Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more
• 2 cups all-purpose flour plus more
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup crème fraîche
• 1 cup dried tart cherries
• 1 cup gin
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons juniper berries
• Fennel fronds (for serving)
• A 9"-diameter cake pan

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour pan. Whisk baking soda, salt, and 2 cups flour in a medium bowl; set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour pan. Whisk baking soda, salt, and 2 cups flour in a medium bowl; set aside.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat sugar and 1 1/4 cups butter in another medium bowl until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating to blend between additions and scraping down sides of bowl.
4. Reduce mixer speed to low and, with motor running, add dry ingredients in 3 additions alternating with buttermilk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Scrape batter into prepared pan.
5. Bake until cake is golden and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cake cool before turning out.
6. DO AHEAD: Cake can be made 2 days ahead. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature.
7. Bring milk and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar; reduce heat and simmer gently, whisking occasionally, until mixture measures a scant 1/4 cup, 20-25 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl; let cool (it will thicken as it sits). Whisk in crème fraîche, cover, and chill.
8. DO AHEAD: Jam can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.
9. Bring cherries, gin, sugar, juniper berries, and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan; reduce heat and simmer until liquid is syrupy, 6-8 minutes. Let cool.
10. Spoon a few dollops of jam onto plates. Tear cake into pieces and arrange around jam. Top with cherries and fennel fronds.
11. DO AHEAD: Cherries can be poached 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.