Opera cream facts for kids
Opera creams are a special kind of chocolate candy. They are very popular in Cincinnati, Ohio. You can also find them in other cities in Ohio and in Kentucky.
The Sweet Story of Opera Creams
No one is completely sure who invented the opera cream. Some say it was Bissinger's, and others say it was the Robert H. Putnam Company. Both were candy makers in Cincinnati. The first ads for these candies appeared in 1924 by Putnam's.
There's a fun story about how they got their name. The legend says these candies were given out for free during intermissions at the Cincinnati Music Hall. This was a treat for people watching the opera!
Opera creams are a favorite sweet in Cincinnati. Candy shops like Schneider's Sweet Shop and Aglamesis Bro's sell them. Many people call them the "most Cincinnati of all sweets." You can also find them from Esther Price Candies, which is based in Dayton, Ohio. In Covington, Kentucky, a business called Chris A. Papas & Son says their opera cream Easter egg is their most popular Easter treat.
How Are Opera Creams Made?
The inside of an opera cream is soft and creamy. It's made from cream, sugar, vanilla, and a bit of marshmallow cream. The outside is covered in chocolate. This can be milk, dark, or white chocolate.
Making opera creams happens in four steps:
- First, the cream, sugar, and vanilla are heated. They are warmed in a special pot called a double boiler. This creates a sweet mixture called "fondant."
- Next, the fondant cools down. Then, it's kneaded in a machine called a ball cream beater. This machine mixes it in a circular way.
- After that, the fondant is shaped into small pieces. These pieces become the creamy center of the candy.
- Finally, each cream center is dipped and covered in chocolate.
Different Kinds of Opera Creams
Opera creams usually come as rectangular chocolates. You can find them with dark, milk, or white chocolate coatings.
Around the Easter holiday, opera cream Easter eggs become very popular. Some of these special Easter eggs can be quite big, weighing up to 3 lb (1.4 kg)!
Other yummy foods are also made using the opera cream idea. These include cakes, cupcakes, and even flavored beer stouts. The BonBonerie Bakery in Cincinnati makes many opera cream cakes. During the winter holidays, they sell up to eighty 9 in (23 cm) cakes each day!
