Connecticut’s Old State House held its fifth annual Election Cake Bake-Off on Oct. 26 to celebrate democratic traditions. Sophia Grestini of Amy’s Cakes LLC claimed the 2026 title with a patriotic four-layer dessert featuring a frosting-sculpted bald eagle alongside donkey and elephant figures. The gathering revives an 18th-century ritual where voters feasted on enormous liquor-soaked fruitcakes, a recipe later preserved in Amelia Simmons' *American Cookery*. Beyond the official baking crown, Grestini received a commission to create the historic site's birthday cake in 2027.
Key points
The annual contest uses nonpartisan culinary creativity to reframe civic participation as…: The annual contest uses nonpartisan culinary creativity to reframe civic participation as an uplifting community celebration.
Historical election recipes originated as public feasts before being documented in Americ…: Historical election recipes originated as public feasts before being documented in America's first known cookbook by Amelia Simmons.
The winning pastry chef earned the official 2026 cake title and a commission to bake the…: The winning pastry chef earned the official 2026 cake title and a commission to bake the Old State House's 2027 birthday cake.
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Election day can be described in many ways: stressful, overwhelming, anxiety-inducing — and the list goes on.
But in Hartford, Connecticut, it's a piece of cake — specifically a mutli-tiered red, white and blue patriotic cake decorated with an American flag, stars and a bald eagle made entirely of frosting.
This masterpiece won the annual Election Cake Bake-Off at Connecticut's Old State House in Harford, CT. Nicole Sousa, the events and outreach manager at the Old State House, told Morning Edition about the Bake Off and rich tradition behind it.
A slice of history
Election cake first appeared in Hartford, in 1771, when the northeast United States was still a collection of 13 original colonies. Connecticut was a pioneer in early self-government, and it was one of the only regions who could elect their own officials.
"It was definitely something that Connecticut, as a colony and then later as a state, celebrated and really felt attached to," Sousa said.
So, election day was joyous. It was marked with parties, parades and community-wide celebrations — often involving cake.
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