Election Cake, a Forgotten American Tradition
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?
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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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!
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
Prepare the Election Cake Batter in a Stand Mixer
Mix the flour with the baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and nutmeg, then set aside.
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.
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.
Continue Here…
When the batter is ready, pour it into the prepared 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).
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!
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.
Spoon or drizzle over the top of the cake when completely cool.
Or you can pour it on, as you please.
Allow the icing to set before slicing.
Serve to voters after they have done their civic duty.
VOTE!
“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
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Election Cake, a Forgotten American Tradition
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup water (105 to 115°F)
- 1 pkg active dry yeast
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp nutmeg (freshly ground)
- 8 oz butter (2 sticks, softened)
- 2 eggs (lightly beaten)
- 2 cups brown sugar firmly packed
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 Tbsp vanilla
- 1 cup golden raisins
- ¼ cup dried cherries 35 g finely chopped or use figs for the original recipe, or any dried fruit that you prefer)
For the Icing
- 1 ½ cups confectioners sugar
- 2 Tbsp whisky or brandy
- ½ tsp vanilla (good quality, not a store brand or McCormick's)
Instructions
- Grease and flour a bundt pan.
STAND MIXER DIRECTIONS
- 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.
- If yeast has dissolved and is beginning to bubble, add the 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, mix in the flour, reserving one tablespoon. 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 afterwards.
DIRECTIONS FOR 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.
- Next, add the dry, making sure to add the yeast last: flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger, nutmeg, brown sugar, golden raisins, and dried cherries (or figs), the pinch of sugar and yeast. Start the bread machine on the "DOUGH" setting.
CONTINUE HERE FOR BOTH METHODS
- When the batter is ready, pour it into the prepared 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).
- 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.
ICING
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk the confectioners sugar, whisky, and vanilla until smooth. Start with 2 tablespoons of liquor and the vanilla. Add more whisky or brandy to reach your desired consistency.
- Drizzle or spoon over the top of the cake when completely cool. Serve to voters after they have done their civic duty.
Notes
- Replace the alcohol with apple juice if you can't use it.
Nutrition
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The glaze with 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of whisky doesn’t make a glaze. I’m not sure if this is a typo?
It isn’t. Is it too thick or too runny? It’s more of an icing than a glaze. Does it not look like the photos? If it’s too runny, add sugar, too thick, add whisky. Lmk, CC
I made this tonight for Election Day tomorrow. Added an extra shot of brandy just in case. :)
That’s great, I love that everyone is showing so much interest in the cake (it’s going crazy right now)! I think the extra shot was a good idea! Enjoy!
I am planning to try this out, but making it non-dairy by substituting margarine for the butter and water mixed with a tablespoon of lemon juice to sub for the one cup of buttermilk. I’ll also skip the raisins and cherries because we’re not in to that. I think it should still turn out great.
Would you tell us how it turns out? I have a dairy free friend, and I am horrible at thinking of things we can all eat. I just want to do right by her at least once, lol!
I decided to make this cake but skipped a few steps as it seems 2020 has been a whirlwind of issues from Covid to the country being divided . So basically I just drank the bottle of whiskey.
😂 🤣 😂
Didn’t think it possible, but this year we have even worse choices for President than we did in 2016. However, although Trump is bombastic & crude, he’s the better choice if one is looking to support the people of this country rather than the swamp. Sorry, may be a difference of opinion for some, but we are after all entitled to our opinion. Thanks for the recipe.
How did I miss this in 2016!!?? The cake sounds really interesting (I have never baked a cake with yeast). Right now, all I want to say to America is – “No cake until you VOTE!” I really liked everyone’s comments, too. This is going to be a tough couple of months. Only 39 days to election day!