Opera Cake
Courtesy of Chef Sabrina Deighton – The Frenchway Café
INGREDIENTS
Vanilla Sponge Cake
12 eggs
1 2/3 cups white sugar
1 cup unbleached white all-purpose flour
Dark Chocolate Ganache
1 1/2 cups Callebaut dark chocolate callets
1 cup whipping cream
2 Tbsp glucose syrup
Royal Icing
1 egg white
1/2 cup icing sugar, or until desired consistency
Butter Cream
1 cup white sugar
1 cup water
8 egg whites
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
Butter Crème Café
1/3 Tbsp white sugar
1 Tbsp espresso coffee
3/4 cup whipping cream
2/3 cup butter cream
METHOD
Vanilla Sponge Cake
1. Separate egg whites and yolks.
2. Whip egg whites, blending in sugar, to form a meringue.
3. Whisk yolks in a bowl. Alternate folding in flour and meringue.
4. Pour onto parchment-lined pan.
5. Bake in convection oven at 350° for 20-25 minutes.
6. Cool fully then use a round 3” cutter to make fifteen circles.
Dark Chocolate Ganache
1. Mix ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat while stirring constantly. Blend well and cool. Royal Icing
2. Whip egg white on high until soft peaks form.
3. Slowly add icing sugar while whipping on low. Blend well.
Butter Cream
1. Mix sugar and water in a saucepan. Heat on medium high until 240°.
2. Whip egg whites in a bowl on high until soft peaks form.
3. Add sugar mixture to egg whites in a steady stream while whipping on high until glossy with stiff peaks.
4. Add butter while continuing to whip.
Butter Crème Café
1. Mix espresso coffee with sugar and set aside.
2. Whip cream in mixer on high until soft peaks form.
3. Continue whipping and slowly add coffee slurry. Whip until firm peaks form.
4. Fold in butter cream and chill.
Assembly
1. In a 3×3 stainless steel baking collar, layer sponge cake, ganache, sponge cake, butter crème café, sponge cake and butter crème café.
2. Make 5 and freeze.
3. Place ganache on top and warm sides with a blow torch to remove collar.
4. Write “OPERA” with royal icing to finish.
Yield 5 cakes