Pink Champagne Cake

Pink Champagne Cake

Last month while I was trying to find where I could find some German Pastries I recalled a bakery in Greece NY called Ebert’s. They prepared a lot of German pastries but their specialty was Champagne Cake something my family always uses to purchase for special occasions.

It’s been years now since I left Rochester but things I enjoyed has stayed with me and does not have anything to do with distance. availability or time. It has to do with memories.

I could not ask the bakery how to make the cake because

Ebert’s Bakery has been closed for years but I was sure I could find a simple recipe for this cake and today I did.
Here is the recipe:

Pink Champagne Cake

Cake

18 1/4 ounces white cake mix, no pudding, and must be white to taste champagne
1/2-3/4 cup champagne, chilled (pink, white, sweet, dry)

Frosting

1 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup champagne
1 tablespoon vanilla
5 -5 1/2 cups additional powdered sugar

Directions:

Cake

1. Use a box of white cake mix (NO pudding) and substitute champagne - 1/2 to 3/4 cup to replace all of the liquid called for in the cake mix. So if the box says 3/4 cup water replace with 3/4 cup champagne

2. The kind of champagne/sparkling wine (pink, white, sweet, dry) used will determine the flavor

3   Tint with red food coloring to a soft pink, use a drop at a time, this stuff will stain, probably take about 3 drops.
4  Bake cake as instructed on box.

5.  Make in 9x13-inch pan, but for an elegant layer cake use two 9 round cake pans,

Creamy champagne frosting:

1. Beat 1 cup softened butter for 30 seconds. Gradually add 4 cups powdered sugar.
2.  Beat in 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup champagne, and 1 TB vanilla.
3,  Beat in 5-5 1/2 more cups powdered sugar till you can spread it or is consistency you want.
4.  Add red coloring till pink color, again slowly add a drop at a     time till color you want. Frost completely cooled cake.
5.  This is excellent served the next day after being refrigerated all night so the flavors can blend!

Sometimes memories can taste good just as this cake does!