Dreamy Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake Recipe for Sweet Souls

Decadent dark chocolate mousse cake sends chocolate lovers into a blissful spiral of pure indulgence.

Rich, silky layers promise an extraordinary dessert experience that melts effortlessly on your tongue.

Each velvety bite reveals a symphony of deep, intense chocolate flavors.

The recipe balances elegant complexity with simple techniques that even novice bakers can master.

Luxurious yet approachable, this dessert strikes the perfect balance between sophisticated and comforting.

chocolate enthusiasts will swoon over the intense, smooth texture and profound cocoa notes.

Get ready to impress and savor every single delectable spoonful.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30min

Cook Time: 20-25min

Total Time: 55min

Calories: 400 kcal

Servings: 13

Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake: Ingredients List

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides sturdy structure and delicate crumb for the cake foundation.
• Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich, deep chocolate flavor and beautiful dark color.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps create tender cake texture.
• Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Essential leavening agents for soft, light cake layers.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor complexity and balances sweetness.
• Espresso Powder: Intensifies chocolate's depth and adds subtle coffee undertone.

• Vegetable Oil: Ensures moisture and creates tender, soft cake texture.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and provide structure to cake layers.
• Sour Cream: Adds tanginess and creates incredibly moist cake consistency.
• Buttermilk: Tenderizes cake and provides slight acidic flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: Rounds out chocolate flavor with warm, aromatic notes.
• Hot Water/Coffee: Activates cocoa powder and deepens chocolate intensity.
• Chocolate Chips: Optional texture booster with extra chocolate bursts.

• Dark Chocolate Bars: Creates luxurious, intense chocolate flavor base.
• Heavy Cream: Provides silky, rich texture for mousse and ganache.
• Cocoa Powder: Enhances chocolate depth and color.
• Confectioners' Sugar: Sweetens and stabilizes whipped cream.
• Fresh Berries: Optional elegant garnish with bright, complementary flavor.
• Chocolate Shavings: Decorative topping adding visual and textural interest.

Tools You’ll Need for Mousse Cake

• Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer: Essential for whipping cream and blending cake batter smoothly.
• Double Boiler or Microwave: Perfect for melting chocolate without burning.
• Cake Pans (8-inch or 9-inch): Four pans needed for creating multiple cake layers.
• Parchment Paper: Crucial for preventing cake from sticking and easy removal.
• Icing Spatula: Great for spreading ganache and smoothing cake surfaces.
• Wire Rack: Helps cakes cool evenly after baking.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures precise ingredient quantities.
• Medium Heat-Proof Bowl: Used for preparing ganache and melting chocolate.
• Small Saucepan: Ideal for heating cream for ganache.
• Cake Stand: Provides a beautiful platform for assembling and presenting the cake.
• Whisk: Necessary for mixing dry ingredients and creating smooth batters.
• Toothpick: Helps check cake doneness during baking.

Making Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake

• Cake Base Preparation

Mix dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, creating a smooth chocolate foundation. Combine wet ingredients separately, blending until silky and well-incorporated. Gently fold mixtures together, creating a rich, velvety batter that promises decadent flavor.

• Baking Process

Pour batter into prepared cake pans, ensuring even distribution. Bake until a gentle tap in the center reveals a perfectly cooked texture. Allow layers to cool completely, developing deep chocolate notes.

• Chocolate Mousse Creation

Melt premium chocolate using gentle heat, creating a luxurious base. Whip cream until soft peaks form, folding chocolate mixture carefully to maintain delicate airiness. Chill mousse to develop intense flavor and creamy consistency.

• Cake Assembly

Stack cake layers with generous mousse between each level. Create a smooth exterior by applying a thin mousse layer around the entire cake. Refrigerate to set the structure and enhance flavor melding.

• Ganache Finishing

Prepare silky ganache by combining heated cream with high-quality chocolate. Allow mixture to cool slightly, creating a glossy, pourable coating. Drizzle over chilled cake, creating an elegant, professional appearance.

• Final Presentation

Garnish with delicate chocolate shavings or fresh seasonal berries. Serve chilled for maximum flavor and texture enjoyment. Store in refrigerator to maintain optimal taste and consistency.

Tips for Rich Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake

• Learn pro-level strategies for creating the most decadent dark chocolate mousse cake.
• Fold mousse ingredients gently to maintain airiness and prevent deflating the delicate whipped cream mixture.
• Always let cake layers and mousse cool completely before assembling to prevent structural collapse and ensure clean, crisp layers.
• Customize chocolate intensity by experimenting with different cocoa percentages or adding a splash of espresso for deeper, richer notes.
• Prepare cake components separately up to 2 days in advance, storing mousse and cake layers individually in the refrigerator to streamline final assembly and reduce day-of stress.

Serving Your Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake

• Decadent Date Night Delight: Perfect for a romantic evening, this rich chocolate mousse cake sets the mood for an intimate dessert experience. Slice and share with your special someone.
• Elegant Dinner Party Showstopper: Impress your guests with this stunning chocolate creation that looks professionally made. Serve on a beautiful cake stand to elevate the presentation.
• Chocolate Lover's Dream Plating: Enhance the cake with a drizzle of raspberry coulis or a sprinkle of sea salt flakes. Pair with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a shot of espresso for maximum indulgence.
• Weekend Celebration Centerpiece: Create a memorable dessert for family gatherings or milestone celebrations. Garnish with edible gold leaf or fresh seasonal berries to make the cake feel extra special.

Saving: Mousse Cake Tips

• Fridge-Ready Bliss: Store the cake in an airtight container to maintain moisture and prevent absorbing other refrigerator odors.
• Slice and Freeze Magic: Individual cake slices can be wrapped separately in plastic wrap and frozen for up to 3 weeks, perfect for quick chocolate cravings.
• Temperature Wisdom: Always serve the mousse cake chilled, removing from the refrigerator just 10-15 minutes before serving to achieve the ideal creamy texture.
• Make-Ahead Masterpiece: Assemble the entire cake up to 2 days in advance, keeping it tightly covered in the refrigerator to ensure maximum flavor and freshness.

Silky Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake Recipe

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4.8 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 55min
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Dark chocolate mousse cake delights chocolate enthusiasts with its rich, silky layers of indulgence. Rich French chocolate and creamy ganache combine seamlessly for an elegant dessert you’ll savor with pure pleasure.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• ¾ cup (180 g) full fat sour cream, room temperature
• 2 x 4 oz (113 g each) quality semi-sweet chocolate bars, finely chopped
• 1 ¾ cups (350 g) granulated sugar
• 1 ½ cups (360 ml) heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup (120 ml) canola or vegetable oil
• ½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk, room temperature
• ½ cup (120 ml) hot water or coffee
• ½ cup (120 ml) hot water
• 1 ¾ cups (219 g) all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup (62 g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• ¼ cup (22 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 tsp espresso powder (optional)
• 2 tbsps (15 g) confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup (180 g) mini or regular semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
• Fresh berries (optional garnish)
• Chocolate shavings (optional garnish)

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Grease and line cake pans with parchment paper, creating a non-stick surface for optimal cake release.
2. Dry Ingredients: Combine flour, cocoa powder, sugar, leavening agents, and espresso powder in a mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution.
3. Wet Ingredients: Blend oil, eggs, sour cream, buttermilk, and vanilla until smooth and well-incorporated.
4. Batter Formation: Merge wet and dry ingredients, introducing hot water or coffee to develop a silky, homogeneous mixture.
5. Baking: Pour batter evenly into prepared pans and bake until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely within the pans.
6. Mousse Creation: Dissolve cocoa powder in hot water and melt chocolate until glossy. Whip heavy cream with confectioners’ sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form, then gently fold in the chocolate mixture.
7. Cake Assembly: Position cake layers, spreading mousse between each tier with precision. Apply a thin crumb coat and chill to stabilize the structure.
8. Ganache Finish: Heat cream and pour over chopped chocolate, creating a velvety coating. Allow to cool slightly before cascading over the chilled cake.
9. Decoration and Serving: Embellish with chocolate shavings or fresh berries. Refrigerate and serve within 4-6 hours for optimal flavor and texture.

Notes

• Prevent Dry Cake: Avoid overmixing batter to maintain moisture and tender crumb structure.
• Temperature Precision: Use room temperature ingredients for smoother blending and consistent cake texture.
• Chocolate Quality Matters: Select high-percentage dark chocolate for richer, more intense mousse flavor.
• Chill for Success: Allow each layer and coating to set in refrigerator for clean, professional cake assembly.

• Prep Time: 30min
• Cook Time: 20-25min
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 38g
• Sodium: 210mg
• Fat: 25g
• Saturated Fat: 15g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 43g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 5g
• Cholesterol: 80mg