They cite the fact that it became the signature cake at his shop on the Boulevard Beaumarchais as evidence for their claims. Those who side with the first origin story claim that Clichy had debuted the opera cake (then called the Clichy cake) at the Paris Exposition Culinaire all the way back in 1903. One possible origin may have been in 1903 by renowned French pastry chef Louis Clichy, and another from the patisserie Dalloyau, who claim that their pastry chef Cyriaque Gavillon created the cake in 1955. There are varying origin stories concerning when this cake was first conceived, as well as who was the first pastry chef to come up with the idea. Typically, the word “opera” is written across the top of the cake, but it can also be topped with whatever you want, so as to give your cake your own flair.

Opera cake is comprised of six thin layers of almond cake soaked in a sweet coffee liqueur, espresso-laden buttercream, dark chocolate ganache, and a final top layer of sweet chocolate glaze.

Fancy opera cake