One summer we had a chocolate mousse cake recipe contest. The contest was between recipes to find the best one. One thing I found was that there is no consensus of exactly what a chocolate mousse cake is made of besides having mousse somewhere in it. I must have tried 7 or 8 different recipes, but none of them were deemed worthy enough of making a second time. This one, however, is exceptional. And it’s great to be able to make it a day ahead of time.
We chose to top this cake with fresh berries as it was made for a summer dinner. However, different decorations would work just as well: powdered sugar, whipped cream, white frosting or raspberry sauce drizzle – whatever goes best with the menu!
Looking for a chocolate dessert, but not this one? Try one of these:
- Chocolate Espresso Cake – Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Vegan
- Chocolate Mousse – Gluten-free
- Flourless Chocolate Cake – Gluten-free, Dairy-free
- Fourth of July Brownie
Chocolate Mousse Cake
This cake is a showstopper for any occasion. It's rich, moist and decadent, and you can whip it up in advance. Just bake the cake and add the mousse on top and chill until the next day. Then you only need to make the silky chocolate ganache and spread it over the cake. Add some fresh berries, nuts, or sprinkles for a festive touch.
Ingredients
Cake
- ⅝ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar
- ¾ cup strong hot coffee
- 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
- ¾ tsp apple cider vinegar
Mousse
- 2 cups heavy cream divided
- 4 egg yolks
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 cups 60% bittersweet chocolate chips melted
- ½ cup powdered sugar
Ganache
- ½ cup 60% bittersweet chocolate chips
- ⅜ cup heavy cream
Garnish
- fresh berries
- whipped cream
- powdered sugar
Instructions
Cake
- Pre heat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper and grease with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder until well combined. In a separate large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, coffee, oil, and vinegar until sugar is dissolved. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir until completely incorporated. Pour into prepared springform pan and bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Mousse
- Heat 1 cup cream over medium-high until just beginning to steam. Remove from heat. Whisk together egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and slowly stream in half of the hot cream while whisking. Add egg yolk mixture into saucepan with remaining hot cream and whisk to combine. Return to medium-high heat, whisking constantly until slightly thickened and mixture begins to boil.
- Remove from heat and whisk in melted chocolate until completely smooth. Set aside to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Whip the remaining 1 cup cream with the powdered sugar. In 3 additions, fold the cream into the chocolate with a spatula. Pour over top of cake layer in springform pan and smooth the surface with a spatula. Refrigerate for 5 hours or overnight, until the mousse is completely set.
Ganache
- Heat cream in a saucepan until just beginning to steam. Remove from heat and add chocolate. Let sit for 2 minutes before stirring the chocolate into the cream. Allow to cool to room temperature. (Note: Do not refrigerate.)
Assemble
- Take a hot wet towel and run it around the outside of the springform pan a few times to loosen the cake. Open the pan, gently remove the base and parchment paper, and move the cake to a platter. Spread the cooled chocolate ganache over the top of the cake and garnish with fresh berries and whipped cream or powdered sugar if desired.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 529kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 7gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 23gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 118mgSodium: 226mgPotassium: 358mgFiber: 2gSugar: 37gVitamin A: 783IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 168mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!