Heart Chocolate Mousse Cake Valentines Day Dessert

Today, I’m giving my favorite mousse a Valentine makeover. What says Happy Valentines’ Day better than a heart cake, right? This classic French dessert is actually very easy to make. The classic recipe is, of course, made with raw eggs. But, these days, I don’t like to use raw eggs in my desserts. So, this recipe is made with cooked eggs. Today, for Valentine’s Day celebration, I am using this heart silicon mold. But you also use this diamond heart mold. Alternatively, you can use an 8-inch round cake pan to make a chocolate mousse cake.

Why make this mousse cake

This mousse is the real deal. Not just, a simple combination of chocolate and whipped cream. While good chocolate gives the mousse a wonderful chocolate flavor. Trust me you will finish this to the last lick.All the ingredients used in this recipe are simple and easy to find or pantry staples.You can use a hand mixer over a mixing bowl. But, since we have a few things to whip a stand mixer might work best.This recipe has three components. Base – For the base we use feuilletine, which can be found at any pastry or cake shop. And if you can’t find it, you can also use crushed cornflakes (my kids love the cornflakes more than the feuilletine) .Mousse – Today, I’ve used 60% cocoa Callebaut chocolate here. But any chocolate that you love to eat is great for chocolate mousse. And please do not use baking chocolate or candy melts. Trust me good quality chocolate is the way to go (it does not have to be expensive).As always, I am going to cook the eggs so we don’t eat any raw eggs. First, we separate the eggs. Then, cook the egg yolks and egg whites with the sugar until the sugar is melted. Eggs cook fast, so, we want them to be barely warm – yolks (149 F) and whites (144 F). And, don’t worry you don’t need a thermometer. Glaze – To keep it simple, I am using a chocolate glaze. You can also use a mirror glaze as I did in my mousse cake with torte insert.Also, the process for this recipe is very simple and easy:Base – 10 minsMousse – 20 minsAssemble – 10 minsFreeze – 6 hours (or overnight)Glaze – 10 minsChill – 2 hours

Ingredients and substitutes

Eggs – Here, I am cooking the yolks and whites so any eggs will work. And if you want to use raw eggs, I suggest looking for pasteurized eggs. Whipping cream – This has got to be 35 to 38% fat or the mousse will not set. And for the topping, you can use a percentage whipped cream.Chocolate – You can use any good quality chocolate – dark, semi-sweet, or milk chocolate. I am using 60% coverture Callebaut chocolate.Extras – You can add 2 tbsp of brewed espresso or liquor such as Baileys, Kahlua, butterscotch baileys, etc.Feuilletine – This can be purchased at any pastry, cake, or bakery. Alternatively, you can also use crushed cornflakes or similar.

Heart Chocolate Mousse Cake

Base

Using the heart silicone mold, trace the heart shape on the parchment paper.Pro tip – I like to smear the silicone pan edge with melted chocolate and invert the mold on the parchment paper. This leaves an imprint that I can then use as a guide (see video).

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate until smooth. Then, add the crushed feuilletine flakes (or crushed cornflakes).Pro tip – The chocolate will seem like a small amount. And yet, we just need the chocolate as glue to hold the flakes together. Otherwise, it will be hard to cut the base when it sets.Pour the mixture on the parchment paper and create the heart-shaped base. Place the base in the refrigerator until ready to use.Pro tip – Try not to come out of the edges of the heart shape to prevent a shabby border (which is why I needed chocolate shavings on my border).

Mousse

Place a saucepan with 2-inches of water on medium heat. You will need 3 heat-proof bowls that can be set on the saucepan.Bowl 1 – In the first bowl, add the chocolate and butter. Place it over the saucepan with simmering water. Let the chocolate melt. Stirring when needed. Set aside to cool slightly.Pro tip – Chocolate can seize if any steam gets into it. So, keep the heat on medium to low and stir as necessary.

Bowl 2 – In the second bowl, add the egg yolks and 2 tbsp of sugar. Combine well. Then, place it over the saucepan with simmering water. Using a whisk, stir continuously until all the sugar is melted and the yolks are barely warm. Set aside.Pro tip – You want the heat to be on medium to low (not high) to prevent the eggs from cooking. You don’t need a thermometer, but as a guide, it should be about 149 F.

Bowl 3 – In the third bowl, add the egg whites and the remaining 2 tbsp of sugar. Place it over the saucepan with simmering water. Use a clean whisk to stir until all the sugar has melted. We want the mixture barely warm.Pro tip – Keep the heat on medium to low (not heigh) to prevent the eggs from cooking. You don’t need a thermometer but as a guide, it should be about 144 F.

Whipping 1 – In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whip the whipping cream with vanilla extract to almost stiff peaks – set aside.Next, Whipping 2 – Using the same mixer and whisk attachment (no need to clean the bowl), whip the egg yolks until light and fluffy – set aside.Whipping 3 – Clean the mixer bowl and whisk attachment as we need a clean grease-free bowl. Then, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks – set aside.Pro tip – it is very important to clean the bowl and whisk as any grease will prevent the egg whites from whipping to a stiff meringue.

Assemble

First, add the whipped yolks to the chocolate mixture – fold gently but don’t overmix.Next, add the whipped cream to the chocolate mixture – fold gently but don’t overmix.Finally, add the whipped egg whites to the chocolate mixture – fold gently until you have not white streaks.Pour the mousse into the heart-shaped silicone mold, and place the chocolate-feuilletine base on top. Push the base so it fits snug into the mold just above the mousse.Pro tip – Depending on the size and brand of your mold you may or may not have any excess mousse. If you do, pour the excess in a mousse glass, chill for two hours in the fridge and enjoy it later.Chill the heart mousse in the freezer for at least 6 hours – preferably overnight.

Glaze

In a microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate, butter, and oil. Heat for 30 seconds or more until completely melted. Set aside to cool until barely warm.Pro tip – Do not over-mix the glaze, as we do not want to add too much air into it.Unmold the mousse from the silicone pan. Place a cooling rack on a baking tray to catch drippings. Then, pour the glaze on the mousse. Let the excess drip off.Pro tip – Pour gradually so the chocolate flows slowly covering the sides.Transfer the heart to a cake stand or serving platter. Place the candy hearts on one side, as I have done in the video. Alternatively, you can use other chocolate decorations.I also used chocolate shaving around the base of the heart.Pro tip – Scraping a chocolate bar with a vegetable peeler is an easier and quicker method to make chocolate shavings.Chill for at least 2 hours in the fridge so the mousse is not too hard to cut.Enjoy!

Tips for success

The darker the chocolate the less sweet the chocolate mousse. Use semi-sweet or milk chocolate to make the mousse sweeter. Use large eggs and make sure to separate the eggs properly. Make sure no egg yolks get into the whites otherwise, it won’t whip into a fluffy meringue. Use high percentage heavy cream so it stays fluffy for a longer time. Let the mousse cool in the fridge for at least 2 hours so it sets but, if possible let it chill overnight so it tastes delicious too.

Variations

Baileys Chocolate Mousse – adding baileys or Irish cream to the mousse.Vegan chocolate mousse – made eggless with vegan substitutes.Eggless chocolate mousse – minus the eggs in the recipe to make a light and airy chocolate and whipped cream mixture.Heart Chocolate Mousse – perfect for valentines day with the mousse set in a heart silicone mold.Chocolate Mousse Cake with Mirror Glaze – a wonderul entremet dessert made with chocolate torte, chocolate mousse and a mirror glaze.Chocolate Cheesecake Mousse – with cream cheese added to the mousse.Cream Cheese Chocolate Mousse Tart – pour the cream cream based chocolate mousse into a shortcrust tart.See all Mousse recipes

More valentines day cakes

Heart Pillow Cake, Valentine Conversation Heart Cakes TutorialMarbled Heart Cookies – Valentine Sugar CookiesValentine Strawberry Gift Box Cake75 Valentines Day DessertsHeart Chocolate TerrineStrawberry Mousse Domes with Pastry Cream Insert

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Eggless Chocolate Mousse, Vegan Chocolate Mousse RecipeBerry Mousse Jars or Classic Mango Mousse RecipeStrawberry Mousse or Strawberry Mousse Domes with Pastry Cream InsertMoist Dark Chocolate BrowniesDark Chocolate CheesecakeRecipe for Chocolate Babka or Chocolate Cinnamon RollsEasy Chocolate Pudding RecipeSee all chocolate desserts