I want to introduce you all to A Sophisticated Pair (and encourage you to glance at the blogroll in the sidebar for more recommended reading), a lingerie shop and blog based in North Carolina. I haven’t visited in person (yet!), but the blog is wonderful and informative, with reviews of individual bras, discussion of the retail experience, comments on bra construction and fit, and more! In addition to reviewing different bras and styles, the women at A Sophisticated Pair also evaluate how well different bras hold up over time– what an incredibly valuable resource! Erica, the store owner, has kindly featured me today, and as a fellow baker, she also shared one of her favorite recipes with me. Check her out, and check out her amazing cake! Oh man, this cake is right up my alley: chocolate and espresso and chocolate and them some more chocolate. Plus I’d get to be all fancy and use all sorts of different pastry techniques and laugh airily whenever anyone asks me about it and say “Oh this old thing? I just whipped up a little cake and mousse and ganache and buttercream and slapped it together. ADORE ME.” Anyone have a birthday soon? No reason for asking. None at all.
Cuban Opera Cake
September 2003 issue of Bon Appetit
by way of Epicurious
Cake
- 4 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups (packed) golden brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup crème de cacao
- 1/2 cup freshly brewed coffee, lukewarm
Buttercream
- 8 ounces imported milk chocolate, chopped
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 large egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
Coffee Mousse
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder or coffee powder
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin softened in 1 tablespoon water 10 minutes
- 1 cup chilled whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Glaze
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 12 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
For cake:
Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides; line bottoms with parchment paper rounds. Dust pans with flour; tap out excess. Melt chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until melted and smooth. Remove from over water. Cool to lukewarm. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar, butter, and vanilla in large bowl to blend. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition and stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. Gradually beat in lukewarm melted chocolate. Beat in dry ingredients in 3 additions alternately with sour cream in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Gradually beat in crème de cacao and coffee. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans; smooth tops.
Bake cakes until toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto 9-inch cardboard rounds or removable tart pan bottoms; cool cakes completely on racks.
For buttercream:
Melt milk chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from over water. Whisk sugar, egg yolks, 2 tablespoons water, and corn syrup in medium metal bowl to blend. Add 1/4 cup butter. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water; whisk constantly until mixture reaches 170°F, about 4 minutes. Remove bowl from over water. Using electric mixer, beat until completely cool and thick, about 6 minutes. Gradually beat in 1/2 cup butter, about 1 tablespoon at a time, fully incorporating each addition and stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. Beat in lukewarm melted chocolate.
For coffee mousse:
Bring half and half, 2 tablespoons sugar, and espresso powder to simmer in small saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk egg yolks and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk hot half and half mixture into yolk mixture. Return mixture to saucepan and stir constantly over medium heat until thermometer registers 160°F, about 2 minutes. Pour into large bowl. Add softened gelatin; stir until dissolved. Using electric mixer, beat until cool, about 10 minutes. Using clean dry beaters, beat cream and vanilla in medium bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into coffee mixture.
Cut each cake layer horizontally in half. Place 1 cake layer in bottom of 9-inch-diameter springform pan. Cover with 3/4 cup buttercream. Place second cake layer atop buttercream; cover with mousse. Top with third cake layer. Refrigerate 1 hour to allow mousse to set. Spread 3/4 cup buttercream over third cake layer. Top with fourth cake layer (cake will rise above rim of pan). Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
For chocolate glaze:
Stir sugar and 1 cup water in medium saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high; bring to boil. Whisk in cocoa; remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until smooth. Let stand until cool but still pourable, about 2 hours.
Run knife around pan sides to loosen cake. Release pan sides. Scrape excess mousse from sides of cake. Transfer cake on springform pan bottom to rack set over baking sheet. Pour glaze over cake, allowing glaze to drip down edges onto baking sheet (use spatula to spread glaze over any uncovered spots). Refrigerate at least 2 hours to allow glaze to set. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)
Erica of A Sophisticated Pair
June 16, 2012 at 11:23 am (7 years ago)Thanks for the lovely write up! While the Cuban Opera Cake is a labor of love, the end result is well worth the hassle. There are so many different textures and flavors that combine to form a truly fabulous desert. Thanks again, Sweets!
Mom
June 18, 2012 at 10:37 am (7 years ago)That cake is very you!