Daring Bakers: Opera Cake

This Month's Hosts:   Ivonne, Lis, Fran, and Shea 

Another Daring Baker Challenge, and it introduced me to a famous cake I never knew existed!  The Opera Cake was first introduced to the world in 1903 and has been quite popular since then.  But, I've never heard of it until now.  Maybe our noble founders of Daring Bakers, Ivonne of CreamPuffs In Venice, and Lis of La Mia Cucina, assisted by Fran at Apples Peaches Pumpkin Pie and Shea at Whiskful, knew there were people like me, and wanted to enlighten us.  Well, I'm very happy that they chose this recipe. I admit that my first glance at the recipe made me groan. It was so long and I immediately thought...too complicated. Then I remembered that a long recipe can actually be easy to make, because everything is spelled out clearly. And so it was.  I made this cake over a period of several days and easily assembled it on Mother's Day, for a party I attended.

This lovely recipe is dedicated to Barbara of Winos And Foodies, the driving force behind LiveStrong Day.  If you haven't already done so, stop by her blog and see beautiful, funny, and inspiring photos and stories.

Everything about this cake was easy, with the only problem occurring when I forgot to put the butter in the cake batter.  The cakes, which are made with almond flour, still tasted delicious.  But, they were a little flat, due to that omission, no doubt. I was particularly happy with the white chocolate glaze and white chocolate mousse, both a snap to make and apply to the cake.  Just make sure you don't tarry as you pour the glaze on the cake. I did, and one section wasn't as smooth as the rest of the cake.  The glaze sets up quickly.  Here is the cake after it was trimmed.

I've seen some of the other Daring Baker's Opera Cakes, and they are incredibly beautiful.  I decorated my cake about 20 minutes before I left for the party. So, it's not imaginative or pretty. But, it was delicious, and that's the most important thing to me.  Everyone loved it.  If I had more time, I would have made raspberry sauce to serve with it.

Now, please go visit the The Daring Bakers Blogroll and see pictures of cakes that will astound you. The recipe should be on our co-hosts site. It's long, but easy. Really, it is!

 

Comments

[Rosa]

Your cake looks gorgeous and very spring-like! I adore the decoration... Lovely!

Cheers,

Rosa

[Dharm]

Your cake looks just great! Well Done!

[peabody]

Wow, I can't believe that you have never heard of an opera cake. You did a great job.

[Baking Soda]

So nice and shiny! Love the raspberries on top, I can imagine their freshness adds up to the flavours of the cake.

[Deeba]

Stunning cake...perfect as it is pretty! You also make it sound as easy as can be!! Well done!

[Aparna]

Your cake doesn't seem to be missing the butter. It looks lovely.
Have to agree that this is a tasty cake.

[Cakelaw]

I am in awe of how shiny and smooth you managed to get the glaze - this was the part of my cake that was aesthetically less than pleasing. Excellent job!

[aria]

i never heard of an opera cake either. it looks delicious!!

[maybelles mom]

I think your decorations--or rather the perfection of the white chocolate glaze is all you need. good job.

[foodie froggy]

Hi ! That's funny how our cakes look alike ! Maybe they are twins...

[Gretchen Noelle]

Great job on this! I forgot the butter in my cake too and wound up scooping the part I had poured back into the bowl to mix it in. Wound up with a slightly flat layer but they were tasty anyway!

[Kim]

It is wonderful, fantastic job! I almost forgot the butter.........but then I baked the cake in one pan not two.

[Nan]

Pretty and so elegant. Great job this month!

[RecipeGirl]

It looks perfect!

[Ulrike]

You cake looks perfect with the raspberry decoration, great work!

[MyKitchenInHalfCups]

Love the raspberry!
What is it about that butter? So many of us had trouble finding it and then where was it suppose to go?
Beautiful cake my friend!

[Dayna]

Great cake. I think the raspberries are lovely.

[Tartelette]

What a chic and classy Opera! The fresh raspberries are a great touch on top! Well done Miss!

[Mary]

I think your cake looks absolutely lovely. Who needs fancy?

[Claire]

Looks great! I thought this turned out a lot easier than the recipe made it appear. My cakes were flat, too; but I think I expected that just based on other pictures and no leavener.

[megan]

Sometimes less is more! Your cake looks very elegant.

[Elle]

It's gorgeous! I am partial to the berries since that's what I also used on mine. :)

[breadchick]

Oh Sher!! I love it when we get the same idea!!! I'm thinking your raspberry arrangement is every bit as lovely mine and you had more square footage having made the square! Which of course means more berries, oh yum.

[John]

Now that's almost worth learning to like robust, bellowing, Italian actors for. : )

[Callipygia]

I used to admire the Opera Cake at my favorite bakery- looks simply elegant, you're quite the baker!

[Kristi]

I must stop visiting here when I am hungry. Sher-all your cakes look like I should be able to stick a fork through my laptop screen and eat them. Butter or no butter-it looks amazing.

[Mrs. L]

I think your opera cake looks lovely.

[Kevin]

Your cake looks really good!

[Lydia]

Beautiful, and I love the raspberries!

[Jen]

fantastic! I love berries.