{"id":225,"date":"2016-11-08T00:38:12","date_gmt":"2016-11-08T08:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nourishedkitchen.com\/?p=225"},"modified":"2024-11-01T09:58:24","modified_gmt":"2024-11-01T16:58:24","slug":"election-cake-a-touch-of-american-culinary-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nourishedkitchen.com\/election-cake-a-touch-of-american-culinary-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Election Cake"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Election Cake<\/strong> is a yeast-leavened spiced cake made famous in colonial America. Communities would make giant cakes to celebrate elections, but you can make a smaller version for your family. That way, no matter who wins, you still have cake.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"Election<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Every November, we make election cake. It's a boozy, spiced sourdough cake studded with dried fruit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It starts with a mix of flour, buttermilk, and sourdough starter that you allow to rise overnight before you beat the remaining ingredients into the batter. After adding eggs, sugar, molasses, spices, and plenty of booze, you let the cake rise again before baking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It tastes a bit like a cross between cinnamon-raisin bread and spice cake. The crumb is tender and soft with a delicious touch of tartness thanks to the inclusion of sourdough starter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In early America, elections were festive community events. Families traveled to town centers to enjoy a holiday with neighbors-dancing, drinking, and mustering for the local militia. During this time, spiced cakes known as \"muster cakes\" became a tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the Revolution, while mustering ended, the celebrations continued, and these cakes were renamed \"election cakes.\" Often massive and expensive, they were baked to feed entire voting communities. However, by the mid-19th century, the cakes shifted from symbols of unity to tools for political influence, with slices used to sway votes for certain candidates.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Ingredients + Substitutions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Flour<\/strong> gives the cake its bulk and structure. White whole-wheat pastry flour is a great choice as it adds fiber and a lot of flavor. Another option is all-purpose einkorn flour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buttermilk<\/strong> adds moisture. You can also use milk kefir<\/a> if you do not have buttermilk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sourdough starter<\/a><\/strong> makes the bread rise. Make sure your starter is active and bubbly. If you don't keep a starter, you can substitute packaged baker's yeast. You can also use wild yeast<\/a> (yeast water) to make the cake rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sugar and molasses<\/strong> give the cake flavor and add sweetness. I recommend using a minimally processed sugar such as rapadura or sucanat. Coconut sugar and maple sugar are good substitutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandy and white wine<\/strong> are traditionally used in early American election cake recipes, notably the recipe by Hannah Glass, which calls for a full quart of brandy. They give the cake flavor. If you don't cook with alcohol, you can substitute sweet apple cider for brandy and wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spices<\/strong> include coriander, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. They give the cake its flavor and help increase its shelf life. If you don't keep individual spices in your cupboard, you can substitute an equivalent amount of pumpkin pie spice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tips for Making Election Cake<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Use an active and bubbly sourdough starter<\/strong>. This cake relies on yeast to rise instead of baking powder or baking soda which are common in modern cake recipes. You'll need an active (proofed) starter or baker's yeast to make it work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allow plenty of time<\/strong>. Because this is a slow-rise sourdough recipe, you need to plan ahead. That means starting the evening before and finishing the cake in the morning.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

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<\/div>\n<\/g><\/svg><\/span> Rate this Recipe<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\n\t
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5<\/span> from 3<\/span> votes<\/div><\/div>\n
1<\/span> cake (12 servings)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n

Election Cake Recipe<\/h2>\n
Amelia Simmons's original recipe for Election Cake, as published in American Cookery<\/em><\/a> <\/em>(1796), calls for massive quantities of ingredients: dozens of eggs, pounds of sugar and flour, and booze by the bottle. While her recipe fed entire townships, most home cooks need only to feed their family and a few friends. This adaptation of the original recipe shrinks the quantities and makes it easier to bake in a modern kitchen. <\/span>
<\/div>Election cakes were originally leavened with fresh yeast from breweries or sourdough starters. If you would like to substitute baker\u2019s yeast for the sourdough starter, swap 1 packet of instant yeast for your sourdough starter and add 2 tablespoons water and 2 tablespoons flour to the batter.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Prep Time<\/span>20 minutes<\/span><\/span> mins<\/span><\/span><\/div>
Cook Time<\/span>30 minutes<\/span><\/span> mins<\/span><\/span><\/div>
Rise Time<\/span>14 hours<\/span><\/span> hrs<\/span><\/span><\/div>
Total Time<\/span>14 hours<\/span><\/span> hrs<\/span> 50 minutes<\/span><\/span> mins<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n
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Ingredients<\/h3>

The Sponge (Leavening)<\/h4>