 During colonial times , one version of plum cake was called " election cake " , and was prepared with currants , raisins , molasses and spices , with the addition of brandy in the recipe occurring later . Election cakes were typically leavened with yeast . In New England , large election cakes weighing around 12 pounds ( 5 @.@ 4 kg ) would traditionally be served while people waited for election results . It has been stated that the first published election cake recipe appeared in 1796 in American Cookery . 
 During colonial times , one version of plum cake was called " election cake " , and was prepared with currants , raisins , molasses and spices , with the addition of brandy in the recipe occurring later . Election cakes <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> typically leavened with yeast . In New England , large election cakes weighing around 12 pounds ( 5 @.@ 4 kg ) would traditionally be served while people waited for election results . It <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>has</mark></a> been stated that the first published election cake recipe appeared in 1796 in American Cookery . 
Durin colonial times , one version of plum cake was called " election cake " , and was prepared with currants , raisins , molasses and spices , w/ da addition of brandy in tdarecipe occurring later . Election cakes was typically leavened with yeast . In New England , large election cakes weighing around 12 pounds ( 5 @.@ 4 kg ) would traditionally be served while people waited for election results . It done been stated dat the first published election cake recipe appeared in 1796 in American Cookery .