It is that time of the month again when almost 1000 Daring Bakers reveal their baking creations to the world. This month’s challenge was hosted by the founders of this amazing group, Ivonne and my lovely and beautiful friend Lisa and co-hosted by Fran and Shea (did I mention we are almost 1000 members?) There is a lot going on in the Daring Bakers community, a new forum, soon a new website, lots of food talk and, of course, lots of baking. So what challenge did our lovely Daring Baker mothers choose for this month? Another snobish delicious French dessert, Opera Cake.
This challenge was special because it was dedicated to Barbara. She will always be a honorary DB for her bravery and character in the face of a challenge. Barbara is the force behind the food blog event called A Taste of Yellow (you’ve heard of it) that supports the LiveStrong Foundation started by Lance Armstrong. That’s why we were encouraged to make our cakes with a yellow flavor (or at least not dark chocolaty) What did I do for this challenge? An orange-white chocolate Opera Cake.
What is an Opera Cake? Opera Cake is a layer cake made with a sponge cake or joconde, syrup, buttercream (have you noticed that the Daring Bakers like buttercream a lot?), a mousse and a chocolate glaze. Making this cake wasn’t really hard (after all, we’ve made the different components of the cake in past challenges), it was only time consuming. It took me almost a whole day to make it. That’s why I didn’t really worry about making it look pretty. We had a cook out that day and after making this cake, a mango guacamole, a tropical salad and all the cooking and baking of last week I wasn’t really in the mood for decorating (my baking Achilles’ heel)
But how did it taste? I only had a little tiny piece (I am still trying to lose those last stubborn extra pounds), but I give it an 8 out of 10. The orange, almond and chocolate flavors blended really nicely, though the cake was a little bit on the too sweet side. This cake was worth making because of the learning process, but if you don’t have the time or patience to bake this kind of cake, there are lot of other options out there that require less time and effort with very similar results. But if you want to impress somebody with your snobby French baking skills, this is the cake to bake. (please note that this is my very own and humble opinion)
For the complete recipe, please visit Ivonne’s blog. I am so excited because I was invited by my lovely friend Kelly to co-host next month’s challenge. Don’t miss out, It is going to be a lot of fun!
Buen Provecho!
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megan
Your will power amazes me! I kept slivering mine to death. Cant wait to see what the next challenge has in store for us. Any hints?
Ramona-scuttle
Good job! It was sweet I’ll agree. Orange and white chocolate sounds wonderful!
Renee
Your cake looks yummy!!!!!!
Peter G
Great job Ben!…sounds like you’ve been doing some mad coking around your place. And yes! I too admire your will power.
Judy
Great job on the cake Ben…I can;t wait for the next challenge. I guess I should start earlier!
JennDZ_The LeftoverQueen
Yes, it was definately a learning process for sure! So many components to one cake! Yours looks really tasty though! yum yum!
courtney
My family thought it was to sweet. I wouldlike to revisit this and make it less sweet and more fruity perhaps. Great job Ben.
toontz
Yes, Ben, I agree with you…too sweet! But at least we accepted the challenge, that’s the whole idea, right? I would love to make this cake with dark chocolate and coffee, like the original recipe calls for.
Gabi
Your cake looks tempting and the flavours sound really good- I am a person who likes more cake in my cake so this was too sweet to be my favourite also. Glad to hear you’ll be co-hosting next month
xoxo
Aparna
Orange and chocolate is a good combination. I used mango and cardamom.
And what are you going to challenge us to, I wonder? Can’t wait.:)
Susan/Wild Yeast
I agree about the sweetness. And yes, I sure have gotten familiar with buttercream since joining the DBs! I’m looking forward to seeing what you and Kelly have in store for us next month.
Sarah
Looks like a great challenge and I love the flavor combination!
Can’t wait to find out about next month’s challenge . . . I’m guessing not French or snobbish?
Looking forward to it!
Best,
Sarah
Jen of a2eatwrite
It looks gorgeous! This cake was off the hook in terms of difficulty. I bow down to all of you!
Faery
If you ask me, it looks so yummy that there is no need to decorate it, I think it is elegant
Elle
Beautiful cake, Ben! And how cool that you’re hosting next month!
Madeleine
¿cómo que quedó demasiado dulce?? que mala onda, tan rico que se ve con el chocolate blanco! jejeje!
Que padre que te toca el próximo mes!! dime que es!!!!!!
Saludos!
Kevin
Looks good! I like the sound of the orange and white chocolate flavour combo.
kellypea
w00t! Ben. Orange in a dessert like this always makes me think of 50-50 bars. YUM. Count me in as a bonafide snob. I love me some French pastry. Uh-huh! And cheers on our upcoming challenge!
Bellini Valli
Your cake is beautifully executed Ben. I love your chopice of flavours. Well done my friend:D
Jade
While your cake may not be the prettiest I’ve seen (don’t worry, mine won’t be winning any competitions either) it certainly sounds delish (I love oranges)! Looking forward to what you and Kelly throw at us next month. Can’t wait!
Ruth E
I’m not usually one for decorating either, but I’m working on it. Your cake turned out well!
Can’t wait to see what you and Kelly have for us… maybe something slightly less calorific?!?!?!! lol
Deeba
Ooooooooh my fave combination…orange, almond & chocolate. Must have been finger-licking good…it looks droolicious! Missed mine this time…made L’Zebra instead because May wasnt too merry. Now am waiting with baited breath to see next months challenge. Love the snobbish French bit!
Christina
The flavors sound incredible! I love just about anything orange and paired with almonds and white chocolate, you have a winner!
I can’t wait to see what the next challenge is!
Deeba
Hey…missed something obviously…You & Kelly hosting the next months? It’s GOTTA BE GOOD in that case Ben…(typo error above breadth…sorry!!)…HAB BETTER BE! iS IT MANGO??? OK…I’ll wait!! *SMILE*
Lisa
Awww you are beautiful too – both inside and out!
And wow… you made an orange creamsicle opera cake! YUM!! yours came out much more flat and compact than mine did.. I was shooting for the look of yours. Oh well.. maybe one day you will teach me?
Beautiful cake! And really.. don’t hold back.. tell us how you feel about French desserts? hahahahahahaa! You’re too cute!
xoxo
Deborah
Oooh, orange and almond sound delicious! Great job on this challenge!
Meeta
Hey my Gemini twin – this cake rocks. Love the flavors.
Laurie
Your glaze has such a beautiful translucency to it! Good flavor choices!
MyKitchenInHalfCups
Thank goodness! Somebody else who didn’t get wicked with decorations! Shucks, I even opt for a soak over the glaze. Buttercream has been a very heavy theme hasn’t it.
Your cake looks wonderful!
Looking forward to what you bring us!
Mike
Sounds like a tasty flavor you chose and it looks great. I’m impressed with the great variety of opera cakes that came out of the challenge.
HoneyB
I agree about it being sweet! I think I would probably prefer the original chocolate version better.
Ivonne
It definitely was on the sweet side Ben but as you did, I think the best course was to just have a tiny piece. Great job!
Dharm
Well done on the challenge Ben! I loved this cake although I much prefer the Darker version.
Candace
Very nice job on this challenge… looks yummy!
Shari
Orange, almond, and white chocolate sound perfect together. Looks delicious!
Shari@Whisk: a food blog
núria
Lovely Opera cake Ben
It’s amazing how from the same recipe all cakes I’ve seen these days are so different! Good job chico!
Holly
Great job on your Opera cake! I admire your will power to only have a tiny peice!
Lisa
Nice job – you must have will power of steel!
Jaime
great job! i can’t wait to find out next month’s challenge!!!!
marye
My downfall is the licking of the spoons…
Yours looks great, Ben.
Katie
Looks delicous!! I didn’t have time to do my challenge this month, but I will SURELY be back next month!!!
I don’t know if I ever got back to you about the tupperware prize, but I got it in the mail, and thank you!!
Ann
Nice work! But I also felt it was too sweet… just too much white chocolate for me.
Erika
I agree with you about a good learning experience! Your cake looks great and I love your website!
Dolores
Great job Ben. I can’t wait to see what you and Kelly have in store for us in June!
Ed
Hola Ben!!
Hacîa tiempo que no pasaba por aquî. Da gusto ver que el blog va mejor que nunca. Asî le abres el apetito a cualquiera.
Un abrazo.