Irresistible Tuxedo Cake Recipe: Layered Elegance Made Simple

Tuxedo cake reinvents ordinary dessert moments into elegant celebrations of rich, decadent flavor.

Sweet sophistication meets chocolate magic in this stunning culinary creation.

Layers of velvety dark and white cake intertwine like a perfectly pressed formal suit.

Each slice promises an indulgent experience that balances intense cocoa depths with creamy smooth textures.

Dramatic visual contrasts make this dessert a showstopper at any gathering or special occasion.

Sophisticated yet approachable, the cake captures both refined technique and pure deliciousness.

Chocolate lovers and dessert enthusiasts will adore this spectacular treat that feels like a delectable work of art.

Why Tuxedo Cake Is a Dessert Showstopper

• Create Luxurious Layers: This tuxedo cake delivers stunning visual appeal with its elegant dark and white chocolate mousse layers, creating a dramatic contrast that looks professionally crafted.
• Master Complex Techniques: Home bakers can challenge themselves by learning sophisticated pastry methods like tempering egg yolks, creating smooth mousses, and assembling a multi-layered cake with precision.
• Indulge in Rich Chocolate Complexity: The recipe combines three different chocolate experiences- deep dark chocolate, creamy white chocolate, and smooth milk chocolate ganache- offering a decadent tasting journey that satisfies intense chocolate cravings.
• Design for Special Celebrations: Perfect for sophisticated events like anniversaries, birthdays, or elegant dinner parties where you want to impress guests with a stunning dessert that looks like it came from a high-end bakery.

What You’ll Need to Create a Tuxedo Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and texture for the chocolate cake.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a tender crumb.
• Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich chocolate flavor and deep color.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Crucial leavening agents for a light cake texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor balance.

• Eggs: Bind ingredients and add moisture to the cake.
• Milk: Creates a smooth, rich cake batter.
• Sour Cream: Adds tanginess and ensures a moist cake.
• Vegetable Oil: Keeps the cake soft and prevents dryness.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides depth of flavor and aroma.

• Dark Chocolate, White Chocolate: Primary flavoring for mousses with distinct chocolate profiles.
• Espresso Powder: Intensifies chocolate flavor without adding coffee taste.
• Heavy Cream: Creates smooth, rich mousse texture.
• Egg Yolks: Provides richness and helps thicken mousse.
• Milk Chocolate: Used for creating a silky ganache topping.

Building Your Tuxedo Cake Layer by Layer

Step 1: Prepare Baking Workspace

Gather all equipment and ingredients. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 8-inch cake pans with butter or cooking spray. Line bottom with parchment paper.

Step 2: Create Dry Cake Mixture

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Cocoa powder
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt

Sift ingredients together to remove any lumps and ensure smooth texture.

Step 3: Blend Wet Cake Ingredients

• Eggs
• Whole milk
• Sour cream
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract

Mix until ingredients are fully incorporated and smooth.

Step 4: Combine Cake Batter

Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture. Dissolve espresso powder in hot water and add to batter. Stir until completely smooth and no streaks remain.

Step 5: Bake Cake Layers

Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 6: Prepare Chocolate Mousses

Chop dark and white chocolates into separate bowls. Whisk egg yolks until pale and creamy.

Step 7: Create Cream Base

Heat half the cream with vanilla. Gradually whisk warm cream into egg yolks. Return mixture to heat and cook until it thickens slightly.

Step 8: Finish Chocolate Mousses

Pour cream mixture over chopped chocolates. Stir until fully melted. Whip remaining cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold whipped cream into each chocolate mixture separately.

Step 9: Assemble Cake Layers

Place first cake layer in a cake ring. Pour dark chocolate mousse over cake. Add white chocolate mousse on top. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Step 10: Add Second Cake Layer

Place second cake layer on top of mousses. Chill entire cake for 4 hours to set completely.

Step 11: Create Chocolate Ganache

Heat cream until just scalding. Pour over milk chocolate. Stir until smooth and glossy. Allow to cool to spreadable consistency.

Step 12: Finish And Serve

Remove cake from ring. Spread ganache over top of cake. Decorate with chocolate shavings, fresh berries, or whipped cream as desired. Slice and serve chilled.

Helpful Tips for Stunning Tuxedo Cake Results

• Measure Precisely: Use exact measurements for ingredients to ensure the perfect texture and taste of your tuxedo cake.
• Smooth Batter Technique: Gently fold ingredients to maintain air bubbles, creating a lighter, more delicate cake crumb.
• Chocolate Melting Magic: Melt chocolates slowly and carefully to prevent seizing and achieve a silky-smooth mousse consistency.
• Chill for Structure: Allow sufficient refrigeration time between layers to help the mousse set firmly and maintain the cake's elegant shape.
• Ganache Perfection: Let ganache cool to room temperature for the ideal spreading consistency, creating a glossy, professional finish.

Keeping and Reheating Tuxedo Cake

• Refrigeration: Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. Keeps fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Freezing: Slice cake before freezing. Place individual pieces in freezer-safe containers or wrap each slice in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Stores perfectly for up to 1 month.
• Reheating: Thaw frozen cake in the refrigerator overnight. Let sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to restore optimal texture and flavor.

Serve Tuxedo Cake with These Delicious Complements

• Pair with Bold Espresso: Complement the rich chocolate cake with a strong, freshly brewed espresso. The coffee notes in the cake will harmonize beautifully with the intense espresso, creating a decadent flavor explosion.
• Match with Raspberry Liqueur: Serve a small glass of raspberry liqueur alongside the cake. The bright, fruity notes will cut through the chocolate's richness and provide a delightful contrast to the dessert's deep, velvety texture.
• Enhance with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Add a scoop of premium vanilla bean ice cream on the side. The creamy, smooth vanilla will balance the cake's intense chocolate flavors and provide a cool, refreshing counterpoint to the dessert's richness.
• Complement with Cream Sherry: Pour a small glass of cream sherry to accompany the cake. The sweet, nutty notes of the sherry will beautifully enhance the chocolate's complexity and provide a sophisticated drinking experience.

Recipe Tweaks for Tuxedo Cake Creators

• Mocha Marvel: Replace espresso powder with strong brewed coffee and add a splash of coffee liqueur to intensify the coffee flavor, creating a rich and bold chocolate cake experience.
• Berry Bliss Tuxedo: Layer fresh raspberries or strawberries between the chocolate mousses, adding a tangy fruit element that complements the chocolate's deep flavor profile.
• Salted Caramel Edition: Drizzle homemade salted caramel sauce between cake layers and incorporate a light caramel mousse, introducing a sweet and salty contrast to the classic chocolate cake.
• Nutty Chocolate Dream: Fold chopped toasted almonds or hazelnuts into the chocolate mousses and sprinkle crushed nuts on top of the ganache for added texture and nutty depth.

Tuxedo Cake Recipe

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4.8 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Rich chocolate tuxedo cake delivers elegance with dramatic layers of dark chocolate sponge, creamy vanilla mousse, and glossy ganache. Sophisticated dessert promises a memorable indulgence that sparkles with delicate chocolate artistry for special celebrations.

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Ingredients

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Ingredients

Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups (240g / 8.5 oz) all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (400g / 14.1 oz) sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup (240ml / 8 fl oz) hot water
• 3.5 oz (100g) dark chocolate
• 3.5 oz (100g) white chocolate
• 4.3 oz (120g) milk chocolate

Liquid and Cream Ingredients:

• ½ cup (120ml / 4 fl oz) milk
• ½ cup (128g / 4.5 oz) sour cream
• ½ cup (110g / 3.9 oz) vegetable oil
• 2 cups (480ml / 16 fl oz) heavy cream
• ½ cup (120ml / 4 fl oz) heavy cream

Dry and Flavor Ingredients:

• ½ cup (50g / 1.8 oz) cocoa powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon espresso powder
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 egg yolks

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Instructions

1. Meticulously prepare workspace and gather all necessary baking equipment for precise cake construction.
2. Carefully calibrate oven temperature to 350°F and strategically coat cake pans with a thin protective layer of grease.
3. Sift together dry ingredients in a comprehensive mixing bowl, ensuring uniform distribution of cocoa, flour, and leavening agents.
4. Whisk liquid components in a separate vessel, creating a smooth, integrated mixture of eggs, dairy, and flavor enhancers.
5. Gradually incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture, maintaining a consistent stirring technique to prevent lumps.
6. Introduce espresso powder dissolved in hot water, blending until the batter achieves a silky, homogeneous texture.
7. Evenly distribute batter between prepared pans, using a spatula to level the surface and eliminate air pockets.
8. Bake cake layers for approximately 35 minutes, periodically checking doneness with a clean testing implement.
9. Allow cake layers to cool completely on a wire rack, ensuring optimal temperature reduction.
10. Separate egg yolks and gently whisk until they transform into a pale, creamy consistency.
11. Warm cream with vanilla, then carefully temper egg yolks by gradually introducing heated liquid while continuously whisking.
12. Return mixture to heat, stirring constantly until it reaches a thickened, custard-like consistency.
13. Divide heated cream mixture between dark and white chocolate, stirring until each chocolate melts smoothly.
14. Whip remaining cream to stiff, peaks creating a light, airy texture.
15. Delicately fold whipped cream into each chocolate mixture, maintaining maximum volume.
16. Position first cake layer inside a precise cake ring as the foundational structure.
17. Pour dark chocolate mousse evenly, followed by a layer of white chocolate mousse.
18. Refrigerate initially for 30 minutes to partially set the mousse layers.
19. Carefully place second cake layer atop the mousse, then chill for an extended 4-hour period.
20. Prepare ganache by heating cream until it reaches a near-scalding temperature.
21. Pour heated cream over milk chocolate, stirring until achieving a glossy, smooth consistency.
22. Allow ganache to cool, reaching a spreadable texture.
23. Remove cake from ring and generously coat top with prepared ganache.
24. Optionally embellish with decorative elements to enhance visual appeal before serving.

Notes

• Precision matters when measuring ingredients to ensure the perfect texture and taste of this elegant dessert.
• Chilling time is crucial for setting the mousses and allowing flavors to meld, so plan ahead and be patient.
• Use high-quality chocolate for the most luxurious and rich flavor profile throughout the cake layers and mousses.
• Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly, creating a more uniform and tender cake texture.
• Espresso powder intensifies the chocolate flavor without adding a coffee taste, making the cake more complex and delicious.
• Clean, dry equipment is essential when whipping cream to achieve the perfect light and airy consistency for the mousses.

• Prep Time: 1 hour
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 528
• Sugar: 42g
• Sodium: 230mg
• Fat: 30g
• Saturated Fat: 17g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 60g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 6g
• Cholesterol: 70mg