Hartford bakers crown new official Connecticut Election Cake
A mother-daughter team from Cheshire won the fifth annual bake-off with a four-tier lemon blueberry and spiced sponge creation.
By Yara Nasser ·
Sophia Grestini of Amy's Cakes LLC in Cheshire, Connecticut, won the fifth annual Election Cake Bake-Off held on Oct. 26. She competed alongside her mother at Connecticut's Old State House in Hartford. Their four-tier cake alternated between sweet lemon blueberry and traditional spiced sponge flavors. The exterior featured red, white, blue, and gold accents. It displayed election symbols including an "I voted" pin, a ballot box, and an American flag. A frosting-sculpted bald eagle sat on top.
The competition challenged professional pastry chefs and bakers to create a non-partisan, election-themed dessert. A panel of judges scored entries on presentation, creativity, and taste. The winners were crowned the official Connecticut Election Cake of 2026. They also received a commission to bake the Old State House birthday cake in 2027. Nicole Sousa, the events and outreach manager at the Old State House, said the bakers were motivated by a love of baking and the idea of election cakes.
Election cake has roots in early American history. The tradition began in Hartford in 1771. Connecticut was one of the only colonies that could elect its own officials. Early celebrations included parties, parades, and cake. Those original cakes were dense fruit cakes often soaked in alcohol. They were not similar to modern designs. Historical records indicate they used 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 smaller version of the recipe in American Cookery, recognized as the first American cookbook.
Sousa noted that the massive historical cakes were designed to feed large crowds of voters. The modern bake-off aims to revive the joy associated with that period. She stated that the event is an attempt to bring that joy back to Election Day. The goal is to make the day fun and a way to show contribution to the country and community. The winner's cake was described as delicious and visually complex. The handcrafted fondant figures of a donkey and an elephant on the second tier represented the two major political parties.
