Baking democracy: The revival of America's election cake
The recipe for traditional election cake, which dates back to the 18th century, is gaining renewed popularity in the United States. This cake was once used to accompany elections, serving as a way to attract voters to the polls. Today, it symbolizes democracy.
5 November 2024 13:19
Election cake first appeared in 1796 in the cookbook "American Cookery" by Amelia Simmons. According to the original recipe, it was a yeast-based, buttery cake with added wine and brandy. Its preparation took several days, and it remained fresh for several weeks, which was significant in an era when voting results took a long time to determine.
"Flour, yeast, sugar, spices, and dried fruits soaked in whiskey are the basic ingredients of election cake," says the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), which published the recipe.
According to the American Historical Association, election cake gave women a sense of participation in democracy, even though only white male landowners could vote at that time. By selling the cakes on Election Day, women encouraged citizens to vote. The popularity of the cake declined in the early 20th century when suffragists began publicly demanding voting rights for women, which finally occurred in 1920.
"Make America Cake Again" campaign
In 1988, "The New York Times" investigated election cake's history, comparing it to Italian panettone or Russian Easter kulich. Contemporary recipes vary; some describe it as gingerbread sold at election venues in New Hampshire and others as a sponge cake.
During the 2016 presidential election, the topic of election cake resurfaced thanks to the "Make America Cake Again" campaign. This directly referenced Donald Trump's slogan, "Make America Great Again." A group of confectioners and bakers aimed to encourage citizens to participate in voting through this initiative. According to "Bon Appétit" magazine, this action helped renew interest in the traditional election pastry.
Before the 2020 elections, American media once again focused on the recipe. The culinary portal Eater published the latest version, emphasizing: "We may not have control over the election result, but we can control our cake consumption," writes the American culinary portal Eater. In this way, the election cake became a symbol of involvement in the campaigns of both Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.
