Election Cake is all but a forgotten American tradition. In the past, this cake was served after voters did their civic duty. Why not bring back this lovely cake and tradition?

Election cake and US flag

Originally published November 7, 2012

I just read about this traditional Election Cake this morning, and didn’t want to wait four more years to try it!

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slices of election cake with US flag in background

What is Election Cake?

This unique cake is a cross between a yeast bread and a light fruit cake, almost a “Hot Cross Panettone”! The brandy (or whisky) icing is lovely addition, too!

icing election cake

Many years ago, it was an American tradition that after voting and exiting the polls, each voter would receive a slice of Election Cake. The first recipe for American Election Cake appears in 1796 in the first U.S. cookbook, Amelia Simmons’ American Cookery. You can read more about the history of the cake on the New England Historical Society’s page. I think this cake is something we should make fashionable again, don’t you agree?

Patriotic Trifles would be good for Election Day, too!

Oct. 2016 update: given our choices of candidates this year, I felt I had to take matters into my own hands. The original version of Election Cake just isn’t going to cut it in 2016. Watch the video to see what I suggest~
Sept. 2020 update: wouldn’t we all just love to be done with 2020?

Here’s the recipe I used, except I omitted the cloves (only because hate cloves) and I substituted dried cherries for the figs, as I didn’t have figs. As you can see from the video, I also traded the brandy for whisky.

Election Cake

adapted from Serious Eats’ recipe serves 12

(original recipe: Fanny Farmer recipe from the Boston Cooking School Cookbook 1896)

water
yeast
flour
baking powder
cinnamon
salt
ground ginger
ground nutmeg
unsalted butter, softened
eggs
brown sugar
buttermilk
vanilla
golden raisins
dried cherries (use figs for the original recipe)

For the Icing

confectioners sugar
whisky (or brandy)
good quality vanilla

-optional: 1 cup of whisky to drizzle onto the cake and numb our pain

Generously grease and flour a bundt pan.

Prepare the Election Cake Batter in a Stand Mixer

Put warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer, then add the yeast, sprinkling it to cover the top. Sprinkle a pinch of sugar on top of the yeast and allow to stand for about 5 minutes.

Mix the flour with the baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and nutmeg, then set aside.

Whisking dry ingredients together with an OXO whisk

If yeast has dissolved and is beginning to bubble, add one cup of the flour mixture, stirring it in thoroughly. Add butter and mix well.

Next, add sugar, buttermilk, and vanilla, and mix until well combined. Add the eggs and mix until just combined.

Finally, add the remaining flour mixture, reserving one tablespoonful. Toss the raisins and cherries in tablespoon of flour and then fold them into the cake batter. Skip the bread machine instructions below and continue.

or

Prepare the Election Cake Batter in a Bread Machine

Put the liquid ingredients into the bread machine pan: water, eggs, butter (make sure it’s very soft-almost melted), buttermilk, and vanilla.

Take one tablespoonful of the measured flour and toss the raisins and cherries (or figs) in it; set aside.

Next, add the dry, making sure to add the yeast last: flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger, nutmeg, brown sugar, the pinch of sugar and yeast.

adding flour to bread machine

Start the bread machine on the “DOUGH” setting. When the timer alerts you for added ingredients, toss in the golden raisins, and dried cherries (or figs). Let the cycle finish.

election cake batter in a bread machine

Continue Here…

When the batter is ready, pour it into the prepared pan.

election cake batter being poured into a bundt pan

election cake batter in a bundt pan

Loosely cover the bundt pan with a tea towel and allow to rise for about an hour or until risen (just below the top of the pan).

cake covered with tea towel

Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake cake for 50-60 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Place pan on wire rack to cool, then carefully remove from the bundt pan after a few minutes.

OPTIONAL: drizzle cake with one 8 oz cup of whisky!

Drizzling Election Cake with one cup of whisky

Whisky (or Brandy) Icing

In a medium sized bowl, whisk the confectioners sugar, whisky, and vanilla until smooth. Start with 2 tablespoons of liquor and the vanilla and add more brandy or whisky to obtain your desired consistency.

making whisky glaze

Spoon or drizzle over the top of the cake when completely cool.

glazing election cake

Or you can pour it on, as you please.

Drizzling whisky icing on Election Cake

Allow the icing to set before slicing.

overhead shot of cut election cake on plates

Serve to voters after they have done their civic duty.

slice of election cake

VOTE!

Christina Conte from Christina's Cucina decorating Election Cake

“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves—and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt