Cheshire Bakers Win Election Cake Competition

Sophia Grestini of Amy's Cakes LLC in Cheshire, Connecticut, won the fifth annual Election Cake Bake-Off on Oct. 26. She worked alongside her mother to create the winning entry, which defeated other professional pastry chefs and bakers in the competition held at Connecticut's Old State House in Hartford.

The Old State House has hosted this event for five years. Nicole Sousa, the events and outreach manager at the venue, explained that the tradition of election cakes dates back to 1771. At that time, Connecticut was a pioneer in early self-government and one of the few regions where residents could elect their own officials. Sousa noted that the colony and later the state felt strongly attached to this practice. Election days were marked by parties, parades, and community-wide celebrations that frequently involved cake.

Historical election cakes differed greatly from modern versions. They resembled tough fruit cakes often soaked in alcohol. Sousa said these cakes were massive, requiring 30 quarts of flour, ten pounds of butter, 14 pounds of sugar, 12 pounds of raisins, three dozen eggs, and over a quart of wine or brandy. They were baked to feed large crowds of celebrating voters. Writer Amelia Simmons included a scaled-down recipe for this traditional cake in American Cookery, widely recognized as the first American cookbook.

For the 2026 contest, bakers were asked to create a non-partisan, election-themed cake that inspired voters and celebrated American democracy. A panel of judges scored the entries based on presentation, creativity, and taste. The winning confection was designated the official Connecticut Election Cake of 2026. The baker also received a commission to make the Old State House birthday cake in 2027.

The winning cake featured four layers with alternating flavors of sweet lemon blueberry and traditional spiced sponge. The exterior was covered in red, white, blue, and gold accents. It displayed iconic election day symbols, including an "I voted" pin, a ballot box, and an American flag. Handcrafted fondant figures of a donkey and an elephant represented the two major political parties on the second tier. A bald eagle sculpted entirely from frosting perched atop the cake.

Sousa described the event as joyous and stated that the bakers had fun making the cakes. She emphasized that the competition aims to bring joy back to Election Day. "That's what we're trying to do with the election cake contest, we're trying to bring that joy back to Election Day," Sousa said. "It should be fun, it should be a way to show that you're contributing to your country and part of your community."

Sousa added that participants are motivated by a desire to win, but also by their love for Election Day, baking, and the idea of election cakes. The bakers were challenged to create a delicious, non-partisan design that inspires voters. The competition serves as a modern continuation of a tradition that began more than 250 years ago.