Vote. Then eat.
Whether you’re celebrating or just stress eating your way until the polls close, patriotic Election Day food is a must. Here are the Election Day recipes you need, from breakfast to dessert.
Election Day Food Ideas
Election Day, especially Election Night when the tallies are rolling in, can be celebratory, stressful, and sometimes both. Luckily, there’s a meal for that. Whether fall comfort food for dinner, or sweet, all-American desserts, these recipes have our vote for best Election Day foods and recipes.
Start the Day Right.
Voting in person? You may have to wait in line. Make sure you get a good start on Election Day with these hearty, nourishing breakfasts. From a whole-grain porridge that sticks to your ribs, to my all-time favorite scrambled eggs, these Election Day breakfasts will keep you fueled up for the fight.
J.F.K’s Favorite Waffles
Everyone needs a good waffle recipe. So why not choose light, flavorful buttermilk waffles that just happened to be the favorite of an iconic American president? Here’s Jackie and John Kennedy’s recipe for waffles.
Multigrain Porridge Oatmeal
This Election Day recipe takes creamy, all-American oatmeal to another level, with quinoa, millet, and lots of good, well-balanced toppings.
Maple Sage Breakfast Sausage
Make your own breakfast sausage! It’s easy and better than anything out of a package.
Mushroom and Goat Cheese Scrambled Eggs
An earthy, seasonal scrambled egg breakfast that looks sophisticated but takes no time to make.
Election Day Dinner Recipes
It’s comfort food time! These Election Day foods and recipe ideas for dinner mostly cook themselves. That way, you can watch wall-to-wall returns instead of stirring pots and pans. These dinners are also extremely satisfying and comforting.
U.S. Senate Bean Soup
Both the current president and vice president are former senators. So cook up a pot of this patriotic, three-ingredient ham and bean soup that’s been on the U.S. Senate cafeteria menu every day for decades.
New England Fish Chowder
A creamy, regional American soup that is authentic, flavorful, and loaded with thick chunks of fresh fish.
Grandmom-Style Eggplant Parmesan
America is a nation of immigrants. This ultimate vegetarian comfort food takes old-world Italy to your modern-day one.
The Best, Juiciest Turkey Meatloaf
The one, the only. When I think of classic American suppers, I think meatloaf. This turkey version is moist and full of flavor.
Herb-Roasted Pork Tenderloin
For Election night dinner, roast something that cooks easily in the oven and looks oh-so-special.
Election Day Recipes for Dessert
Red, white, and blueberry pound cake, anyone? These classic, all-American desserts — some with a little patriotic flair — will keep your evening feeling sweet no matter which way the vote goes this November. These are my favorite Election Day foods of all.
Loaded Cowboy Blondies
Cowboy cookies became well known during the 2000 Bush-Gore election, when Laura Bush’s cowboy cookie recipe beat Tipper Gore’s gingersnaps. These buttery blondies are absolutely stuffed with all the goodness of the original cookie — think pecans, coconut flakes, chocolate chips — but taste fudgy (and frankly, even better).
All-American Apple Pie With Butter Crust
Not only is it the height of apple season right now, it is also the perfect excuse for the most iconic American dessert out there.
Mixed Berry Pound Cake
A sweet, all-butter pound cake folded with tons of sweet, juicy raspberries and blueberries. This red, white, and blueberry pound cake looks and tastes spectacular.
The Ultimate, Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
Complicated times call for simple, pure pleasures. And nothing says happiness like a good old-fashioned chocolate chip cookie. This is the only recipe I make.
Blueberry Hand Pies
You could do a lot worse than wait in line with a buttery, homemade hand pie bursting with berries. Hand pies are oh-so-cute and not hard to make. Learn how.
Mary Washington’s Gingerbread Cake
Our first president, George Washington, may not have had the best relationship with his mother, but the woman sure could bake a cake. Her moist, generously-spiced gingerbread takes the cake for all-time great winter desserts — with patriotic flavor to match.
What Election Day foods and recipes will you make this year? Here’s one recipe to get you started.
Red, White + Blueberry Pound Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup blueberries, fresh or individually quick frozen (IQF)
- 1 1/2 cups raspberries, fresh or individually quick frozen (IQF)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease well a standard tube pan.
- With an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla. Beat until very smooth and light. Scrape the bowl to make sure everything is emulsified.
- Stir in the baking powder, salt, and flour and mix on low until combined. Do not over-mix. Fold in the berries and stir until just mixed throughout.PRO TIP: If using frozen berries, do not thaw them. Add them to the cake batter right from the freezer. This will make the cake batter somewhat stiff, but that is fine. Do not over-mix or your batter will become purple!
- Bake in the center of the oven until a cake tester comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes, or slightly more. If using frozen berries, it will be closer to 1 hour 20 to 25 minutes.
- Cool in the pan until the cake can be handled. Run an offset spatula or knife around the edges of the cake pan. Invert onto a dish, then right side up again onto a cooling rack. Cool fully.
- Decorate with a simple powdered sugar glaze, a dusting of powdered sugar, or some buttercream topped with freeze-dried or fresh berries.
8 comments
Grayson Wahler
Made the waffles last election and will make again. Very good.
RGH
Came out perfectly and thank you for these other recipe ideas.
Maggie T.
thanks for all the good ideas!
T.R.
I always knew of something called “Election Day Cake,” but I have never made it. Do you know what this is? Thanks.
Andrea
I made the chili over the weekend and it was absolutely delicious.
J.J.
I’ve made two of these recipes (apple pie and cowboy blondies) and both were fantastic! I’m going to try the pound cake for Election Day.
Tom
Great recipes. Definitely can’t wait to try the chili.
Greta
Love this! So many good ideas! Thanks.