Hartford bakers crown 2026 election cake

Sophia Grestini of Amy's Cakes LLC in Cheshire, Connecticut, won the fifth annual Election Cake Bake Off on Oct. 26. She accepted the award alongside her mother, forming a duo that claimed the title for 2026. Their entry was a four-tiered structure featuring alternating layers of sweet lemon blueberry and traditional spiced sponge. The exterior displayed red, white, blue, and gold accents. It included an "I voted" pin, a ballot box, and an American flag. The second tier held handcrafted fondant figures of a donkey and an elephant. A bald eagle sculpted from frosting sat on top.

The competition took place at Connecticut's Old State House in Hartford. Professional pastry chefs and bakers entered the contest. The judges scored entries on presentation, creativity, and taste. The winners received the title of official Connecticut Election Cake of 2026. They also earned a commission to bake the Old State House birthday cake in 2027. Nicole Sousa, the events and outreach manager at the venue, oversaw the event.

Election cake traditions in Hartford date to 1771. At that time, the region was one of the 13 original colonies. Connecticut was a pioneer in self-government. It was one of the few regions that could elect its own officials. Early celebrations included parties, parades, and community-wide gatherings. The cakes of that era were dense fruit cakes soaked in alcohol. They were not sweet in the modern sense.

Sousa noted that eighteenth-century recipes required massive amounts of ingredients. A single cake used 30 quarts of flour and ten pounds of butter. It also included 14 pounds of sugar, 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. Writer Amelia Simmons published a scaled-down recipe in American Cookery, widely recognized as the first American cookbook.

Sousa said the current event aims to restore the historical joy associated with voting days. "They're in it to win it for sure," she said. "But they're also in it for the love of Election Day, the love of baking and the love of the idea of election cakes." She described the atmosphere as joyous. The bakers enjoyed the process, which was a primary goal for the organizers.

"That's what we're trying to do with the election cake contest," Sousa said. "We're trying to bring that joy back to Election Day. It should be fun, it should be a way to show that you're contributing to your country and part of your community." The winning cake stands as the state's designated symbol for the 2026 cycle. The bakers have been selected for the 2027 commission.