Four Layers Won Hartford's Election Cake Contest
A mother-daughter team from Cheshire, Connecticut, secured a 2027 commission by outscoring rival bakers in a patriotic dessert competition.
By Lucas Murphy ·
Four layers of alternating lemon blueberry and spiced sponge cake defined the winner of the 2026 Connecticut Election Cake Bake-Off.
The competition took place on October 26 at the Old State House in Hartford. The event marked the fifth iteration of this annual contest, which seeks to revive a colonial-era tradition of celebrating voting with food.
The practice dates to 1771. At that time, Connecticut residents marked the election of their officials with parades and parties. Nicole Sousa, the events and outreach manager at the Old State House, noted that the colony valued its ability to elect its own leaders.
Early election cakes were dense, fruit-heavy confections. They were often soaked in alcohol and required massive quantities of ingredients. Historical recipes called for 30 quarts of flour, 10 pounds of butter, 14 pounds of sugar, 12 pounds of raisins, three dozen eggs, and more than a quart of wine or brandy.
These large cakes were designed to feed crowds of voters. Amelia Simmons included a reduced version of the recipe in American Cookery, a text widely recognized as the first American cookbook.
Sophia Grestini of Amy's Cakes LLC in Cheshire won the modern contest. She competed with her daughter. Their entry featured red, white, blue, and gold accents. Decorations included an "I voted" pin, a ballot box, and an American flag.
The second tier displayed handcrafted fondant figures of a donkey and an elephant. A bald eagle sculpted from frosting sat at the peak of the structure.
Judges evaluated the entries on presentation, creativity, and taste. Grestini's team received the title of official Connecticut Election Cake for 2026. The prize also includes a commission to bake the Old State House birthday cake in 2027.
Sousa stated that the bakers participated for both the chance to win and their passion for the holiday. She described the atmosphere as joyful. The goal of the contest is to make Election Day feel like a community contribution rather than a stressful obligation.
Source: WFAE
