Four-Layer Cake Wins Connecticut's Election Bake-Off

A four-tiered pastry with alternating lemon blueberry and spiced sponge layers won the fifth annual Election Cake Bake-Off in Hartford on Oct. 26. The confection, decorated with red, white, blue, and gold accents, was named the official Connecticut Election Cake of 2026.

The entry came from Sophia Grestini of Amy's Cakes LLC in Cheshire, who baked it with her mother. The cake featured handcrafted fondant figures of a donkey and an elephant on the second tier. A bald eagle sculpted from frosting sat on the top tier.

Nicole Sousa, the events and outreach manager at Connecticut's Old State House, said the judges scored the entries on presentation, creativity, and taste. The winning baker received a commission to make the Old State House birthday cake in 2027.

The tradition dates to 1771, when Connecticut residents celebrated the right to elect their own officials with parties and parades. Early election cakes were large fruit cakes soaked in alcohol. Sousa said those original cakes used 30 quarts of flour, ten pounds of butter, 14 pounds of sugar, 12 pounds of raisins, three dozen eggs, and over a quart of wine or brandy.

Writer Amelia Simmons included a scaled-down recipe for the traditional cake in American Cookery, widely recognized as the first American cookbook. The modern competition asks professional pastry chefs to create non-partisan cakes that celebrate democracy.

Sousa said the bakers compete for the prize but also participate out of a love for Election Day and baking. "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."

The event aims to restore a sense of joy to the election process. "That's what we're trying to do with the election cake contest, we're trying to bring that joy back to Election Day," Sousa said. She noted that the day should be fun and a way to show contribution to the country and community.