Chocolate Mousse Cake | Life, Love and Sugar

July 20, 2023

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This Chocolate Mousse Cake is a basic. It’s made up of three layers of moist chocolate cake divided by two layers of clean and creamy chocolate mousse. The entire thing is roofed in a light-weight chocolate whipped cream frosting. Decadently scrumptious!

A slice of chocolate mousse cake on a plate with a fork near a bowl of chocolate chips.

Wealthy & Decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake

There’s nothing fairly like a wealthy, silky chocolate mousse. When mixed with a moist, tender chocolate cake, you could have probably the most great cake – excellent for celebrations or satisfying a chocolate craving. This chocolate mousse cake is that chocolate cake. In case you’ve ever made my Raspberry Chocolate Cake or my Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake, you’ve already made the cake itself earlier than. It’s all the time successful and tremendous simple to make. It’s similar to my favourite Chocolate Cake, however a contact extra sturdy, which works effectively for the layering on this cake.

The three layers of chocolate cake are layered with a standard, decadent, clean chocolate mousse. There aren’t any shortcuts right here. We’re utilizing real-deal chocolate mousse. The entire thing is roofed with chocolate-infused whipped cream frosting and garnished with chocolate sprinkles. Every side of this cake is loaded with chocolate taste and is certain to wow the chocolate lovers in your life.

Chocolate mousse layer cake on a cake stand.

Why You’ll Love This Straightforward Mousse Cake

In case the phrases “chocolate mousse cake” didn’t already have you ever operating to the kitchen with out additional thought, right here’s a listing of a few of my favourite issues about this cake. You must strive it.

No fancy mixing technique. The batter is very easy to whip up. You’ll be shocked at how shortly you’ll be popping the truffles within the oven.
Wealthy and decadent. In case you’re a chocolate lover like me, this cake will knock your socks off. It’s brimming with wealthy chocolate taste. Get that chilly glass of milk prepared.
Moist. The cake layers themselves are completely moist, making this dessert a dream to sink your tooth into.
Actual chocolate mousse. Some chocolate mousse truffles will take shortcuts relating to the mousse filling. Not this one. The filling for this cake is a real-deal chocolate mousse. It’s extremely wealthy and splendidly silky clean. Make a double batch and revel in it as is!

What You’ll Want

Right here’s a listing of what you’ll need to make this sinfully scrumptious layer cake. You’ll want to scroll to the recipe card under for actual measurements.

Ingredients for chocolate mousse cake separated into bowls.

Chocolate cake

All-purpose flour – Be happy to make use of your favourite 1:1 gluten-free flour as a substitute.
Sugar
Pure unsweetened cocoa powder
Baking soda and Baking powder – These two leavenings offer you finest texture and rise on this cake. It’s tremendous tender, but in addition sturdy.
Salt – Salt amplifies the flavors within the cake. Don’t depart it out.
Milk – I counsel utilizing entire milk or 2%. Dairy-free? Attempt a full-fat, unsweetened diary various comparable to oat milk or cashew milk.
Vegetable oil – This cake makes use of oil as a substitute of butter and is tremendous moist.
Vanilla extract
Eggs – You’ll want to use giant measurement eggs.
Scorching water – For added moisture with out extra fats to weigh the cake down. The warmth helps the cocoa bloom to offer the chocolate cake a extra intense taste.

Chocolate mousse

Egg yolks – These thicken the mousse and add to the wealthy and creamy texture.
Sugar
Heavy whipping cream – Ought to be chilly with the intention to whip correctly.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips – I like to recommend semi-sweet chocolate. You could possibly use darkish chocolate. Milk chocolate may also be advantageous, nevertheless it doesn’t agency up fairly as a lot, so the mousse could also be a bit softer.
Powdered sugar – To assist stabilize the whipped cream.

Chocolate whipped cream frosting

Heavy whipping cream – The heavy whipping cream have to be chilly. In any other case, it won’t whip up and maintain quantity correctly.
Powdered sugar – To stabilize the whipped cream in order that it by no means wilts.
Pure unsweetened cocoa – Dutch-processed cocoa powder will work as effectively. Simply word that the chocolate taste might be extra intense and a bit extra bitter. It’ll even be darker in coloration.
Vanilla extract
Chocolate sprinkles

A slice of chocolate mousse cake on a plate with a bite taken out of it.

The best way to Make Chocolate Mousse Cake

Three cake layers, chocolate mousse filling, and chocolate whipped cream frosting. It’d sound like so much however I promise that in case you take your time and observe my directions carefully, you’ll find yourself with an extremely scrumptious, lovely layer cake. Right here’s make it. Scroll to the recipe card under for extra detailed directions.

Make the cake

Prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F, line the bottoms of three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper, and grease the perimeters.
Mix the dry components. Combine collectively the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Mix the moist components. Combine collectively the milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and eggs.
Mix the moist and dry components. Add the moist components to the dry components and beat till effectively mixed.
Slowly add the recent water and blend to mix.

Whisking together dry ingredients for chocolate cake batter.

Whisking together wet ingredients for chocolate cake batter.

Bake. Divide the batter between the cake pans. Bake for 22-25 minutes.
Cool. Enable the truffles to chill of their pans for 2-3 minutes earlier than transferring to a cooling rack to chill fully.

Chocolate cake batter in cake pans ready to be baked.

Three layers of chocolate cake arranged side by side.

For the chocolate mousse

Warmth the egg yolks, sugar, and 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream within the prime of a double boiler over simmering water for 7-10 minutes, whisking continually. Take away from the warmth and put aside.
Soften the chocolate. Microwave the chocolate chips in intervals of 10-15 seconds, stirring effectively between every, till melted and clean.

Whisking egg and sugar mixture to make chocolate mousse.

Whisk the chocolate into the egg yolk combination. Let it cool to room temperature.
Whip 1 1/4 cups of heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar till stiff peaks type.
Put all of it collectively. Fold 1/4 of the whipped cream into the chocolate combination. Fold 1/4 of the chocolate combination into the whipped cream. Fold the remaining chocolate combination into the whipped cream.

egg mixture and melted chocolate combined

Chocolate mousse after folding in the whipped cream in a mixing bowl.

Construct the cake

Degree the tops of the chocolate truffles with a big serrated knife.
Put together the meeting pan. Use a clear cake collar (proven within the pictures) or an 8×3 inch cake pan (I like to recommend a springform pan) to construct the cake. See the recipe card under for detailed directions on what to do in case you don’t have a springform pan.
Stack and fill. Place the primary cake layer within the backside of the cake pan. Unfold half of the chocolate mousse over the cake. Add the second cake layer and unfold the remaining mousse over the cake earlier than including the ultimate cake layer.

Wrapping a cake collar around a layer of chocolate cake.

Unfrosted chocolate mousse cake in a clear cake collar.

Frost and beautify

Make the frosting. Whip the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, pure unsweetened cocoa, and vanilla extract on excessive pace till stiff peaks type.
Take away the cake from the fridge and launch it from the springform pan.
Frost the skin of the cake with the chocolate whipped cream and pipe swirls across the outer prime fringe of the cake. Enhance with chocolate sprinkles.
Refrigerate till able to serve.

Chocolate whipped cream in a mixing bowl.

Frosting the top of chocolate mousse cake.

Ideas for Success

Intimidated by making this multifaceted layer cake? To not fear. I’ve acquired you coated with some useful suggestions and tips that can set you up for achievement. Right here they arrive.

Don’t over-mix. When combining the moist and dry components, don’t overmix the batter. This can trigger the glutens within the flour to overdevelop and can depart you with a tricky, dense cake.
Scrape the perimeters of the bowl as you add components and blend them in. This can assist be certain that all the components make it into the batter and are integrated evenly.
Not too sizzling. When cooking the egg yolk combination over the double broiler (for the mousse), don’t let the water boil otherwise you’ll find yourself with scrambled eggs. You simply need the water to be at a simmer. I counsel lifting the bowl sometimes to launch steam from beneath.
Preserve it transferring. When cooking the egg yolk combination for the mousse, it is vital that you simply whisk constantly. This not solely helps incorporate air and quantity into the combination however it can additionally assist hold you from ending up with scrambled eggs.
Be light with the mousse. When folding the chocolate combination into the whipped cream and vice versa, accomplish that gently with a rubber spatula in order to not knock the air out of the mousse.
Let the chocolate cool. Make sure that the egg yolk-chocolate combination has cooled fully earlier than folding it into the whipped cream for the mousse. In any other case, it can soften the whipped cream and knock the quantity out of it.
Chilly heavy cream. Make sure that the heavy whipping cream used to make the frosting is chilly. It would whip up and maintain quantity higher.
Let the truffles cool. Earlier than stacking, filling, and frosting the cake it’s essential to permit the cake layers to chill. In any other case, the mousse and the frosting will slide proper off.
No mess meeting. I extremely advocate utilizing a springform pan right here however, in case you don’t have one, assemble the cake on a cardboard cake circle with the assistance of a transparent cake collar. You should use an 8×3 inch cake pan as a substitute however ensure that to arrange it correctly. Place a big piece of plastic wrap within the cake pan in order that it covers the bottoms and sides. This can provide help to carry the cake out of the pan. Line the underside (over the plastic wrap) with a cardboard cake circle and line the perimeters of the pan with parchment paper. The parchment paper ought to stick up above the highest fringe of the pan to stop overflow.

Can The Mousse Be Ready in Advance?

I don’t advocate making the mousse upfront of including it to the cake. It would agency up within the fridge and also you’d should stir it again up earlier than utilizing it later, which may trigger it to deflate. You’ll be able to positively make the cake layers upfront although. And with the all of the moisture within the cake and chocolate mousse, you’ll be able to simply make the total cake a day or so upfront. It holds up very effectively.

A slice of chocolate mousse cake on a plate with a fork near a whole chocolate mousse cake on a cake stand and a bowl of chocolate chips.

The best way to Retailer This Chocolate Mousse Layer Cake

If you end up with leftover chocolate mousse cake, retailer it in an hermetic cake service or let it chill for a few hours within the fridge earlier than wrapping the entire thing in a double layer of plastic wrap. Use toothpicks to prop the plastic away from any decorations. Already sliced it? Organize the slices in a single layer in an hermetic container. No matter technique you select, you’ll be able to retailer the cake within the fridge for 4 to five days.

You too can freeze this cake. Pop it within the freezer for a few hours to agency up earlier than wrapping it in a double layer of plastic wrap and storing it within the freezer for as much as 3 months. In case you already sliced the cake, organize the slices in a single layer in an hermetic container and retailer it within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Let the cake thaw within the fridge earlier than serving.

Extra Decadent Chocolate Truffles

In a chocolate type of temper? Good. Me too. At all times. Listed below are just a few different heavenly chocolate truffles. Pour your self a glass of chilly milk and take your self on a chocolate cooking spree.

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