Around the World in Seven Cakes: French Opera Cake

Bonjour! We continue our around the world cake journey in France. Deciding on a cake for the European leg of our tour was a challenge. I have wanted to make a French Opera Cake for years, and this project gave me the perfect excuse.

I first saw French Opera Cake on an episode of Best Baker in America. It's a multi-layered dessert made with almond sponge cake (known as joconde) soaked in coffee syrup, layered with coffee buttercream and dark chocolate ganache, and finished with a smooth chocolate glaze. Set aside a day or a few evenings to make your own French Opera Cake, and be sure to read the recipe completely a few times before getting started.

Finding the Right Recipe

Usually when tackling a complex project, I review several recipes to get some good tips before deciding which recipe I want to use. I chose the French Opera Cake recipe from Bake from Scratch. (Fellow bakers, consider subscribing. You'll thank me later.) I loved the detailed, easy-to-follow instructions that helped with preparation and timing, and even offered tips to fix missteps.

Tools and Tips

Having the right tools helped tremendously when making French Opera Cake. I used a flexible offset spatula to smooth the buttercream and ganache layers, and a large baking sheet for the thin layers of sponge cake.

The recipe included instructions for building the cake free standing on a cutting board. However, I'm a messy baker and would need all the help I could get to create beautiful, defined layers. I used a square cake pan with a removable bottom, and the sides prevented my layers from sliding off.

Serving Suggestion

I decided to pre-slice my cake before serving. One key tip I cannot stress enough: Dip your knife in warm water after each cut to avoid dragging and preserve those beautiful layers. Fortunately, I followed this advice myself, and I could not believe how beautiful each slice of cake looked (something I almost never say about my bakes).

I arranged the slices in my cake carrier to make serving easier, as French Opera Cake was my contribution to the Chef’s Corner Store cake picnic. The pieces shifted during the drive, making the presentation a little messier than I’d hoped, but the layers were still defined!

Would I Make French Opera Cake Again?

Absolutely, though probably not on a busy week! French Opera Cake is a labor of love, but the results are truly showstopping. It's the kind of cake that makes you pause, appreciate the craftsmanship, and go back for one more bite.