I’ve been saving some fancy decorative molds for a special dessert, and this one just begged for fancy swags of laurel. It’s so lovely and sweet with the deliciously bitter coffee notes. Simple butter ganache (literally butter + chocolate) is its center layer and topping.

Even so, this is not the most complicated cake I’ve ever made. It is probably the most challenging part of the entire recipe, which requires the use of a candy thermometer and patience.

Each layer of sponge is soaked with espresso syrup, which is made using reconstituted espresso powder.įrench buttercream is silky and luxurious, and it’s also flavored with the espresso powder. I used the recipe from my own cookbook because I can trust it to be perfect every time. The foundation of this cake is Jaconde sponge, a classic French pastry element. Which sounds very Clichy-esque to me, but as one article on the subject noted: ‘history is written by the victors’. Also scribed on top in ganache is the word ‘opera’.

He named it simply “Clichy Cake” with his surname penned in ganache across the top.Īnother French pastry shop, Dalloyau, popularized the cake (c.1955) and lays claim to it with a version called L’Opera, created in honor of the Paris opera. Many claim that this cake dates back to1903, from pastry chef Louis Clichy who unveiled this cake at a Paris culinary exposition that year. It is one of my favorite cakes of all time, and it’s certainly one to try if you’re looking to hone your skills in patisserie.Ī cake such as this deserves a brief explanation of its history, although it is slightly murky.

Its preparation calls for your time, patience, and a candy thermometer, but the end result is so worth the effort. It has been described as ‘elaborate’ which is true. This coffee lover’s dream-come-true is a six layer affair, stacked with three layers of almond sponge, soaked with espresso syrup and alternating layers of French buttercream and butter ganache. It’s worthy of any special occasion.Īh, Opera Cake. This classic French Opera Cake is made with layers of almond sponge, potent coffee syrup, French buttercream, and chocolate ganache.

Opera cake for sale