Opera cake with pecans

The opera is an iconic Parisian pastry built up in layers. In this recipe, the traditional butter cream has made room for a more intense pecan-flavoured butter cream. The dark chocolate ganache gives it a solid flavour. Can be served as dessert or sold in small, individual portions in pastry shops.
Level:
Medium

Almond sponge cake

Ingredients: Almond sponge cake

  • 1.0 lb
    almond powder
  • 2.1 oz
    flour
  • 0.9 lb
    whole egg(s)

Preparation: Almond sponge cake

Mix together.

Ingredients: Almond sponge cake

  • 7.8 oz
    egg white
  • 1.4 oz
    sugar

Preparation: Almond sponge cake

Mix and fold in carefully.

Ingredients: Almond sponge cake

  • 2.3 oz
    butter

Preparation: Almond sponge cake

Mix in.

Spread on 2 baking plates of 40 x 60 cm. Bake 7-8 minutes at 220°C.

Pecan flavoured butter cream

Ingredients: Pecan flavoured butter cream

  • 13.8 oz
    Whole milk
  • 4.2 oz
    sugar
  • 15.4 gr
    vanilla
  • 8.5 oz
    egg yolks
  • 4.2 oz
    sugar
  • 8.8 oz
    pecan paste

Preparation: Pecan flavoured butter cream

Prepare a crème anglaise in the blender. Leave to cool to 40°C.

Ingredients: Pecan flavoured butter cream

  • 1.7 lb
    softened butter

Preparation: Pecan flavoured butter cream

Mix in.

Ingredients: Pecan flavoured butter cream

  • 5.3 oz
    Italian meringue

Preparation: Pecan flavoured butter cream

Fold in with a spatula.

Orange syrup

Ingredients: Orange syrup

  • 7.1 oz
    orange juice
  • 7.1 oz
    syrup at 30 Brix
  • 1.8 oz
    Cointreau

Preparation: Orange syrup

Mix together.

Ganache

Ingredients: Ganache

  • 1.3 lb
    milk
  • 3.5 oz
    cream

Preparation: Ganache

Boil together.

Ingredients: Ganache

Preparation: Ganache

Pour the milk onto the chocolate and emulsify.

Ingredients: Ganache

  • 6.3 oz
    butter

Preparation: Ganache

Mix in at 35°C.