Hartford Bakers Win 2026 Election Cake Competition

Hartford, Connecticut. A four-tiered cake decorated with a frosting eagle and political symbols won the fifth annual Election Cake Bake Off at the Connecticut Old State House. The winning bakers, Sophia Grestini of Amy's Cakes LLC in Cheshire and her mother, took home the title of official Connecticut Election Cake for 2026. Nicole Sousa, the events and outreach manager at the Old State House, oversaw the competition and the subsequent announcement.

The tradition of the election cake dates back to 1771 in Hartford. At that time, the northeast United States consisted of 13 original colonies, and Connecticut was among the few regions allowed to elect its own officials. Sousa noted that the colony and later the state celebrated this right with parties, parades, and community-wide feasts. These historical gatherings frequently included a large cake to feed the crowds of voters.

The original cakes differed greatly from modern pastries. They resembled tough fruit cakes often soaked in alcohol. Sousa stated that eighteenth-century recipes required 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. Amelia Simmons included a scaled-down version of this traditional recipe in American Cookery, a text widely recognized as the first American cookbook.

The 2026 competition took place on Oct. 26 at the Old State House. Professional pastry chefs and bakers submitted non-partisan, election-themed designs intended to inspire voters and celebrate American democracy. A panel of judges evaluated the entries based on presentation, creativity, and taste. The winner received a commission to create the Old State House birthday cake in 2027.

Sousa said the bakers participated for the love of Election Day and the baking process itself. She described the event as a way to bring joy back to the holiday. "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 featured four layers alternating between sweet lemon blueberry and traditional spiced sponge flavors. The exterior included red, white, blue, and gold accents. Decorations 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 atop the final tier. The design aimed to guard the cake from wandering forks, according to the event description. Sousa confirmed that the cake was delicious and that the bakers had enjoyed the creative process. The competition marked the fifth year the Old State House has hosted the bake-off.

The event connects modern bakers to a 250-year-old local custom. The Old State House continues to host the competition as a community gathering. The next scheduled milestone for the winning team is the creation of the 2027 birthday cake for the historic building. The competition remains a standalone event focused on pastry skill and thematic design.