Chocolate Mousse Cake

This chocolate mousse cake makes the perfect light dessert. It is made with a rich chocolate cake base, cool creamy mousse filling and topped with rich chocolate ganache.

This cake has loads of chocolate from top to bottom. The cool, rich texture makes it great for any special occasion or holiday.

Rich and velvety Chocolate Mousse Cake is an impressive yet oh-so-easy cake recipe that is sure to wow at the dessert table!

Ingredients:

For the cake: 

• 145g granulated sugar
• 60ml vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 48g sour cream, at room temperature
• 140g plain flour
• 20g cocoa powder, sifted
• 1¼ tsp baking powder
• ¼ bicarbonate soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 157ml hot brewed coffee

For the chocolate mousse layer:

• 1 tbsp cold water
• 1 tsp gelatine powder
• 1 cup + 2 tbsp double cream, divided
• 115g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
• 65g icing sugar
• 225g cream cheese, at room temperature
• 50g granulated sugar
• 2 tsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the ganache:

• 75g dark chocolate
• 90ml double cream

For the whipped topping:

• 1 cup double cream
• 65g icing sugar
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

For the cake: Preheat the oven to 175ºC/160ºC for fan assist oven.  Line an 8"/20cm cake tin with baking paper.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed until the eggs and oil are well combined and the batter is lighter in colour. Next mix in the sour cream and beat until well combined.

In a separate bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Add half the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, followed by half of the coffee, and mix until the flour is just incorporated at a low speed. You can also use a hand whisk to do this. Then add the remaining dry ingredients and coffee. Beat until all of the ingredients are well combined.

Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and stir the batter from the bottom to the top to ensure it is well mixed.

Bake for 30 minutes or until the skewer inserted comes out clean. Cool completely.

For the mousse layer: Place 1 tablespoon of cold water in a small dosh. Sprinkle the gelatine powder over the cold water. Allow the gelatine to bloom, about 3-5 minutes.

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate and 2 tablespoons of the double cream. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring each time until the chocolate is melted.

Next, melt the gelatine in the microwave for about 5 seconds until it turns back liquid. Watch it closely. Remove any lumps that did not melt. Stir the liquid gelatine into the melted chocolate and set it aside to cool.

Prepare the whipping cream. Using the clean bowl, beat the double cream on high speed until it is thickened to soft peaks. Next, add the icing sugar and continue beating at high speed until stiff peaks form. Set the whipped cream aside.

Beat the cream cheese until it is completely smooth. and free of lumps. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the granulated sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla extract, and beat until well combined.

Next, add the melted chocolate, beating until it is completely mixed into the cream cheese, scraping down the bowl as needed. Lastly, fold in the prepared whipped cream and mix until all the ingredients are combined.

To assemble: Transfer the cake layer to an 8 inch spring form pan, or line the cake tin with baking paper along the bottom and up the sides if you want to remove the cake from the pan. Place the cake in the bottom of the pan. Pour the chocolate filling over the chocolate cake, spread evenly and refrigerate until the filling is set, 2-4 hours.

For the chocolate ganache: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate and the double cream. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30 second increments and stir until completely combined. Allow to cool.

Pour the chocolate over the mousse layer and spread evenly. Allow the ganache to set a little bit before adding the topping.

For the topping: Prepare a second batch of whipping cream following the same instructions as above, adding cocoa powder together with the icing sugar and vanilla. Pipe the border using a large open star tip.