欧培拉 ~ 初体验 （Opera Cake)

2年前一位小姑娘，让安迪给她做这蛋糕。

当时的我，连戚风都搞不懂，更别说这繁杂的蛋糕。

但我还是承诺，总有一天，会如她所愿。

终于。。。。。

迟来的欧培拉，舜亦希望你会喜欢。

A couple of years back, the daughter of a friend of mine requested I make this Opera Cake. Back then, I wasn't even sure about how to make a chiffon cake, much less this complicated recipe! But now, with my baking skills up to par, I've finally managed to fulfill the request. To the little girl, I hope you like this cake!

 第一次做，层次虽然不够工整；

但是，那秒杀的美味，绝对叫人回味无穷！ 
所以还是记录下来，以供将来参考。
This is my first time, so with a lack of skills, the layers of the cake are not quite distinct. But the marvelous taste will have you craving for more long after you've finished your last bite. How can I not share this wonderful recipe with you?

浸着咖啡酒糖液的杏仁海绵蛋糕层，柔软湿润；

入口松化香浓醇郁的法式焦糖咖啡奶油；

再加上香纯的巧克 力，未食其味、先闻其香。
immerse with kahlua syrup, the almond sponge cake turns soft and moist. Sandwiched in between is the French style caramel coffee cream, and with the chocolate ganache finishing off the cake, this is a cake you can "taste" with your nose long before you eat it!

杏仁海绵蛋糕（久贡地）
Almond sponge cake(Joconde Biscuit)
食谱参考 ：这里
Recipe adapted from here. 

材料 Ingredients：
(A)
杏仁粉(almond meal)………………… 80 g
糖粉(icing sugar)………………………80 g
低筋面粉 (cake flour)…………………50 g
全蛋 (egg)…………………………… 3 粒/pcs
植物油 (corn oil)....…………………   20 g
发粉 (baking powder)………………    ¼ 茶匙/tsp

(B)
蛋白(egg white) ………………………3 粒/pcs
塔塔粉(tartar powder)……….……… ¼ 茶匙/tsp
幼糖(caster sugar) …………………    10 g

做法 Method：
1．糖粉，杏仁，发粉，低筋面粉混合过滤，鸡蛋搅拌均匀至有点发白，倒入一半的粉类搅拌，再倒入另一半的粉类搅拌均匀.
1. Mix and sift the icing sugar, almond meal, baking powder and cake flour. Beat the eggs till white and fluffy. Add in half of the sifted powder, mix well. Add in the other half and mix well again.

2．最后把植物油倒入步骤 1 , 搅拌均匀，备用。
2.  Add corn oil into step 1, mix well and set aside.

3．把塔塔粉加入蛋白中，用打蛋器搅拌至发泡，加入幼糖，打至硬性发泡
3.  Add the tartar powder into the egg white and beat until foamy. Add in the caster sugar and continue to beat until meringue is formed.

4．把1/3的蛋白加入杏仁糊内，轻轻的搅拌均匀再把2/3的蛋白放入，搅拌均匀。
4.  Lightly fold 1/3 of the meringue into the almond mixture. Fold in the remaining 2/3 of meringue evenly.

5．把面糊倒入7寸方形蛋糕模内，用180度30分钟（视个人烤炉而定）。
5.  Pour the batter into a 7" square tin and bake in a preheated oven at 180°c for 30 min.

6．烤出来后，立刻倒扣呆冷，然后切成3片待用。
6.  Invert the cake immediately after removing from the oven. When it has cooled down completely, cut the cake into 3 layers of equal thickness.

 咖啡糖浆The coffee syrup
水(water) 40g
白糖(caster sugar) 30g
即溶咖啡粉( instant coffee powder) 1 tbsp
咖啡酒（kahlua）1 tbsp

做法Method：
小火将糖和水煮溶，加入即溶咖啡粉，10分钟后加入咖啡利口酒，搅拌均匀，过筛，即可用。
Dissolve the sugar in water over low flame, then add in the instant coffee powder. After 10 minutes, add in the kahlua, stir well and strain for later use.

法式焦糖咖啡奶油French style caramel coffee cream
白糖(caste sugar) 75g
水(water) 30ml
动物性奶油(whipping cream) 50ml
蛋黄(egg yolk) 2粒/pcs
植物性鲜奶油(topping cream) 120g
咖啡精华液(coffee essence) 1/2tbsp

做法：
1。 隔水加热动物性奶油，保温待用。
1.  Double boil the whipping cream and keep it warm for later use.

2。 蛋黄用打蛋器打散。（体积变大，状态浓稠）
2.   Beat the egg yolk until light and foamy.

3。 把水和糖，煮至呈金黄色，接近变焦糖时，加入加热动物性奶油，煮一会马上离火。
3.   Boil the water and sugar until nearly caramelized, add in the warm whipping cream and cook for a short while before removing the pot from the flame.

4。 然后将煮好的奶油焦糖（做法3）徐徐地加入蛋黄（做法2）中，同时用打蛋器不断搅拌它，直到完全变凉。
4.  Slowly add the cream caramel(step 3) into the egg yolk(step 2). Continue to stir the mixture until it has cooled down completely.

5。把植物性鲜奶油稍微打发然后，慢慢拌入焦糖蛋黄（做法4）里。最后才加入咖啡香精，搅拌均匀后即为法式焦糖咖啡奶油。
5.  Whisk the topping cream until soft peaks form. Slowly fold it into the caramelized egg yolk mixture(step 4). Finally add in the coffee essence and stir evenly to make the French style caramel coffee cream.

（不要把奶油打过发因为过发的奶油很容易变粗，当奶油变粗后，也可以加入一些鲜奶油或水把它调至顺滑）
 (Don't over-beat the topping cream or it might turn coarse. Should it turn coarse, add a little water of fresh topping cream to make it less coarse.)

巧克力干那许ChocolateGanache ：

黑巧克力(dark chocolate) 150g
动物奶油 (whipping cream) 150g
牛油(butter) 15g

做法Mehthod：
小火将所有材料煮至成光滑便是干娜许了。
Cook all the ingredients over a low flame until smooth and gleaming to make the ganache.

蛋糕组合Assemble：
1。 取一片蛋糕，放入1个7寸托底模，刷上咖啡糖酱，涂一层法式焦糖咖啡奶油，一层干娜许。
1.   Place a layer of cake in a 7" base removable square tin and brush the surface with a thin layer of coffee syrup. Spread a layer of French caramel coffee cream, then a layer of chocolate ganache on top.

2。 铺上第二片蛋糕，刷上咖啡糖酱，涂一层法式焦糖咖啡奶油，一层干娜许。
2.   Next add a second layer of cake, coffee syrup, French caramel coffee cream and chocolate ganache.

3。 铺上最后一片蛋糕， 刷上咖啡糖酱，涂一层法式焦糖咖啡奶油，放入冰箱冷藏5分钟，最后淋上剩余的干娜许，再次收进冰箱冷藏至少4个小时或干娜许完全凝固。
3.  Add the third layer of cake, coffee syrup and French caramel coffee cream. Refrigerate for 5 minutes before drizzling the remaining chocolate ganache on top. Chill the cake in for least 4 hours or until it is set. 

传统的法国欧培拉一共有6层，

3层是被咖啡糖浆泡的杏仁海绵蛋糕，

中间有一层咖啡味黄油糖霜和一层巧克力甘纳许，

最上面是 一层黑巧克力。
The traditional European Opera Cake has 6 layers, 3 layers of coffee syrup immersed almond sponge cake sandwiching a layer of coffee flavoured butter cream and a layer of chocolate ganache, while a layer of dark chocolate completes the top layer.

我这次的欧培拉是简化版。

3片咖啡酒杏仁蛋糕，3层法式焦糖咖啡奶油，3层干娜许，

下回再做，一定是个正统的欧培拉。
This Opera Cake is a simplified version, a layer of kahlua almond sponge cake, French style caramel coffee cream and chocolate ganache repeated thrice to make nine layers. Next time, I'll definitely make an original version.

I am submitting this to Best Recipes For Everyone event, "Fun with Almond' April 2015, host by Fion of XuanHom's Mom Kitchen Dairyand co-host by Doreen of my little favourite DIY.

****** Enjoy ! ******