Operacreamscandies Recipes

OPERA CREAM CANDY

Steps:

• Line an 8x8-inch pan with aluminum foil and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, heavy cream, and corn syrup and bring to a boil. Boil, without stirring, until the mixture reaches 238°F using a candy thermometer.
• Quickly transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on low for 1 minute, then increase the speed to medium-high and beat for 6 more minutes or until mixture loses its sheen. Then mix in the vanilla and salt.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, spreading evenly, and refrigerate for 30 minutes until set.
• Chop up the chocolate and add to a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave on 30-second intervals, stirring between each one until chocolate is smooth.
• Spread the melted chocolate over the top of the set candy, place back in the fridge until chocolate hardens.
• Remove from fridge and slice into squares.

OPERA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line the bottom of two 10x15 inch pans with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, beat 12 egg whites, gradually adding 3/4 cup sugar, until stiff. In a separate bowl, beat together 10 eggs, ground almonds, confectioners' sugar and pastry flour until smooth. Stir in melted butter. Fold in beaten egg whites. Spread batter evenly in prepared pans.
• Bake in preheated oven 10 minutes, or until center springs back when lightly touched. Invert cakes onto wire racks and remove parchment. Let cool completely.
• For the buttercream, combine 1 1/4 cups sugar and 3/8 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat to between 234 and 240 degrees F (112 to 116 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface.
• While the syrup is heating, begin beating the 3 egg whites with an electric mixer on medium speed. When syrup is ready, increase mixer speed to high, and pour syrup into egg whites in a thin stream. Continue to beat until mixture is room temperature. Beat in butter, a little at a time, and coffee extract until smooth.
• For the ganache, bring cream to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour over chopped chocolate and stir until all is melted. Let cool in refrigerator.
• To make the coffee syrup, combine 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 1 minute more. Stir in instant coffee until dissolved.
• To assemble the dessert: Cut each sheet of cake in half. You will use 3 halves for the layers of the Opera -- reserve the fourth for another dessert. Place one cake layer on a flat plate. Soak with half of the coffee syrup. Spread with half the ganache to make an even layer about as thick as the cake layer. Top with another layer of cake, soak it with coffee syrup, and spread an even layer of buttercream over that. Top with third cake layer. Chill in refrigerator 1 hour.
• To finish, heat remaining ganache in a double boiler over simmering water until liquid. Place Opera on a rack over parchment paper and pour ganache over top, completely covering surface, using a spatula to spread if necessary. Chill in refrigerator until ganache is firm, then trim sides of Opera and cut into 8 slices to serve.

OPERA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line 2 jelly roll pans with parchment paper.
• Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until soft peaks form. Slowly add white sugar and whip on high speed until the whites are stiff and glossy.
• Beat almond flour, confectioners' sugar, eggs, and egg yolks in a separate bowl for 3 minutes. Add flour and beat on low speed until combined. Gently fold egg whites into the almond mixture until combined. Divide batter between the jelly roll pans; spread evenly.
• Bake cake layers in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Invert onto cooling racks and peel off parchment paper; let cool.
• Make coffee syrup while cake is cooling. Combine boiling water, sugar, and coffee powder in a small bowl; stir until dissolved.
• Stir 2 tablespoons boiling water and coffee powder together for the buttercream. Set aside.
• Combine sugar, 1/4 cup water, and vanilla extract in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the mixture reaches 255 degrees F (124 degrees C).
• Meanwhile, beat egg and egg yolk in a stand mixer on high speed until pale and foamy. Pour hot sugar syrup carefully down the side of the mixer bowl, mixing continuously until the bottom of the bowl feels cool to the touch.
• Beat butter in a separate bowl until creamy. Add butter gradually to the egg mixture, beating until frosting is fluffy. Add the dissolved coffee mixture and beat until well incorporated.
• Place dark chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Bring milk and cream to a boil in a saucepan. Pour over chocolate; stir until melted and smooth. Whisk in butter until ganache looks smooth and creamy. Let cool.
• Cut cooled cake layers in half crosswise. Place 1 piece on a rectangular serving plate. Sprinkle some coffee syrup on top. Add an even layer of buttercream. Repeat with a second cake layer, more coffee syrup, and another layer of buttercream. Spread 1/2 of the ganache on top. Repeat with remaining, cake layers, coffee syrup, and buttercream. Top cake with remaining ganache.

OPERA CREAMS CANDIES

Steps:

• Mix together sugar,cream,corn syrup,butter and salt in a saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar has dissolved.
• Cook about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally until a candy thermometer reaches 238 F (soft-ball stage).
• Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla and maple extract.
• Pour into a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until creamy.
• Stir in pecans.
• Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto greased waxed paper and let cool until hardened.
• Store in an airtight contained between sheets of waxed paper.
• NOTE: You may use either light or dark corn syrup- the difference will be a slight change in color.

OPERA CREAMS

Steps:

• Combine sugar, cream, corn syrup, butter, and salt in a heavy saucepan and cook over low heat until sugar is dissolved, stirring constantly. Cook to soft ball stage (238 degrees F on candy thermometer), stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and add maple flavoring and vanilla. Pour into a large bowl and beat with a mixer until creamy. Add pecans. Drop by teaspoonsful onto buttered waxed paper. Let cool for 1 hour. Store in an airtight container between layers of waxed paper.

CINCINNATI OPERA CREAM CANDIES

Steps:

• Blend cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Add sugar, one pound at a time. Mix with spoon until it's the consistency that you can roll into a ball. If still oily, you may want to add more sugar.
• Put balls on wax paper; spoon melted chocolate over it, or you can set the balls in small paper candy wrappers and spoon chocolate over them. Refrigerate.
• Balls can be rolled one day, refrigerated, and then spoon chocolate over them the next day.