I have to admit I wasn’t too familiar with French 75s. One of my good friends introduced the drink to me and I couldn’t believe I never had one before that! Once I tried it, I immediately knew it was the next addition to my cocktail Bundt cakes! Champagne, gin and lemon make up this delectable drink. 

This recipe serves 6-8 people

 For the Cake:

1 ½ Cups (3 Sticks, 24 Tbs or 339g) Unsalted Butter at Room Temperature

2 Cups (400g) Granulated Sugar

4 Large Room Temperature Eggs

1 Tbs (13g) Vanilla Extract

1.5 Tbs (9g) Lemon Zest

3 (450g) Cups Cake Flour

2 Tsp (10g) Baking Powder

¾ Tsp (3g) Baking Soda

1 ½ Tsp (9g) Salt

1 Cup (8oz, 225g or 240mL) Room Temperature Buttermilk (or the same amount of regular milk with 1 Tbs or 15g Lemon Juice)

½ Cup (120mL or 118g) Gin

2 Tbs (29g) Water

2 Tbs (25g) Granulated Sugar

 For the Glaze:

3 Cups (400g) Confectioner’s Sugar

7 Tbs (70g)Champagne 

1 Tsp (4g) Vanilla Extract

¼ Tsp (1g) Salt

Lemon Zest to Garnish

Directions:

1.     Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F (180 C) and liberally grease a 12 cup Bundt cake pan with cooking spray (spray works best with this cake, and if you’re using a pan with a more intricate design, make sure you liberally grease all the corners and creases. 

2.     In a large bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside. 

3.     In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together for 2-3 minutes or until light and fluffy. 

4.     Add the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each egg before adding the next one, then add the vanilla and lemon zest.

5.     With the mixer on low, alternately add the flour mixture with the buttermilk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Do it in about 3 parts. Stop mixing once the last bit of flour is barely absorbed, and finish mixing with a silicone spatula, being sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is evenly mixed. 

6.     Pour the batter into the prepared pan, then tap the pan on your counter a few times to release any air bubbles. Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the top of the cake springs back when lightly touched, or a cake tester comes out clean when inserted all the way into the center of the cake. 

7.     Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack and allow to cool completely. 

8.     Combine the 2 Tbs water and sugar in a bowl and microwave for 45 second to a minute, until the sugar is completely dissolved, then combine it with the gin. Brush this mixture all over the warm cake, using the full amount. The cake will absorb it all, and this needs to be done while the cake is still warm. 

9.     For the glaze, combine the confectioner’s sugar, champagne, vanilla and salt in a bowl with a whisk until thick and nicely combined. If the glaze seems too thick, add 1 tbs more cream, or if it’s too thin, add more sugar by the tablespoon. Once the cake is completely cooled, pour the glaze all over the cake, then top with lemon zest.

-Store at room temperature tightly wrapped with plastic wrap for up to 4 days. You can also freeze this cake for up to 2 months, just make sure its tightly wrapped in plastic and then put in an airtight container.