I am primarily a cookie baker but once in a while I will try and pull out a cake. I made this chocolate mousse cake this weekend that had multiple steps and some chilling and assembly time, but was worth the effort. A layer of chocolate mousse is sandwiched between two thin layers of chocolate, orange and toasted hazelnut cake, with more mousse piled on top, and a chocolate glaze and chocolate shavings really puts cake this over the top. I served it sliced thinly with a scoop of coffee ice cream on the side. And I am wondering why my pants were snug Monday morning? This is a special cake perfect for a special occasion.
Chocolate Mousse Cake (adapted from epicurious.com) (click here for printable recipe)
Ingredients:
For the Cake
- 4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 1/3 cup (packed) brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup hazelnuts, toasted, husked, chopped
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For the Mousse Filling
- 5 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 3 ounces high-quality milk chocolate chopped
- 1 1/2 cups chilled heavy whipping cream, divided
- 5 tablespoons butter, room temperature
For the Glaze
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
- chopped 1 tablespoon butter, room temperature
- Large chocolate shards or curls (from 1- to 2-inch-thick 4-ounce piece bittersweet or semisweet chocolate)
- Additional toasted husked hazelnuts
For cake:
Preheat oven to 325°F. Line 13×9x1-inch baking sheet or pan with parchment paper; butter parchment. Combine first 4 ingredients in medium metal bowl and melt in microwave, stirring often to prevent scorching. Stir until melted and smooth and stir in salt (mixture will be grainy).
Beat eggs and 2 tablespoons sugar in another medium bowl until pale, about 6 minutes; fold into chocolate mixture. Fold in flour, then hazelnuts. Spread batter evenly on baking sheet. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 13 minutes (cake will be very thin). Transfer pan to rack. Cool cake completely.
For mousse filling:
Combine chocolates in medium metal bowl. Bring 1 cup cream to simmer in small saucepan; pour cream over chocolates and let stand 1 minute. Stir until melted and smooth. Cover and chill mixture until firm, about 2 hours.
Place bowl with chilled chocolate mixture over saucepan of barely simmering water until mixture is partially melted (do not stir), about 5 minutes. Remove bowl from over water; add butter to bowl. Using electric mixer, beat until filling is thick and glossy, about 3 minutes. Using clean dry beaters, beat 1/2 cup chilled whipping cream in another medium bowl until peaks form. Fold whipped cream into filling.
Invert cake onto work surface; remove parchment. Cut cake lengthwise in half. Place 1 cake half on serving platter. Spread 1/2 cup chocolate filling over. Top with second cake half. Spoon remaining filling on top of cake, then smooth top with off set spatula. Chill until filling is firm, about 1 hour.
For glaze:
Bring cream and corn syrup to simmer in small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; let stand 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Add butter; stir until melted. Let stand until barely lukewarm but still pourable, about 10-20 minutes.
Line the sides of the cake with wax paper or tin foil on the platter to catch any glaze drips. Spoon glaze over top of cake, allowing glaze to run down sides. Using offset spatula, smooth glaze over sides. Mound chocolate shards or curls over top and sides of cake. Garnish with hazelnuts if desired. Refrigerate until glaze is set, at least 2 hours. Remove wax paper or foil prior to serving. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled. Use a sharp knife dipped in warm water to slice cake neatly)
Plan B Mom is a mostly-stay-at-home mom of 3 who works from home but sees her main job as managing her family. When she is not taking care of her 11-year old and 9-year old girls, 8- year old son, two yellow labs, and husband - she is baking, running, carpooling, or helping with homework. She tries to stay organized to keep life running smoothly - or at least catastrophies at bay. Follow her on Twitter at @PlanBMom.