Opera Cake

France

Also known as Gâteau Opéra

About Opera Cake

Opera Cake is an elegant French cake of thin layers of almond sponge soaked in coffee syrup, alternating with coffee buttercream and chocolate ganache, and topped with a shiny chocolate glaze.

The sponge is a joconde, made with ground almonds and very thin. The cake is assembled in neat, even layers and cut into clean rectangles so the stripes are visible from the side. The word "Opéra" is often written on top in chocolate.

It was made famous by the Paris pâtisserie Dalloyau in the 1950s, though others also claim it. It is said to be named after the Paris Opera, perhaps because its layers look like the tiers of the opera house.

Ingredients

• almond flour
• eggs
• sugar
• coffee
• butter
• dark chocolate
• cream