Triple-Chocolate Mousse Cake
Recipe adapted and revised from America’s Test Kitchen. This cake is not so difficult or complicated to make, but it does take some time to prepare and assemble. Fear not, for your efforts will be appreciated by all who get to enjoy the results! Please make sure to read the note at the end of the instructions.
Serves 12-14
Bottom Layer
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces, plus extra for greasing pan
7 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
3/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs, separated
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup packed (about 2 ounces) light brown sugar, crumbled with fingers to remove lumps
Middle Layer
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
5 tablespoons hot water
7 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
1 1/2 cups cold heavy cream
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
Top Layer
3/4 teaspoon powdered gelatin
1 tablespoon water
6 ounces white chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups cold heavy cream
Optional: Shaved chocolate or cocoa powder for serving (use a vegetable peeler to shave chocolate)
1. FOR THE BOTTOM LAYER: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter bottom and sides of 9 ½ -inch springform pan. Melt butter, chocolate, and espresso powder in a medium-size heatproof bowl set over saucepan filled with 1 inch of barely simmering water (bain-marie), stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from heat and cool mixture slightly, about 5 minutes. Whisk in vanilla and egg yolks; set aside.
2. In stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat egg whites and salt at medium speed until frothy, about 30 seconds. Add half of brown sugar and beat until combined, about 15 seconds. Add remaining brown sugar and beat at high speed until soft peaks form when whisk is lifted, about 1 minute longer, scraping down sides halfway through. Using whisk, fold one-third of beaten egg whites into chocolate mixture to lighten. Using rubber spatula, fold in remaining egg whites until no white streaks remain. Carefully transfer batter to prepared springform pan, gently smoothing top with a small spatula.
3. Bake until cake has risen, is firm around edges, and center has just set but is still soft (center of cake will spring back after pressing gently with finger), 15 – 18 minutes. Transfer cake to wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour. (Cake will collapse as it cools.) Do not remove cake from pan.
4. FOR THE MIDDLE LAYER: Combine cocoa powder and hot water in small bowl; set aside. Melt chocolate in a medium-sized heatproof bowl set over saucepan filled with 1 inch of barely simmering water (bain-marie), stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from heat and whisk cocoa powder mixture into melted chocolate until smooth. Cool slightly, 2 – 5 minutes.
5. In clean bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, whip cream, granulated sugar, and salt at medium speed until mixture begins to thicken, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to high and whip until soft peaks form when whisk is lifted, 15 – 30 seconds.
6. Using whisk, fold one-third of whipped cream into chocolate mixture to lighten. Using rubber spatula, fold in remaining whipped cream until no white streaks remain. Spoon mousse into the springform pan over cooled cake and gently tap pan on counter 3 times to remove any large air bubbles; gently smooth top with a small spatula. Wipe inside edge of pan with damp cloth to remove any drips. Refrigerate cake at least 15 minutes while preparing top layer.
7. FOR THE TOP LAYER: In small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over water; let stand at least 5 minutes. Place white chocolate in medium bowl. Bring ½ cup cream to simmer in small saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove from heat; add gelatin mixture and stir until fully dissolved. Pour cream mixture over white chocolate and whisk until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth, about 30 seconds. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally, 5 – 8 minutes (mixture will thicken slightly).
8. In clean bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, whip remaining cup of cream at medium speed until it begins to thicken, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to high and whip until soft peaks form when whisk is lifted, 15 – 30 seconds. Using whisk, fold one-third of whipped cream into white chocolate mixture to lighten. Using rubber spatula, fold remaining whipped cream into white chocolate mixture until no white streaks remain. Spoon white chocolate mousse into the pan over middle layer. Smooth top with a small spatula. Return cake to refrigerator and chill until set, at least 2½ hours.
9. TO SERVE: Run thin knife between cake and side of springform pan; remove side of pan. Run clean knife along outside of cake to smooth sides. Cut into slices and serve. If using, garnish top of cake with chocolate curls or dust with cocoa or fresh berries in season.
Note: This recipe requires a springform pan at least 3 inches high. It is imperative that each layer is made in sequential order. Cool the base cake completely before topping it with the middle layer. We recommend Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Bar (60% cacao) for the base and middle layers; our other recommended brand of chocolate, Callebaut Intense Dark L-60-40NV, may be used, but it will produce drier, slightly less sweet results. Our preferred brand of white chocolate is Guittard Choc-Au-Lait White Chips. For the best results, chill the mixer bowl before whipping the heavy cream. The entire cake can be made a day in advance; leave it out at room temperature for up to 30 minutes before releasing it from the cake pan and serving.