Chocolate Mousse Royale

I can't believe I have been blogging for two years and

I haven't ever posted our favorite 

luxury chocolate dessert.

This is nothing but fabulous - moist chocolate cake

topped with rich, creamy almond flavored chocolate

mousse and finished with almond flavored whipped

cream. 

 Decadent and fabulous!

This one was made and decorated for a wedding shower.

I started making this 25 years ago when my friend

Maretta had me help her make several of them

for a Relief Society dinner (our lady's church group).

This recipe takes quite a few steps but each step is

easy as long as you follow the instructions and it

always wows.

Chocolate Mousse Royale

Chocolate Cake

1 1/2 C. flour

1 C. white sugar

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

4 T. cocoa

1/2 tsp. salt

1 C. mayonaise

1 C. water

1 1/2 tsp. rum flavor

In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, soda and salt with a whisk.

In a separate bowl mix the mayonaise, water and rum flavoring.

Stir the two of them together with a whisk until smooth.

Place in a 9 inch springform pan sprayed with baking spray.

Bake at 350 for 70 minutes or until it springs back.  Be

sure not to underbake it or it will sink.

Let it cool completely when it is done.  It will take over an hour

to cool completely.  If it is warm, it will melt the mousse, so take

the time to wait.

Cut off a piece of foil, about 36 inches long.  Fold in half lengthwise

and spray with baking spray.  You are going to use this to create

a collar inside the springform pan so that the mousse layer can be

taller than the pan.  Place it inside the pan, overlapping the ends and

tucking it down between the pan and the cooled cake.

Chocolate Mousse

2 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 T. water

8 eggs, separated

1 1/2 tsp. almond flavor (not artificial)

In a microwave safe bowl place the chocolate chips

and water.  Melt for 1 minute.  Stir, then melt for 30 seconds intervals,

stirring each time until melted.

 Stir until smooth.

(I know this might freak you out that you add water to the

chocolate, but when enough water is added, the chocolate won't

seize and 2 T. to 2 C. is enough water.  This works, trust me.)

Stir in the egg yolks and the almond flavoring 

and then let cool for 10 minutes -

don't skip this step as it will be too hot for the egg whites

and will make them deflate.

The last two minutes of cooling, begin to beat the egg

whites until stiff.  Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the

chocolate to lighten the chocolate.  Then place the remainder

of the egg whites in the chocolate and gently fold them in.  You

want to be very gentle doing this.  If you mix it too much the

mousse will be runny.

Spoon the chocolate mousse on top of the cake with the

foil collar.  Place in the fridge and let set for 5 hours.

(You really can't rush this part or it will not set up.)

Undo the springform pan and remove the cake and mousse.

Gently remove the foil collar.  

Place a small amount of frosting on your cake plate to 

hold the cake in place.  Keeping the springform pan's bottom

under the cake, place it on the frosting to secure it to the

cake plate.  

Whipped Cream Frosting

2 C. heavy whipping cream

1/2 C. powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp. almond flavor

Whip the cream and as it begins to set up, whip in the 

powdered sugar and the almond flavoring.  Whip it until

it holds it shape.

Frost the sides of the cake and then the top using a 

table knife and finishing with a spoon to create swirls.

Decorate as desired.  I have also decorated this with

chocolate curls, white chocolate trees, white Jordan almonds,

sparkle dust, etc.  Have fun making it beautiful.

Return to the fridge until serving time.

I thought these fun sugar hearts were perfect for a wedding shower.

I bought these last year in Paris, but you could make them with a small

heart shaped mold.

White chocolate curls, silver and white dragees  were added.  The

all white with a touch of silver fit the wedding theme.

I had to take photos at the shower quickly before it was all gone.

Then I had to promise that I would feature it on my blog!

This chocolate delight could become your favorite too.

Posting with

On The Menu Monday