It’s a rustic cake with chopped apples stirred into a buttery batter – no mixer required. It’s a winning flavor combination that makes this easy French Apple Cake something truly special!

Simply delicious!īig kudos to the French chef (or home cook) who originally came up with the idea of adding rum to a simple apple cake recipe. Please read our disclosure policy.įrench Apple Cake has diced apples in a simple buttery cake infused with rum. But then perhaps it was Louis Clichy - a famed pastry chef who claimed to have unveiled the Opera cake - his newest creation - at the Paris Culinary Exhibition of 1903? All we know is that Dalloyau is usually the establishment credited with the Opera - but as we know, history is written by the victors.This post may contain affiliate links. Gaston Lenôtre, another famous name still found in the Paris pastry world, claimed the discovery in 1960. There are competing theories of course, as there always seem to be when it comes to the invention of a classic. Why is it called an Opera? Good question! The legend goes that when Cyrique's wife, Andrée, saw the finished article she said it reminded her of the stage at the Opera Garnier - the name stuck! Known for its avant-garde creations, Dalloyau opened its 'Maison de Gastronomie' in 1802 on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, but by that point they'd already been supplying Versailles with delectable treats since 1682! The original Paris boutique remains, still showcasing Gavillon's ingenious creation to this day, though these days the recipe calls for 70% cocoa chocolate blend from Venezuela and Italian roast coffee, which gets our vote. His creation took cake to a whole new level a decadent, richly flavoured dessert in a rectangular shape. For its creator we must look to Cyrique Gavillon, a pastry chef extraordinaire at a rather famous pastry institution - Dalloyau.

French opera cake recipe