This stunning Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake has a moist, fudgy brownie base, three layers of light mousse—chocolate, raspberry, and vanilla, and then a glossy topping of chocolate and a tangle of raspberries and chocolate curls on top. Perfect for any occasion!
Stunning Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake
I don’t go around calling things “food porn” on a regular basis, so instead, can we just agree that this cake is, for lack of a better term, a sexy beast? It has a moist, fudgy brownie base, three layers of light mousse—chocolate, raspberry, and vanilla, and then a glossy topping of chocolate and a tangle of raspberries and chocolate curls on top. Oh, behave!
I was so obsessed with the honey mousse I made for these Honey Pots with Honey Mousse, I couldn’t stop thinking of ways to use that quick and easy mousse in other recipes. It turns out it’s easy to adapt that mousse for other flavors, so I made a few tweaks and soon found myself with chocolate, raspberry, and vanilla bean variations. You’ll love it—no separating eggs, no whipping whites or yolks, and no stress.
What kind of pan should I use?
You need a 9-inch pan with sides at least 3-inches tall, and the ability to remove the bottom. Either a cake pan with a removeable bottom or a 9″ springform pan will work.
The mousse is firm enough to hold up in layers and cut cleanly when it’s refrigerated, but as it comes to room temperature, it develops the most delicious silky, pillowy texture. It’s the perfect contrast to the chewy, fudgy brownie base, and the juicy berries embedded in the raspberry layer!
How to unmold a mousse cake so it has neat, clean edges:
I used acetate cake collars to line the cake pan and get clean lines when unmolding the mousse. They’re inexpensive and very handy for lots of kitchen projects, but if you don’t have them, you can use waxed paper or parchment paper instead. The cake will still unmold, but the outside might not be as neat and clean.
Of course I couldn’t let my tart leave the house naked, so it’s covered in a glossy chocolate ganache that drips just a bit down the sides. You could also cover the sides completely in ganache, so the four layers are a fun surprise when you cut the cake open. I can never resist showing off, so I like to put them on display, but perhaps you are less of a braggart than I am.
Finish the tart with a big pile of fresh raspberries and chocolate shavings. The gold decoration (or “doodad,” as we call them in the biz) was made using this Wilton chocolate mold and then dry-brushing it with gold luster dust. Totally unnecessary, totally cute. (That should be the tagline of my site, yes?)
Enjoy!
💡FAQs
If you can’t find quality fresh raspberries, you can use frozen berries to make the puree. Don’t use frozen berries in the mousse layer or to decorate on top. They won’t look pretty and will change the texture of the mousse.
Another solution would be to substitute fresh strawberries in place of raspberries.
The most common reason whipped cream collapses is because it has been overworked (whipped for too long). Perfectly whipped cream should have the texture of shaving cream — thick, with a lot of body. It should hold peaks but still have some softness to it. Stop whipping the cream just before stiff peaks start to form. This will give you a little more wiggle room when you start folding the whipped cream into the mousse.
Most likely, the chocolate is a little too cool when you start adding the whipped cream. When the chocolate comes in contact with the cream, it’s beginning to set prematurely. I recommend mixing them together when the chocolate is a bit warmer. The chocolate should be about body temperature, or slightly above, to mix properly with the cream. It’s definitely a balancing act, because you don’t want the chocolate to be too hot and melt the cream.
You can make your cake 2-3 days in advance. Wrap it well and store it in the fridge. Thankfully the mousse layers won’t collapse since they are made with gelatin. It really helps with stability and longevity. However, with time the mousse will begin to dry out which eventually creates a less appetizing texture.
You can also freeze the cake. Make it several days in advance and freeze it. You’ll need to wrap it well, or cover the pan with a lid, so that it doesn’t dry out. Thaw it overnight in the fridge the day before you plan to eat it.
Whether you store it in the fridge or freezer, I also recommend waiting to dress it with the ganache, whipped cream, and truffles until the day you plan to eat it. Happy Baking!
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Ingredients
For the Brownie Layer:
- 3.33 oz all-purpose flour, (3/4 cup)
- 2 oz unsweetened cocoa powder, (2/3 cup)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 4 oz unsalted butter
- 7.75 oz granulated sugar, (1 cup +2 tbsp)
- 2 large eggs, large, at room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Chocolate Mousse:
- 9 oz semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 3/4 cups heavy cream, divided use
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tsp unflavored powdered gelatin
- 2 TBSP water
For the Raspberry Mousse:
- 1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries, see Note below
- 9 oz white chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, divided use
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tsp unflavored powdered gelatin
- 2 TBSP water
- pink gel food coloring, optional
For the Vanilla Mousse:
- 9 oz white chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, divided use
- 4 TBSP honey
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tsp unflavored powdered gelatin
- 2 TBSP water
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste, can substitute vanilla extract
To Finish:
- 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 4 oz heavy cream
- 1 pint fresh raspberries, see Note below
- Chocolate curls , or other decorations
Instructions
To Make the Brownie Layer:
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a 9-inch cake pan with parchment and spray well with nonstick cooking spray. Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder in a small bowl. Set aside for now.
- Cube the butter and place it in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally as the butter melts. Add the sugar and stir it into the melted butter until combined.
- Remove the pan from the heat, and let it cool to lukewarm. Once it has cooled, add the eggs, one at a time, whisking well between each addition. The mixture will start out grainy, but as you add the eggs, it will become shiny and smooth. Whisk the vanilla in. Finally, add the dry ingredients, and stir them in with a spatula.
- Scrape the brownie batter into the prepared pan, and bake it for 22-24 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Cool the brownie layer completely before proceeding.
To Make the Mousse Layers:
- Prepare your pan. You need a 9-inch pan with sides at least 3 inches tall, and the ability to remove the bottom. Either a cake pan with a removeable bottom or a 9" springform will work. Line the inner wall with an acetate cake collar or strip of aluminum foil, parchment paper, or waxed paper. Make sure the acetate collar or other lining is long enough so that it overlaps itself. Also, if you are using foil/parchment/waxed paper, make sure you cut the strip tall enough to extend at least an inch over the pan’s sides, since the cake is about 4 inches tall.
- Place a cake cardboard in the bottom of the pan, then carefully place the baked brownie on top of the cardboard.
- Prepare the chocolate mousse layer: combine the chocolate, 3/4 cup of cream, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring every 30 seconds, until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour it into a large bowl, and let it cool to slightly above room temperature (about 95-100 degrees C), stirring occasionally.
- While you wait for the chocolate mixture to cool, prepare the gelatin. Whisk together the gelatin and the cold water in a small bowl, and set it aside to let the gelatin absorb the water. When the chocolate is sufficiently cooled, microwave the bowl of gelatin for 15 seconds, until it is melted. Then whisk the melted gelatin and chocolate together.
- Whip the remaining 1 cup heavy whipping cream to just before firm peaks form (see FAQ for more tips). Fold half of the whipped cream into the warm chocolate. Once it’s incorporated, gently fold in the remaining whipped cream. Scrape the mousse on top of the brownie, and spread it into an even layer. Refrigerate the cake for 25 minutes, until the mouse has started to set and is firm enough that a second layer can be added.
- Prepare the raspberry mousse layer: make a quick puree by blending 1/2 cup fresh raspberries in a blender or food processor. Pour them through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds, and measure out 1/4 cup raspberry puree. Extra puree can be saved and used for other purposes.
- Combine the white chocolate, raspberry puree, 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl. Continue to make the raspberry layer the same way you made the chocolate layer, by melting and cooling the chocolate mixture to about 95-100 degrees C, whisking in melted gelatin, and folding in whipped cream. Add a few drops of pink food coloring to boost the pink color, if desired. At the very end, stir in the remaining 1 cup of fresh raspberries and pour the mousse over the chocolate mousse layer. Spread it into an even layer, and refrigerate again for about 25 minutes.
- Prepare the vanilla bean layer: combine the white chocolate, 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, honey, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl. Continue to make this layer the same way you made the previous two layers by allowing the chocolate mixture to cool, whisking in the gelatin, and folding in the whipped cream. After completing those steps, stir in the vanilla bean paste and pour the vanilla mousse over the raspberry mousse layer. Refrigerate to set the mousse layers very well, at least 4 hours or overnight.
- To finish the cake: push the bottom out from the pan, or unhinge the sides, and unwrap the acetate strip. Transfer the cake to your serving platter. Make a quick chocolate ganache by putting the chopped chocolate in a small bowl and heating the cream to a simmer. Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate and whisk gently until the chocolate melts and you have a smooth, shiny mixture.
- Pour the ganache over the top of the cake, and use a spatula to nudge it right to the edge and over in evenly spaced drizzles. Don’t worry if the top is not smooth—it will be covered up! Add the fresh raspberries and chocolate curls on top of the cake. Refrigerate to set the ganache.
- For the cleanest slices, cut the cake when it is well chilled. Use a large sharp knife, and wash it frequently between cuts. For the best taste and texture, allow the cake slices to sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving.
- Store Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake, well-wrapped, in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Recipe Notes
Measuring Tips
Our recipes are developed using weight measurements, and we highly recommend using a kitchen scale for baking whenever possible. However, if you prefer to use cups, volume measurements are provided as well. PLEASE NOTE: the adage “8 oz = 1 cup” is NOT true when speaking about weight, so don’t be concerned if the measurements don’t fit this formula.
Want to learn more about baking measurements and conversion?
Nutrition
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This looks amazing I’m going to make this for my husbands birthday!! One quick question what kind of cling wrap do you use? And do I put the cling wrap first then the cake collar, then the brownie? and do i do this with the other layers as well?
Hi Sonia, any plastic wrap should work–I use a generic version of Saran Wrap. You should extend the cling wrap along the bottom and up the sides of the pan, then put the cake collar in the pan, then the brownie and mousse layers go inside the collar. The cling wrap is basically to help you lift the cake neatly out of the pan, it can probably be omitted if you want. I always err on the side of caution. 🙂
Hi, I just found this wonderful masterpiece! I was wondering if the mousses would work as a cake filling… or would they get too soft and squish out from between the layers of cake?
Thank you!!
Hi Nedra! I think the mousse would work as a filling if you used a buttercream dam. (If you don’t know what I mean, that means you pipe a layer of buttercream around the outside of the cake and put the mousse in the center, so that it doesn’t squish out. Once chilled they should be okay to cut etc. They will get softer if left at room temperature for a long time, so probably best not to make it for a really hot day or an outdoor event.
I am half way threw, chilling the raspberry layer now,and so far it is looking awesome (and of course I am test tasting too and it is yummy)It’s for my baby girl’s 21st birthday tomorrow and your recipe had all her favorites- brownies,raspberries, chocolate and mousse. I will let you know how it turned out. Thank you Thank you Thank you I am confidant she is going to be blown away!
Aw, happy birthday to your daughter! Glad it’s going well so far, and YES, I would love to hear how the whole thing turns out! Cheers to you and your family!
Is it possible to make the mousse without gelatine? (Could you maybe give me an alternative?)
Thanks! 🙂
Hi, Unfortunately this particular mousse recipe requires gelatin–the mousse will be soft and won’t set without it. I know agar-agar can sometimes be substituted for gelatin, but I haven’t tried it in this mousse and can’t confidently recommend it or advise on quantities.
Made this for Easter dessert…got rave reviews. Note to other bakers: don’t use frozen raspberries in the mousse…opt for fresh. My first batch of the raspberry mousse separated when I added some semi-frozen fruit. Oops! Other than that, the recipe was great.
Hi Tammy, So glad to hear that the dessert worked out for you! Hope you and yours had a very happy Easter. 🙂
Hi,I made this on the weekend and have to say it looked just as gorgeous as yours. I just have two questions. Does it have to have gelatin? I thought it tasted abit rubbery and not fluffy. The raspberry section was very pale, blended in with the white,should I have added more raspberries? Do u think you could do a middle layer with Mars bars chopped up in it? It’s my bosses farewell and I want to make this for her but she loves caramel. Any suggestions welcome.
Hi Lyanne, unfortunately the gelatin is necessary, especially if you want to be able to cut the cake into neat slices and have it hold its shape. You can try reducing the amount to get a texture you like better–I’d try only reducing about 1/2 tsp or so at first, to make sure it still sets. You can DEFINITELY do Mars bars chopped up in the middle–that sounds awesome! It might be a bit of a mess to cut, but keeping the bars in small pieces would probably help with that. I’d love to hear how it goes if you give it a try!
Thanks for getting back to me, I’m making it for sat night so will let you know how it turns out!
This looks spectacular! and one can tell from the ingredients that it must taste sooo good. I am intrigued by the simplicity of making the different flavor mousses. I am going to try this at the lodge where I work. I have 10 stainless steel rings that will be perfect to use, and should preserve the beautiful view of the side of the cakes.
Thanks Holly! Please let what you think once you give them a try!
This looks incredible! I plan on making it for my husband for his birthday. Just one question – with the brownie layer, do I make it IN the springform pan I will be using for the entire cake, or do I bake the brownie in a separate 9″ pan and then move it into the 9″ springform? Silly question, but I am just unclear on that. Thanks so much – so excited to make this!
-Marin
Thanks Marin! The brownie can be made in any 9″ pan. The springform pan that the cake is assembled in needs to have the plastic wrap and cake liner in it before you assemble it, so you can’t just bake the brownies in it and pour the mousse on top–at least if you want the cleanest lines around the edges. 🙂
Could you please give me the weight amounts in grams? It is really worrying that when I try to convert the amounts given both in ounces and cups (e. g. cocoa powder) first from the oz amount, then from the cup amount, I get two different gram values. So which one should I take as the correct amount? This cup thing is always so annoying and confusing. Thanks.
Hi Miki, You’re right, cups are frustrating! I develop all of my recipes using ounces, so I would recommend using the ounces to convert the recipe to grams. I do still provide cups because so many of my US-based readers request them.
And for cocoa powder especially, it is difficult because I’ve found a wide range of weights depending on the brand and how much it is packed into the cup. For the brand I use, I assume a standard of 3 oz to 1 cup, but it can definitely vary–so please do use ounces as your conversion source!