Hartford bakers win election cake contest

A mother-daughter team from Cheshire, Connecticut, has been named the official Connecticut Election Cake maker for 2026.

Sophia Grestini of Amy's Cakes LLC and her daughter won the fifth annual Election Cake Bake-Off held on October 26. The competition took place at the Connecticut Old State House in Hartford. Their creation beat out other entries submitted by professional pastry chefs and bakers across the state. The judges scored the cakes based on presentation, creativity, and taste. The winning design features four distinct layers that alternate between sweet lemon blueberry and traditional spiced sponge flavors. The exterior is decorated with red, white, blue, and gold accents. It also displays election symbols, including an "I voted" pin, a ballot box, and an American flag. A handcrafted fondant donkey and elephant sit on the second tier to represent the two major political parties. A bald eagle sculpted entirely from frosting sits at the top of the cake.

Nicole Sousa, the events and outreach manager at the Old State House, confirmed the results. She described the winning cake as delicious and noted that the bakers enjoyed the process. Sousa said the event aims to restore joy to a day that is often described as stressful or overwhelming. The Old State House has hosted this specific contest for five years. It is part of a longer tradition that dates back to the colonial era. In 1771, Hartford celebrated its first election with cake. At that time, Connecticut was one of the few regions that could elect its own officials. Early election cakes were not similar to modern confections. They resembled tough fruit cakes that were often soaked in alcohol. Historical records indicate these cakes required massive amounts of ingredients. A single eighteenth-century cake 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. These large cakes were baked to feed crowds of celebrating voters.

The tradition has evolved, but the core purpose remains the same. Election day was historically marked with parties, parades, and community celebrations. Writer Amelia Simmons included a scaled-down recipe for this traditional cake in American Cookery, which is widely recognized as the first American cookbook. The current contest challenges bakers to create non-partisan, election-themed desserts. The goal is to inspire voters and celebrate American democracy. "They're in it to win it for sure," Sousa 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." The winner received a commission to make the Old State House birthday cake in 2027. Sousa emphasized that the contest is a way for the community to show participation in the country's civic life. "That's what we're trying to do with the election cake contest, we're trying to bring that joy back to Election Day," she said. "It should be fun, it should be a way to show that you're contributing to your country and part of your community."

The competition serves as a link between modern voters and the state's early history. Connecticut was a pioneer in early self-government. The state celebrated its right to vote with communal feasts. Today, the Old State House uses this historical context to frame its annual event. The 2026 winner's cake stands as the official state symbol for the year. The next step for Grestini is preparing the state house birthday cake for 2027. The Old State House will continue to host the bake-off in future years. The event remains a local tradition in Hartford.