My s’mores chocolate mousse inspired me to play around in the kitchen the other week. I’ve always loved chocolate mousse, without thinking about the dark chocolate mousse cake calories, back to my childhood when my mom served it as an easy (yet totally elegant) dessert on the holiday table. Chocolate mousse is simple divinity in its own right, but when paired with chocolate cake, it’s downright decadent.

I made this dark chocolate mousse cake recipe for my husband Kevin’s birthday (similar to nigella chocolate mousse cake). This cake basically demands a huge gathering because– trust me– you don’t want to be left alone with its temptation. It WILL call out your name each time you open the refrigerator – This is the best chocolate mousse cake recipe ever!

Taunting you.

Dark chocolate mousse cake Sallys Baking Addiction

What is chocolate mousse cake made of?

3 Parts to Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake

Let’s break down each component of this intensely rich cake:

1. Dark Chocolate Cake: This is actually a variation of my tuxedo cake, which originated from my chocolate cake recipe. In recent years, I’ve found that replacing sour cream for some of the buttermilk gives the cake more structure.
2. Chocolate Mousse: I researched simplified ways to make a fluffy chocolate mousse filling without the use of eggs or gelatin. This chocolate mousse filling combines real chocolate and homemade whipped cream. Or our whipped frosting would make a wonderful alternative filling if you don’t want to make the chocolate mousse!
3. Chocolate Ganache: Top the whole cake with 2 ingredient semi-sweet chocolate ganache. You should be a chocolate ganache pro by now!

Video Tutorial: Chocolate Mousse Cake

Stick-to-the-back-of-your-fork moist. This is every chocolate lover’s dream!

What’s the difference between mousse and ganache?

Dark Chocolate Cake

Use this chocolate cake as the starting point. For a sturdier, yet moister crumb, swap some sour cream in for the buttermilk and reduce the hot liquid. The acidity in both sour cream and buttermilk is a must to properly leaven this cake. (If desired, see baking powder vs baking soda for more information.) This cake has a natural dark chocolate taste, but to deepen that flavor, use a mix of natural cocoa and Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder. A touch of espresso powder and hot coffee further enhances the chocolate flavor. The cake will not taste like coffee– rather, the two add depth to the cake’s chocolate flavor.

• Why hot liquid? The hot liquid encourages the cocoa powder to bloom and dissolve. If you don’t drink coffee, you can use hot water.

You have options! You can make this cake into 2, 3, or 4 layers. I highly recommend 3 or 4 layers because there’s over 4 cups of chocolate mousse to spread inside. You can use 8 inch or 9 inch pans. The bake times are similar, see recipe notes.

A cup of chocolate chips adds even more chocolate flavor. I used 1 cup (180g) of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips in this pictured cake, but left them out in the video. They’re optional– but definitely worth the addition!!

Simplified Chocolate Mousse

The chocolate mousse adds a creamy and light contrast to the dark chocolate layers. You need 6 ingredients:

1. Hot Water
2. Cocoa Powder – natural or dutch-process
3. Melted Chocolate – use two 4-ounce chocolate baking bars found in the baking aisle
4. Heavy Cream
5. Confectioners’ Sugar
6. Vanilla Extract

Whisk the hot water and cocoa powder together. Pour into melted chocolate. The hot water breaks up the chocolate, adding to the airy mousse consistency. Cocoa powder creates additional chocolate flavor. Fold this chocolate mixture into whipped cream– a combination of heavy cream, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract.

Whipped cream + our chocolate mixture. ↑

Fold them together to make our chocolate mousse filling. ↓

Baker’s Tip: The chocolate mousse must chill in the refrigerator before using, so it’s a good idea to make it ahead of time or as the chocolate cake layers are cooling. The mousse is best cold, so I actually recommend serving the cake cold. (Additionally, the cake is much easier to assemble if the mousse is cold!)

Chocolate Ganache

I won’t go into a lot of detail about the chocolate ganache because I have a complete chocolate ganache recipe tutorial for you! Like the chocolate mousse, it’s imperative to use pure chocolate. Wait about 20 minutes for the ganache to thicken before pouring onto the cake.

How to Assemble & Decorate Chocolate Mousse Cake

Chocolate ganache enrobes 4 cake layers and 3 mousse layers. Place bottom cake layer on your cake stand or serving plate. Using a large icing spatula, evenly cover the top with about 1.5 cups of chilled chocolate mousse. Top with 2nd cake layer and another 1.5 cups of mousse. Top with the third cake layer, then spread another 1.5 cups mousse evenly on top. (Save a large spoonful of mousse for a thin crumb coat.) Top with final 4th cake layer. Spread any remaining mousse around the sides as a crumb coat. Run a bench scraper around the cake to smooth it out. Refrigerate cake for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours. Chocolate mousse is pretty fluffy, so the cake won’t hold its shape unless it’s properly chilled.

Pour ganache on top then run a bench scraper around the sides to smooth it out. You can serve the cake immediately or wait for the chocolate ganache to set. 🙂

What About Cupcakes?

Instead of a big cake, you can make chocolate mousse cupcakes. Use my chocolate cupcakes recipe and halve the chocolate mousse and chocolate ganache recipes below. Fill the cupcakes with chocolate mousse using my Sugar Plum Fairy Cupcakes as an example. Drizzle cooled cupcakes with ganache. Eat your heart out!

More Indulgent Chocolate Desserts

• Dark Chocolate Bread Pudding
• German Chocolate Cake
• Flourless Chocolate Cake
• Black Forest Cake
• Lava Cakes
• Chocolate Mousse Pie