Hartford Duo Wins 2026 Cake Contest

Sophia Grestini and her mother won the fifth annual Election Cake Bake Off at Connecticut's Old State House in Hartford on Oct. 26. The duo runs Amy's Cakes LLC in Cheshire, Connecticut. Their entry was selected as the official Connecticut Election Cake of 2026 by a panel of judges.

The competition challenged professional pastry chefs and bakers to design a non-partisan, election-themed cake. Judges evaluated the entries based on presentation, creativity, and taste. The winning bakers earned a commission to create the Old State House birthday cake in 2027.

The winning cake featured four layers with alternating flavors of sweet lemon blueberry and traditional spiced sponge. The exterior displayed red, white, blue, and gold accents. Decorations included an "I voted" pin, a ballot box, and an American flag.

The second tier included handcrafted fondant figures of a donkey and an elephant, representing the two major political parties. A bald eagle sculpted entirely from frosting sat atop the structure. Nicole Sousa, the events and outreach manager at the Old State House, described the final product as delicious and noted the bakers enjoyed the process.

Sousa stated the contest aims to restore joy to Election Day. She said the event should feel fun and serve as a way for citizens to show their contribution to the country and community. "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.

The tradition of election cakes dates back to 1771 in Hartford. At that time, Connecticut was one of the few regions where residents could elect their own officials. Early celebrations included parties, parades, and large cakes. These original cakes resembled tough fruit cakes and were often soaked in alcohol.

Sousa provided details on the scale of historical cakes. They 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. The cakes were baked to feed large crowds of celebrating voters. Writer Amelia Simmons included a scaled-down recipe in American Cookery, widely recognized as the first American cookbook.

Sousa noted that Connecticut celebrated election day as a major event both as a colony and later as a state. The state felt attached to the tradition of self-government. The modern bake-off continues this legacy by combining historical context with contemporary baking skills.