I suppose only the Coldplay fans will understand this title… This fantastic Daring Baker challenge is also dedicated to Livestrong Day, which was two weeks ago. Had I planned a little better, I would have picked up a yellow Livestrong Bracelet and incorporated it into the photo… Yeah, but I don’t tend to plan ahead. Perhaps I’ll add that to next year’s resolution.
We had 4 hostesses this month (Lis, Ivonne, Fran & Shea) and a doozie of a dessert. L’Opera Cake. This was not your usual Opera Cake, however, as the colors had to be light… meaning no chocolate or coffee (the usual flavorings in Opera Cake.) I immediately thought of using a passion fruit mousse to fill the layers, instead of buttercream. Then I realized I have flavored well… almost everything with passionfruit lately. What can I say.. I’m passionate about passionfruit! Anyway, I just happened to have two mangos sitting on my counter… perfectly ripe. It was a sign, I tell ya. So mango it is!
I used a round cutter for some and cut the rest into rectangles and squares. Don’t worry, the pieces that were cut off were immediately eaten… waste not want not! The red sauce is a quick raspberry sauce… frozen berries simmered with a little sugar and strained. The white sauce is the left over white chocolate glaze, with a little more cream added.
The filling is a simple bavarian, flavored with pureed ripened mango, and I flavored the joconde (cake) with a rum syrup. Thankfully, the white chocolate glaze really added to the flavors instead of overpowering it. It turned out to be a very nice combination.
Here’s a little secret on how I got the glaze so shiny after refrigeration when there was major condensation… The big bad blowtorch. If you have one, very quickly run the blowtorch over the top of the cake, maybe 6 inches away from the surface. It immediately shines up the top and makes it oh so purty.
Check out all of the other Daring Baker’s Opera Cake here.
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Awesome, just completely awesome. A great looking cake, with very clean, crisp smart presentation. Talk about a winner.
Reply to matt wright
Love your photos as usual. Brilliant! Lovely! Makes one’s mood good just by looking!
Reply to Mrs Ergül
That cake looks so good!!!
Reply to MARISOL
Oh … I like your blowtorch tip! Great little cakes!
Reply to Ivonne
What a great tip about the blow torch! And your cake is just gorgeous!
Reply to Deborah
Mango and rum–delicious–and a lovely presentation.
Reply to Rebecca
Great choice of flavors! The cake looks perfect!
Reply to Tartelette
Your cake is gorgeous! I love your presentations.
Reply to Barbara
The photography set up for these is amazing, they look too purty to eat! I especially love the round with rasberry flames surrounding it, beautiful.
Reply to Tempered Woman
I love all your presentations, and I love the fact you used mango.
And thanks for the blow torch tip, now I REALLY need one ;)
Reply to linda
What a gorgeous opera cake – the decorative plating looks fanatstic. And thanks for the blow torch tip!
Reply to Cakelaw
Cheers to another who doesn’t tend to plan. Love the mango, and jeez, I shoulda thought of doing a bavarian. Great idea! Your opera cake turned out perfectly. Outstanding presentation…
Reply to kellypea
Love your blowtorch idea! Mango sounds delicioius.
Shari@Whisk: a food blog
Reply to Shari
Very nice. I like that blowtorch technique. I cant find passion fruit. I must get some. Beautiful presentation.
Reply to courtney
good job! Looks great and the photos are obviously wonderful!
Reply to bakerette
I never fail to learn with these challenges… both from my own experience and from reading everyone else’s story. Thanks for the blowtorch tip. And congratulations… you’ve achieved perfection on a plate.
Reply to Dolores
I love the way your cake looks. I can’t resist mango either, my favourite. And that’s and unbeatable combination of Chef & Photographer.:)
Reply to Aparna
Wow, what a gorgeous and elegant presentation. And thanks for the tip about the blowtorch.
Reply to Susan/Wild Yeast
Your cake is stunning – it looks fantastic, both in the round and as squares…look at the stars…look how they shine for you… :)
Reply to marika @ madcapcupcake
Nice looking opera cake! Great presentation! I really like the sound of the mango flavour in it.
Reply to Kevin
So pretty! Thank you for the tip on the blowtorch. Now, if I can just remember it when I need to!
Reply to toontz
I just love your plating – gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the blowtorch trick – that’s really good to know!
Reply to Dana
Love your presentation! Such pretty cake!
Reply to venus
your cake is one of the prettiest cakes that i’ve seen!! i love how you plated it. i looks very professional.
Reply to silicone_spatula
Lovely Opera Cake there. Gr8 pics too. Check out my blog too.
Reply to judy serrao
Lovely !!! Cool pics too ! Way to go. Check my blog too …
Reply to judy serrao
I’m in love with the little round Operas. And we have cousin Operas, I also had mango as one of the flavours. Your plate where you have the 3 little ones is so cute!
Reply to Clumbsy Cookie
Oh your pics are absolutely beautiful! Your cake is lovely love the round cake!
Reply to Christine
I’m sure not a crumb of these beauties were wasted! :)
Reply to Patricia Scarpin
Hah! Cool blowtorch tip. GREAT plating, and the cake looks really yummy too. Congrats! What an awesome cake!
Reply to Lisa
Wonderful! Your creation looks delicious and very pretty!
Cheers,
Rosa
Reply to Rosa
These are FANTASTIC. I love the look you got, so pro!
Reply to Lesley
What a lovely creation! I love that you dedicated it to the LIVEstrong event too. You guys are all making me wish I didn’t miss this challenge!
Reply to maria~
wow, I am speechless, such an increable juicy cake and delicously yummy!
Reply to Big Boys Oven
I absolutely love the mango! The presentation is splendid as well. Well done, and thanks for the blow torch trick. Just gorgeous
Reply to Kim
Gorgeous presentation! I am smitten!
Reply to Katie B.
nice shots!
and I love the square one, a cute finger food
Reply to enza
Great title! And, of course, lovely cakes beautifully photographed. Great job. :)
Reply to Suzana
I’m still working on mine, but mine has a tropical theme, too! I love this, and appreciate the tips. Beautiful job.
Reply to Madam Chow
I got your coldplay ref right off the bat – love that song.
Also love your presentations of the opera cake – very nicely done!
Reply to Dana McCauley
Another mango-lover!
Your cakes look beautiful and thanks for the great tip about the blowtorch :)
Reply to Angela
Happy Times :)
Reply to Stephan Maloman
Lovely! The mango buttercream looks delicious!
Reply to Tanya
Beautiful presentation and photos. Now I need to buy a big bad blowtorch!
Reply to Chuck
looks so moist!!! beautiful… and I love “yellow” by Coldplay!!!
Reply to Aran
I TOTALLY understand the title! I’m a huge Coldplay fan.
Your plating is so beautiful! I love the look of the dots and the swirls. Nice use of the extra ganache!
Reply to Christina
Yours looks lovely.
Reply to maybelles mom
Your glaze turned out so beautifully!
Reply to Erica
Oh, snap! This looks awesome!!! If I were Chris Martin, I would have written a song about this cake instead of one about doing smack. :)
Reply to Adrianne
Got the title…those look delicious and so pretty. I love the plating for the round one.
Reply to Pam Arendall-Arnais
Mm wow this looks delicious! The circular one looks great, nice one!
Reply to Natalie
The plating is fabulous!
Reply to peabody
Your cakes are beautiful!! I love the idea of mango. Your finished cakes look divine!
Reply to Renee
Beautiful as usual Candace. Much more so than mine, that’s for sure, lol. Thanks for the blowtorch tip, too!
Reply to lou @ the higher nest
I love the different shapes – great job! Cool trick with the blow torch – now, does this mean I have to buy yet another gadget?!
Reply to one spicy mama
I really love your Opera Cake! It looks – and I bet it also was – delicious! Beautiful photography as usual :)
Reply to Vivian