Chocolate Mousse Cakes Recipes

Steps:

• Make the cake: Prepare the cake mix as the label directs for a 9-by-13-inch cake. Bake; cool slightly in the pan, then invert onto a rack to cool completely.
• Clean out the cake pan and line it with plastic wrap. Cut the cake in half lengthwise, then in thirds crosswise to make 6 rectangles. Using a serrated knife, slice each rectangle in half to make two layers. Arrange half of the pieces snugly in the cake pan. Crumble the remaining pieces and press tightly into 6 small balls; arrange 1 cake ball in the center of each cake rectangle in the pan.
• Make the mousse: Heat the chocolate, butter, coffee and 1/4 cup water in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water), stirring, until melted. Remove the bowl from the pan; stir until cool. Reserve the simmering water. Fill a large bowl with ice water.
• Whisk the egg yolks, 1 1/2 cups sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a separate large heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over the saucepan of simmering water and whisk until pale yellow, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the chocolate-coffee mixture and the vanilla and whisk until combined, about 2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan and set in the bowl of ice water; whisk until slightly cool but not thick, about 4 minutes.
• Beat the egg whites and salt in a bowl with a mixer until foamy. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and beat until almost stiff; gently fold into the chocolate-yolk mixture to make a dark chocolate mousse. Spread 5 cups over the cake and cake balls. Freeze until firm on top, about 30 minutes.
• Beat the heavy cream and the remaining 4 tablespoons sugar until soft peaks form; fold into the remaining mousse. Remove the cake from the freezer; spread with the light chocolate mousse, cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Make the chocolate shell: Stir the chocolate, heavy cream and 4 tablespoons corn syrup in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) until melted. A spoonful at a time, spread half of the shell mixture over the frozen mousse. Return to the freezer.
• Make the chocolate sauce: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon corn syrup and the butter to the remaining chocolate shell mixture. Microwave 30 seconds, then stir until glossy.
• To serve the cake, beat the heavy cream with a mixer until foamy. Add the sugar and beat until soft peaks form. Remove the cake from the freezer; invert onto a baking sheet and unmold, then invert again onto a platter, chocolate shell-side up.
• Cut the cake in half lengthwise using a warm knife, then cut into thirds crosswise to make 6 rectangles; cut each rectangle in half diagonally to make 2 triangles. Top each triangle with whipped cream, ice cream and the prepared chocolate sauce.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Use a 9 inch springform pan.
• With pan locked, coat inside of pan with a thin film of butter. This will help alumnium foil to adhere to contour of pan. Place sheet of alumnium foil inside pan and press along bottom and sides.
• This step will prevent batter from leaking during baking.
• In heavy saucepan, over low heat, combine butter, sugar, and coffee; stir until all is melted.
• Remove from heat.
• In separate bowl, beat eggs (by hand or electric mixer) a couple of minutes, until slightly thickened.
• Stir in chocolate and mix to a uniform color.
• Pour in pan and bake for 50 to 60 minutes.
• Cake will fall slightly as it cools.
• When room temperature, open springform pan, peel foil away from sides, place serving plate on top and flip over. Remove remaining foil.
• Serve at room temperature.
• Note: This cake is rather hard to slice, use plain dental floss or kitchen string, and holding taut in both hands, slice through cake, dividing it as you go.
• For Christmas, decorate center with holly leaves and cranberries.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for two 9-inch layers. Cool and remove from pans.
• In a large bowl, mix together sweetened condensed milk and melted chocolate. Gradually stir in the water, then instant pudding until smooth. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Remove the chocolate mixture from the refrigerator, and stir to loosen. Fold in whipped cream and return to the refrigerator for at least another hour.
• Place one layer of cake onto a serving plate. Top with 1 1/2 cups of the mousse, then cover with the remaining cake layer. Frost with the remaining mousse, and refrigerate until serving. Garnish with fresh fruit or chocolate shavings.

Steps:

• heat oven to 160C/fan 140/gas 3. Line and butter a 23cm springform tin. Put chocolate and butter in a pan and melt over a very low heat. Set aside. Using an electric whisk, beat the eggs with the sugar for about 5mins untill the mixture is thick, pale and doubled in volume.
• Pour the chocolate into the whisked egg mixture, then gently, but thoroughly, fold in. Add the broken biscuits, then gently fold again.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared tin, then bake for 40-45mins until just firm. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin for about 1/2-3/4 hr. You can serve it while still warm and the centre is still melty and gooey, as in the picture, or you can chill it (up to a day ahead) and it will be firm and fudgy enough to cut into wedges. Serve with double cream and fresh blueberries or homemade ice cream.

Steps:

• Place cookies in plastic bag and crush them into a fine crumb using a rolling pin. Alternatively, a food processor can be used to crush the cookies.
• Pour the cookie crumbs into a medium bowl with the melted butter and brown sugar. Mix until the crumbs take on the character of a coarse, wet sand.
• Pour the crumbs into a 9-inch (23 cm) spring pan. Press the crumb firmly into the pan, making sure to coat the bottom evenly.
• Once the crust has been formed, place it in the refrigerator to firm up.
• Add cream cheese, melted chocolate, cocoa powder, and sugar to a large bowl and whisk, either by hand or with an electric mixer, until all the ingredients are incorporated.
• NOTE: If mixing by hand, it is recommended to microwave the cream cheese slightly before whisking in order to soften it up.
• Add vanilla extract and eggs, and continue to whisk until mixture is smooth and glossy.
• In a separate bowl, combine heavy cream and powdered sugar. Whisk until the cream develops a mousse-y texture and soft peaks form.
• Adding a small amount at a time, carefully fold in the whipped cream into the cream cheese batter, being careful not to let the air out of the fluffy mixture. Fold just until incorporated.
• Once combined, pour the batter over the prepared cookie crust inside the springform pan. Use a spatula to smooth out the top. Give the pan a slight jiggle to release any large air bubbles that may be trapped in the batter.
• Preheat oven to 300˚F (150˚C).
• Place the filled pan on top of a sheet of aluminium foil and fold the foil up the sides on the outside of the pan. Then place the wrapped pan into a larger baking pan or dish lined with 2 paper towels at the bottom.
• NOTE: The aluminium foil will keep water from seeping into the bottom of the pan and the paper towels ensure that the heat is distributed evenly along the bottom of the pan.
• Fill the larger pan with about 1 inch (2 ½ cm) of hot water.
• Bake at 300˚F (150˚C) for 60-70 minutes--checking every 15-20 minutes to add more hot water to the larger dish, as necessary.
• Once out of the oven, immediately run a small sharp knife around the outside of the cheesecake to release it from the pan. Allow the cheesecake to cool completely before removing it from the pan.
• Prepare the ganache by combining chocolate chips with hot cream. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and ganache is smooth and glossy.
• Pour ganache evenly over the cooled cheesecake.
• Refrigerate the ganache covered cake for 30 minutes before cutting and serving.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and baking powder; add to the creamed mixture alternately with water, beating well after each addition., Transfer to two greased 9-in. tart pans with removable bottoms. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, cocoa and vanilla until smooth. Fold in whipped cream. Pipe frosting over tops of cakes; sprinkle with grated chocolate. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place eight 6-ounce (3 1/2-inch diameter) ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet, and coat with cooking spray; set aside.
• Stir flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer. Attach bowl to mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add egg, milk, oil, vanilla, and 1/4 cup water; mix on medium-low speed until smooth and combined, about 3 minutes.
• Divide batter evenly among prepared ramekins. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. Run a knife around sides of cakes; unmold. Cakes can be refrigerated, wrapped in plastic, up to 1 day.
• Trim each cake to 1 inch high. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cut eight 10 3/4-by-4-inch strips of parchment paper. Wrap a parchment collar around base of each cake, keeping bottom flush with baking sheet. Secure each collar with tape; set aside.
• Transfer bittersweet-chocolate mousse to a large pastry bag fitted with a large round tip (such as Ateco #808). Pipe a 1-inch layer of mousse into each parchment collar. Refrigerate until mousse is set, about 20 minutes. Repeat with milk chocolate mousse, piping on top of the bittersweet chocolate mousse. Refrigerate at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Microwave semisweet chocolate until slightly warm but not melted, about 30 seconds. Scrape at a 45-degree angle with a vegetable peeler, forming curls. Before serving cakes, remove parchment collars, and garnish with chocolate curls.

Steps:

• For the base, melt the chocolate with the butter and golden syrup in a bowl over barely simmer watering or on a low heat in the microwave.
• Put the biscuits in a bag and crush with a rolling pin until they reach a crumb consistency. Combine the two and spread over the base of a 23cm springform tin. Refrigerate for about an hour to set.
• For the mousse, melt the remaining plain chocolate and the milk chocolate together in the same way and allow to cool until lukewarm. Using an electric beater, whisk the eggs whites in one bowl to stiff peaks. Softly whip the whipping cream in another bowl until thickened but not as far as soft peaks.
• Stir the egg yolks into the chocolate, then beat the cream into the mixture - a balloon whisk is good for this. Work quickly if the chocolate looks like it might be becoming grainy. Gently fold in the eggs whites with a whisk, spread the mixture over the biscuit base and return to the fridge overnight.
• Release from the tin and decorate with concentric circles of raspberries and serve.

Steps:

• FOR CHOCOLATE GANACHE FROSTING (Makes about 1 & 2/3 cup and the extra can be used for fudge sauce over ice-cream because it will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks):.
• In a medium sauce pan, heat the cream and the butter over low heat until the butter has melted, but do not let simmer or boil.
• Remove pan from heat and stir in the chocolate chips.
• Let the chocolate chips sit in the hot cream to soften.
• Stir in the vanilla extract until the chocolate has melted.
• FOR MOCHA MOUSSE FILLING:.
• In a large bowl, beat the whipping cream, sugar, and instant coffee with a hand mixer until the the coffee dissolves, and then up the speed to medium-high and beat until stiff peaks form.
• Fold the 3/4 cup chocolate ganache filling into the whipping cream mixture a little at a time .
• Chill the mousse filling in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, as it needs to be really cold when you fill the cooled cupcake bottoms (otherwise the filling will run).
• FOR CUPCAKES:.
• Melt chocolate over simmering water in a double-boiler or heat proof bowl. Once melted and smooth, let it cool slightly.
• Sift flour, baking powder, salt & soda into a bowl.
• In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat butter and sugar together until creamy (about 2 minute with stand mixer on high).
• On low speed, add in the melted chocolate until combined.
• On medium speed add the eggs one at a time until smooth.
• Add in the vanilla and beat until the mixture is creamy (color should be slightly lighter).
• Mix in the sour cream until no white streaks remain, but don't over mix.
• On low speed, add half of the flour mixture until it is incorporated--don't over mix.
• Add in the water and mix it until incorporated.
• Scrape bowl and add in the rest of the flour and mix on low until flour is incorporated and batter looks pretty smooth (again, don't mix too much or the cupcakes lose lightness).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and put rack in the center of oven.
• Fill each liner up to the top of liner.
• Bake 22-24 minutes.
• Cupcake tops should feel firm and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.
• Cool the cupcakes for 10 minutes in the pan on a wire rack.
• Remove the cupcakes from the pan onto a wire rack and let cool completely.
• Once cupcakes are fully cooled, use a sharp knife to slice the top off each cupcake (this is so you can fill them).
• Place cupcake tops right side up on a wire rack, and set aside cupcake bottoms on a serving platter.
• To frost cupcake tops, spread one tablespoons of the chocolate ganache frosting over the top of each cupcake top.
• Let cupcake tops cool until the ganache frosting is firm.
• Next, place a dollop of mocha mousse filling on each cupcake bottom. Using a wide metal spatula, carefully place the cupcake tops w/ cooled frosted ganache topping on top of the mousse filled cupcake bottoms.
• It may help to refrigerate the assembled cupcakes for about 30 minutes to an hour before serving so that everything firms up.

Steps:

• Grated chocolate, cookie crumbs or chopped nuts for coating the sides of cake, if desired
• Cake:
• Lightly coat the insides of 3 9 by 1 1/2-inch cake pans with melted butter. Line each pan with parchment paper, then lightly coat the parchment paper with more melted butter. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Heat 1-inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. Place remaining butter and 8 ounces semisweet chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Tightly cover the top with film wrap. Allow to heat for 10 to 12 minutes. remove from the heat, stir until smooth, and hold at room temperature.
• Place the egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle. Beat on high until slightly thickened and lemon-colored, about 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat on high for an additional 2 minutes.
• While the egg yolks are beating, whisk 4 egg whites in a large stainless steel bowl until stiff, but not dry, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Using a rubber spatula, fold the melted chocolate mixture into the beaten egg yolk mixture. Add a quarter of the beaten egg whites and stir to incorporate, then gently fold in the remaining egg whites.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans, spreading evenly, and bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool in the pans for 15 minutes. (During baking, the surface of the cakes will form a crust; this crust will normally collapse when the cakes are removed from the oven.) Invert the cakes onto cake circles, remove the parchment paper, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Filling:
• To prepare the dark chocolate cream, heat 1-inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. Place the semisweet chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Tightly cover the top with film wrap and allow to heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate to a stainless steel bowl and set aside until needed. Place heavy cream and sugar in the well-chilled bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a well-chilled balloon whip. Whisk on high until stiff peaks form, about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the mixer. Use a hand whisk to combine 1/4 of the whipped cream into the melted chocolate until smooth and completely incorporated. Add the combined whipped cream and chocolate to the remaining whipped cream and use a rubber spatula to fold together.
• Ganache:
• Heat the heavy cream and the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil. Place the semisweet chocolate in a 3-quart stainless steel bowl. Pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Chill 1 cup of ganache for at least 1 hour. Remaining ganache should be at room temperature
• To assemble cake:
• Arrange one of the cake layers in a 9-inch springform pan, evenly spread half the filling over the cake and top with the second layer. Add remaining filling and top with the remaining cake layer. Chill 2 hours. Transfer chilled cup of ganache to pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Remove cake from springform pan and coat sides and top with room temperature ganache. Using chilled ganache, decoratively pipe stars on top of cake. If desired, coat sides of cake with grated chocolate, cookie crumbs of chopped nuts.