Connecticut bakery duo wins $500 commission with patriotic tiered cake

A mother-daughter team from Cheshire, Connecticut, won the fifth annual Election Cake Bake Off on Oct. 26, securing a commission to bake the Old State House birthday cake in 2027.

Sophia Grestini of Amy's Cakes LLC led the winning entry, a four-tier confection that judges scored on presentation, creativity, and taste. The team defeated other professional pastry chefs and bakers who submitted election-themed designs to the competition held at Connecticut's Old State House in Hartford.

The winning cake featured alternating layers of sweet lemon blueberry and traditional spiced sponge. Its exterior displayed red, white, blue, and gold accents alongside symbolic items including an "I voted" pin, a ballot box, and an American flag. A handcrafted fondant donkey and elephant represented the two major political parties on the second tier, while a frosting-sculpted bald eagle sat atop the structure.

Nicole Sousa, the events and outreach manager at the Old State House, noted that the competition aims to restore a sense of joy to the electoral 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 described the event as a way for participants to demonstrate their contribution to the community.

The tradition of election cakes in Hartford dates to 1771, when the colony was one of the few regions that could elect its own officials. Early celebrations included parades and parties centered around a specific type of cake. These historical cakes were dense, fruit-filled loaves often soaked in alcohol, resembling modern pound cake more than the decorative pastries seen today.

Sousa explained that eighteenth-century recipes required massive quantities of ingredients to feed large crowds of voters. A single cake could contain 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. These cakes were too large for modern refrigerators and were designed for immediate communal consumption.

Writer Amelia Simmons included a scaled-down version of this traditional recipe in American Cookery, a text widely recognized as the first American cookbook. The modern bake-off continues this historical link by challenging contemporary bakers to create non-partisan desserts that honor the state's early self-governance. The winning baker receives a public commission and a title as the official Connecticut Election Cake creator for the year.

Sousa stated that the bakers participated for the love of the holiday and the craft, in addition to the competitive element. "They're in it to win it for sure," she said. The Old State House hosts the event annually to connect modern voters with the celebratory atmosphere of the state's founding era.