to Election Day. She described the celebration as a way for citizens to show their contribution to the country and their local community.

The tradition of baking a special cake for election day dates back to 1771 in Hartford. At that time, Connecticut was one of the original 13 colonies and held the distinction of being able to elect its own officials. Early voters marked the occasion with parties, parades, and community celebrations. The cakes of that era were quite different from the modern versions seen in the recent competition.

Eighteenth-century election cakes were tough fruit cakes, often soaked in alcohol. They were massive in size and required large quantities of ingredients to feed large crowds. According to Sousa, a single cake could require 30 quarts of flour, 10 pounds of butter, 14 pounds of sugar, 12 pounds of raisins, three dozen eggs, and over a quart of wine or brandy. Writer Amelia Simmons included a scaled-down version of this traditional recipe in American Cookery, a book widely recognized as the first American cookbook.

Sousa emphasized that Connecticut residents felt a strong attachment to this custom during the colonial period. She noted that the state celebrated its ability to self-govern with these large-scale events. The modern bake-off continues that historical thread by inviting bakers to create a delicious and inspiring tribute to American democracy. The event serves as a reminder of the festive nature of voting in the state's past.

The Old State House in Hartford remains the venue for this annual gathering. The 2026 contest marked the fifth time the organization has hosted the competition. Grestini and her mother were selected from the group of professional entrants for their creative execution and flavor profile. The cake is now the designated symbol of the election season for the state. The bakers have already begun the process of planning their next major project for the following year.