The BEST Chocolate Mousse Cake Filling Recipe

Name: The BEST Chocolate Mousse Cake Filling Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 140 min
Ingredients: 250 ml Milk; 250 ml Cream; 6 Eggs yolks (large); 100 grams Sugar; 4 tbsp Cornstarch; 2 tsp Vanilla; 1/4 tsp Salt; 2 Egg whites (large); 1/8 tsp Cream of tartar (optional); 200 grams Chocolate; 1 tbsp Gelatin

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The BEST Chocolate Mousse Cake Filling Recipe

A decadent chocolate mousse cake filling can take desserts to that ultimate luxury. Rich, creamy but light and airy whipped chocolate cream between layers of light and fluffy cake, desserts filled with mousse are just some of the goodies you can make with this homemade chocolate mousse filling. NO matter what the dessert a chocolate mousse is bound to wow your guest.

Learn to make the best mousse cake filling with chocolate. — A Rich Mousse Cake Filling Recipe - Classic Chocolate Mousse Filling

A chocolate mousse is a treat in any form right? Whether it's served in a fancy dessert cup with a dollop of fresh cream or whether you have it in between two cake layers, you cannot be mistaken that light and airy texture for anything else.

My mom would say a good mousse does not need an introduction. You should know what it is; the moment it hits your palette. It's the effort of adding all that whipped air into the ingredients making sure it's as light as can be.

Chocolate mousse is my favorite and as you can see I have shared quite a few variations with you such as my classic mousse, vegan, eggless mousse as well as desserts like chocolate mousse cake with mirror glaze and chocolate mousse for two and cream cheese chocolate mousse tart.

This cake filling is a little different because it's a little less light than what you get in a dessert cup. Why? I do have a little more cornstarch to add stability to the cake filling recipe. This helps me especially when I need to cover a cake with fondant and when I need to stack layers for a wedding cake with chocolate mousse cake filling. But, it's still the filling everybody raves about.

What is the difference between mousse and ganache?

A ganache is a combination of chocolate and cream, often equal amounts or more. It's rich and creamy but dense and decadently chocolate heavy.
A mousse is made with a combination of pastry cream, cream, whipped egg whites, and chocolate. It's rich and creamy but light and airy. When making mousse you aim to make it as light as possible. A mousse can be sweet or savory.

So what is the difference between mousse and pudding?

Well, chocolate pudding is made with milk, sugar, cornstarch, and chocolate. It may or may not have eggs and it may or may not have whipping cream. A mousse is of course made with pastry cream which usually is rich in egg yolks, heavy cream, egg whites and of course chocolate. A pudding is rich and creamy but dense while a mousse if rich and creamy but light and airy in contrast.

A full view of -A rich decadent chocolate mousse cake filling can take a dessert to that ultimate luxury. Rich creamy but light and airy that just melts in the mouth is a dessert not to be missed. Weather you add it in between cake layers or to a chocolate trifle dessert recipe this is bound to wow your guest. — A Rich Mousse Cake Filling Recipe - Classic Chocolate Mousse Filling

How to fill a cake with chocolate mousse the right way?

We've spoken about this many times already but I cannot stress this enough. You need to have a buttercream or frosting dam around the edge of your cake layer before you add any soft filling be it this mouse filling, strawberry, blueberry or any of those exotic cake filling recipes.

The frosting dam has to be a thick consistency so it helps keep the filling from oozing out of the cake. Once you have a dam securing the filling you can do all kinds of decorations whether you just making a simple dessert cake or whether you want to cover it with fondant and add more accessories.

What cake works best to fill a cake with chocolate mousse cake filling?

This is one of the most important questions you must be asking before you even start making your chocolate mousse cake filling? A mousse is a light and airy mixture so you want to avoid using dense cakes like chocolate mud cake. While the cake dams will hold the filling what happens is the weight of the cake usually gets it's way as soon as you cut into it. Everything just oozes out with the weight of the top layers. So, what cake works best for light and airy cake fillings like this chocolate mousse cake filling or vanilla pastry cream filling? Here are some of my cake recipes that would work wonderfully.

Simple Moist Chocolate Cake with American Buttercream
Espresso Cake with Whipped Espresso Ganache
Brown Butter Cake with Whipped Cream Buttercream
Vanilla Cafe Latte Cake with Coffee Buttercream
Classic Gingerbread Cake with Vanilla Buttercream and Ganache
One Bowl Vanilla Cake - Naked Cake
One Bowl Chocolate Cake - Naked Cake
Earl Grey Cake with Italian Meringue Buttercream
Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream
Light and fluffy Vanilla Cake
Vanilla Cream Cake Recipe made with Fresh Cream
Chocolate Chiffon Cake with Kahlua Chocolate Buttercream
Devil's Food Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake

Red Velvet Cake

This fresh strawberry cake with Swiss Meringue Buttercream frosting is made with fresh strawberry puree and perfect to serve as a light and refreshing dessert.

Strawberry Cake with SMBC

This Zesty Lemon Cake frosted with Lemon Swiss Meringue Buttercream can be filled with Lemon curd take 10 minutes to mix.

Lemon Cake with LSMBC

A butter-based light and airy orange cake with orange Swiss meringue buttercream take 10 minutes to mix and 25 minutes to bake.

Orange Cake Recipe with Orange Swiss Meringue

Let's talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)

Milk - always use full-fat milk when making desserts so you don't have an issue with the milk solids and water separating when cooking
Cream - I always use heavy whipping cream no less than 38% when making desserts
Eggs - I use large eggs about 50 to 60 grams each. If you do have very small eggs you can add an extra egg yolk
Chocolate - this is the star of this cake filling so you want to make sure you use good quality chocolate that you like to eat. Most of my desserts use between 65 to 70 % Callebaut chocolate.
Egg whites - Adding whipped egg whites adds another layer of lightness to the mousse but you can omit the egg whites as well.
Cream of tartar - this helps keep the protein and water in the egg whites from separating. You can also add the same amount of salt, lemon juice or vinegar instead.

Useful Tips and Tools

A heavy-based Sauce Pan works great for thick egg-based sauces.
I like using a Whisk so I can keep the mixture smooth at all times.
You will need a Bowl to mix the eggs yolks first. Avoid using aluminum when making sauces as the metal tends to react with food. Use stainless or glass.
I do not recommend Wooden Spoon unless you use it only for desserts.
A rubber Spatula does a great job of scraping the sides and bottoms.
You must close the surface of the custard with Cling Wrap to prevent any skin from forming.

Showing the buttercream dam -A rich decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake Filling can take a dessert to that ultimate luxury. Rich creamy but light and airy that just melts in the mouth is a dessert not to be missed. Weather you add it in between cake layers or to a chocolate trifle dessert recipe this is bound to wow your guest. — A Rich Mousse Cake Filling Recipe - Classic Chocolate Mousse Filling

How to Make The BEST Chocolate Mousse Cake Filling (Save/Pin)

Make Vanilla Pastry Cream/Custard Base

Have all your ingredients ready.
Heat milk, cream and vanilla in a saucepan over medium heat.
Let it come to almost a boil but do not boil.
While the milk/cream mixture is heating.
In a bowl combine egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and cornstarch.
Whisk until light and foamy.
Once the milk has almost reached a boiling point.
Carefully add the milk/cream mixture to the egg mixture.
This has to be done really slowly.
Start with 1/4 cup of the milk to eggs - mix thoroughly.
Followed by another 1/4 cup - mix thoroughly.
Once almost half the milk/cream mix has been added the eggs should have been tempered.
Pour egg mixture into the saucepan with the remaining milk/cream mix to continue cooking.
Place the saucepan back on low heat and continue to cook stirring constantly.
This has to be cooked slowly on low heat with constant stirring or the mixture will curdle.
The mixture will slowly start to thicken and thick bubbles will start to disappear.
Continue to cook on low until the custard is thick and coats the back of your spoon.
When done - strain through a sieve to remove any curdled eggs.
Chop the chocolate into small pieces then add the chopped chocolate and stir until dissolved.
The heat in the pastry cream should be enough to melt the chocolate.

Melt Gelatin

Place gelatin in a microwave-safe bowl with 1/4 cup water.
Dissolve and set aside - keep warm.

Whip Egg Whites

Whip egg whites in a mixer bowl with 1/8 tsp cream of tartar or (a pinch of salt).
Set aside for now.

Make the mousse

Add a tablespoon or more of the chocolate custard to the dissolved gelatin to temper it.
Then add the gelatin to the chocolate mixture.
Let the custard come to room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes.
Fold the whipped egg whites making sure it's well incorporated.
Cover with a cling warp place in the fridge to cool completely.
Once chilled your mousse is ready to be used as the cake filling, or in trifles, etc.
You can use a whisk to loosen the set mouse before you use it.

How to flavor the Chocolate Mousse

There are endless ways to flavor a chocolate mousse. The most common would be Baileys or Kahlua for me. You can also add berries such as raspberry, strawberry or blueberry. Orange liquor, mint or even licorice. It all depends on what you fancy.

A word of advice - make sure you are confident that your guest is going to appreciate the flavor you add. For example, I'm not a huge fan of the combination of orange or mint, with chocolate. Never assume that everyone will like what you like.

Frequently asked questions

Is chocolate mousse cake filling the same as classic chocolate mousse?

Yes, with a slight difference in my recipe. I do have a little more cornstarch to add stability to the cake filling recipe. This helps me especially when I need to cover a cake with fondant and when I need to stack layers for a wedding cake with chocolate mousse cake filling.

How long with this chocolate mousse keep?

Chocolate mousse can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days. A cake with chocolate mousse filling can stay for up to 4 days as well.

Does a cake with chocolate mousse filling need to be refrigerated?

Yes. A chocolate mousse contains milk, eggs, cream and these are perishable ingredients that need to be kept in the fridge so yes, any cake with chocolate mousse cake filling needs to be kept in the fridge.

Can I make this an eggless chocolate mousse cake filling?

I do have an eggless chocolate mousse recipe that works wonderfully as a cake filling too.

Can I replace the cream with coconut cream to make this a vegan chocolate mousse cake filling?

I do have a vegan chocolate mousse recipe that would work beautifully as a cake filling too.

Can I make a dessert cake with this chocolate mousse cake filling recipe?

Do you mean a dessert-like chocolate entremet? Perhaps use my classic chocolate mousse recipe which is lighter than this. I have used it in my recipe for Chocolate Mousse Cake with Mirror Glaze.

Can I freeze a cake with chocolate mousse cake filling?

If you know you are going to freeze the cake with chocolate mousse then I highly recommend you omit the whipped egg whites. The protein in the egg whites tends to separate from the water when thawing.
Having said that you can still freeze a cake with chocolate mousse but wrap it well and thaw it while still wrapped in the fridge overnight not out on the counter.

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Close up of the mouse - A rich decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake Filling can take a dessert to that ultimate luxury. Rich creamy but light and airy that just melts in the mouth is a dessert not to be missed. Weather you add it in between cake layers or to a chocolate trifle dessert recipe this is bound to wow your guest.

The BEST Chocolate Mousse Cake Filling Recipe

Author: Veena Azmanov

4 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins

Calories: 258kcal

Adjust Servings Here: 2 cups

Description

ADJUST SERVINGS HERE - 2 cups

Ingredients

Makes enough to fill two 8 or 9-inch cake layers

For the pastry cream

250 ml (1.00 cups) Milk
250 ml (1.00 cups) Cream
6 Eggs yolks large
100 grams (0.5 cups) Sugar
4 tbsp Cornstarch
2 tsp Vanilla
1/4 tsp Salt

Whipped egg whites

2 Egg whites large
1/8 tsp Cream of tartar optional

Extra

200 grams (7.00 oz) Chocolate
1 tbsp (9 g) Gelatin