Come join our movement to revive the great tradition of Election Cakes! Let’s remind America that democracy is sweet! This coming November, hundreds of people around the country will be baking Election Cakes and handing out slices to friends, family, co-workers — and even voters at the polls.
We want you…to bake!
I’m an author named A.J. Jacobs and a fan of democracy. My wife and friends and I started the Election Cake Project in November of 2023. It was a wonderful experience. We had more than 200 bakers, with at least one baker in all fifty states. Our baking project was covered by the media, including CBS Sunday Morning and CNN. I wrote about it in my book, The Year of Living Constitutionally. Those who participated said it was a welcome bit of positivity in a stressful political time. And though it’s a small gesture, it actually could have a big impact. Studies show that making elections more festive can increase voter turnout.
This year, we’re hoping to get 500 bakers. When you bake a cake, you’ll be participating in a great American tradition that dates back to 1789.
In early America, Election Day was not seen as a chore. Rather, voting was seen as a glorious new right (at least for those privileged enough to be allowed to votes.
Election Day was festive — there were parades, music, farmer’s market, rum punch —and cakes. People would bake cakes and bring them to the polls. The original recipe (which you do NOT have to follow) contained cloves and figs. Some cakes were small, some were huge (one recipe calls for 14 pounds of butter). We’ll take any size at the Election Cake Project.
Below are the simple action items if you want to be a part of the Election Cake Project and bake for democracy.
Now, in more detail...
You can either bake the original 1700s recipe for Election Cakes, or update that recipe — or just bake any cake you want (your own recipe or Duncan Hines, etc). Freedom of choice!
I’m pasting two versions of the original recipe at the end of this post.
As for decorating, the cake can be as simple or complex as you want. There is no right way to do this.
Last year, many bakers decorated their Election Cake with a theme related to democracy, voting, or their home states. You can check out the Facebook feed. For ideas and inspiration. https://www.facebook.com/groups/900280448379538
There were cakes decorated with.
And much more.
ALSO, last year, many bakers went for state themes.
Our Georgia bakers made peach cake.
New Mexico cake featured the red and yellow New Mexico flag.
The Texas cake was in the shape of Texas.
And so on.
Feel free to hand out your cake to friends, family, coworkers, or yourself. Or else bring cake to the polls and hand out pieces to voters
Just make sure to Google your state law. In some states, you have to be 100 feet from the entrance, for instance.
Election Cake is a tradition that dates back to America’s birth. It was mean to celebrate democracy and remind people that the right to vote is sweet.
The original recipe from the 18th century contained cloves and figs, almost like a fruitcake. Some people made huge cakes to feed the whole town (one weighed in at more than 70 pounds0.
Back when America was young, Election Day was not seen as a chore. It was seen as a celebration (at least for those privileged enough to vote, which was not everyone). As some Yale political scientists write in their paper “Putting the Party Back in Politics,” Election Day was “an engaging social experience, as voters at the polls talked with friends, threw down shots of free whiskey, listened to lively entertainment, and generally had a good tie.” There were parades and farmer’s markets and…cake!
The Yale scientists found that by making voting day more festive, it increased voter turnout by 7 percent.
Australia has embraced this idea with their “Democracy Sausage.” They have turned Election Day into a giant barbecue.
Election Cake is not going to solve all of our democracy’s many challenges. But I believe it’s a good start to get people excited about democracy again. it’s a gateway carb. We still need to address gerrymandering and lack of proper access, and many other serious issues.
Last year was the first year of Project Election Cake, and we got enthusiastic bakers in all fifty states. It was covered by CBS Sunday Morning, CNN, and in my book, “The Year of Living Constitutinoally.”
Many people — inlluding me — found it a meaningful and emotional experience. A slice (sorry) of positivity in a relentlessly stressful time.
To paraphrase Marie Antoinette in a more democratic way, LET US MAKE AND EAT CAKES!
Once again, thank you!!!
I so appreciate this.
We’re going to save democracy with sugar and spices, I know it!
Election Cake (Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, 1911)
Work butter into dough, using the hand. Add egg well beaten, sugar, milk, fruit dredged with two tablespoons flour, and flour mixed and sifted with remaining ingredients. Put into a well-buttered bread pan, cover, and let rise one and one-fourth hours. Bake one hour in a slow oven. Cover with Boiled Milk Frosting.
AND Here is the NYT version
