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Strawberry Chocolate Mousse Cake

Indulge in the ultimate delight for chocolate lovers with this decadent dessert! Featuring a homemade Oreo crust, airy chocolate mousse, and luxurious chocolate ganache, this layered cake is sure to impress.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, French
Servings 10
Calories 590 kcal

Equipment

  • 8" springform pan
  • Cooking spray
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Small bowl
  • Heatproof bowl
  • Small saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Stand mixer or hand mixer
  • Piping bag (optional)

Ingredients
  

For the Crust:

  • Cooking spray for the pan
  • 24 Oreos crushed
  • 6 tbsp butter melted
  • Pinch kosher salt
  • For the Chocolate Mousse:
  • 2 tsp gelatin
  • 2 1/2 tbsp cold water
  • 2 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  • 3 cups heavy cream divided
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 quarts strawberries stems removed

For the Ganache Topping:

  • 2/3 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  • Chocolate shavings for garnish

Instructions
 

Step 1: Prepare the Crust

  • Grease an 8" springform pan with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine crushed Oreos, melted butter, and a pinch of kosher salt.
  • Press the mixture into the pan and set it aside.

Step 2: Make the Chocolate Mousse

  • In a small bowl, combine gelatin and cold water and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, place chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl.
  • In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring 1 cup of heavy cream to a simmer, then remove from heat.
  • Whisk in the softened gelatin until completely dissolved, then pour the mixture over the chocolate chips.
  • Whisk until the chocolate is melted, and let the mixture cool, stirring occasionally.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or in a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat the remaining 2 cups of cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
  • Stir in about 1/4 cup of whipped cream into the melted chocolate mixture, then gently fold in the remaining whipped cream until fully incorporated.

Step 3: Assemble the Cake

  • Spread a thin layer of mousse over the prepared crust.
  • Cut in half as many strawberries as necessary to press around the inside edge of the pan, then place whole strawberries inside, stemmed side down.
  • Transfer the remaining mousse to a piping bag and fill in all the gaps between strawberries.
  • Spread mousse over strawberries, creating a flat top.
  • Refrigerate until set, about 4 to 6 hours.

Step 4: Make the Ganache Topping

  • In a small saucepan over low heat, heat the heavy cream.
  • Place chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl and pour the hot heavy cream over them.
  • Let it sit for 3 minutes, then stir until creamy and no lumps remain.
  • Refrigerate the ganache until slightly thick, about 15 minutes.
  • Spread the ganache over the set mousse layer.
  • Sprinkle chocolate shavings on top for garnish.

Notes

Crust Variation: If you're not a fan of Oreos, you can substitute them with graham crackers or chocolate wafer cookies for the crust.
Fruit Variation: While strawberries are used in this recipe, you can use any fresh berries or fruit of your choice to customize the cake to your liking.
Ganache Topping: For an extra glossy finish, you can add a tablespoon of corn syrup to the ganache mixture before pouring it over the cake.
Shortcut: To save time, you can use store-bought chocolate mousse instead of making it from scratch.