If you adore rich layers, velvety mousse, and chocolate in all its glorious shades, you’re in for a treat with the Tuxedo Cake: A Triple Chocolate Mousse Delight! This cake is a showstopper on any dessert table. With alternating layers of tender chocolate cake and three distinct mousses—dark, milk, and white—it’s as stunning to slice into as it is decadent to eat. Perfect for celebrations, holidays, or whenever you want to wow your loved ones, this dessert offers a beautiful balance of flavors and textures that keep every bite intriguing.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every piece of this masterpiece begins with a handful of everyday ingredients, but in the right combination, they transform into something truly spectacular. Each component supports the next—whether it’s building structure, deepening flavor, or adding that melt-in-your-mouth finish.
- All-Purpose Flour: The base for the chocolate cake layers, providing structure that’s tender, not heavy.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens both the cake and the mousse layers for perfect balance.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Brings deep, intense chocolate flavor, which is essential for that classic tuxedo look.
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda: A dynamic duo to ensure your cake rises beautifully and achieves the right crumb.
- Salt: Just a pinch elevates every other flavor in this layered cake.
- Vegetable Oil: Makes the cake layers extra moist without overpowering the chocolate.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients while adding richness and structure.
- Vanilla Extract: Infuses an aromatic warmth that complements all that chocolate.
- Buttermilk: Adds tang and tenderness, resulting in an ultra-soft cake.
- Hot Coffee: Intensifies the chocolate flavors—trust me, you won’t taste the coffee!
- Dark Chocolate (6 oz): For the first mousse, it imparts sophistication and deep chocolate notes.
- Milk Chocolate (6 oz): Creates the second mousse layer, lending its creamy, nostalgic sweetness.
- White Chocolate (6 oz): Adds contrast and creaminess in the final mousse tier.
- Heavy Cream: Essential for whipping up those beautifully airy mousse layers.
- Sugar (for mousse layers): Balances out the bitterness, especially in the dark and milk chocolate mousses.
- Chocolate Curls or Shavings: For garnish—these delicate finishes signal you’re about to enjoy something special.
- Cocoa Powder: A final dusting for extra drama and a hint of cocoa aroma with every bite.
How to Make Tuxedo Cake: A Triple Chocolate Mousse Delight
Step 1: Bake the Perfect Chocolate Cake Layers
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. This step ensures a flawless release, so your layers go from pan to plate in one piece. Simply whisk the dry ingredients, blend in the wet, then stir in the hot coffee—this deepens the chocolate flavor and makes the batter silky smooth. Divide evenly into your pans, bake for around 30 minutes, and let them cool completely. A perfectly even, moist cake sets the stage for our trio of mousses.
Step 2: Prepare the Dark Chocolate Mousse
Now, it’s time to craft the first of our dreamy mousse layers. Melt the dark chocolate by pouring hot cream over it, letting it sit, and then stirring until it’s glossy and smooth. Once slightly cooled, whip up the rest of the cream with sugar until soft peaks form—this is where the lightness comes from! Fold the two together gently, creating a mousse that’s rich but ethereally light.
Step 3: Whip Up the Milk Chocolate Mousse
Repeat the process for the milk chocolate mousse. The technique is exactly the same, but the change in chocolate adds a creamier, sweeter profile—a beautiful bridge from the bold darkness below to the creamy top tier to come.
Step 4: Make the White Chocolate Mousse
The final mousse layer brings contrast and balance. Melt the white chocolate with hot cream, whip the remaining cream with a touch of sugar, and fold together until silky. The result is a fluffy cloud of white chocolate that will crown your creation.
Step 5: Assemble the Tuxedo Cake: A Triple Chocolate Mousse Delight
Assembly is where the magic happens! Place the first cake layer on your serving plate (or in a springform pan for perfect edges). Spread the dark chocolate mousse evenly, then top with the second cake layer. Smooth over the milk chocolate mousse, and after a brief 20-minute chill, finish with the ethereal white chocolate mousse. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours to set all the layers to sliceable perfection—you’ll be rewarded for your patience. Right before serving, add chocolate curls or a flurry of cocoa powder to finish.
How to Serve Tuxedo Cake: A Triple Chocolate Mousse Delight
Garnishes
Think of the garnish as your cake’s final flourish. A generous tumble of chocolate curls creates instant drama, or a light dusting of cocoa powder adds a touch of elegance. Fresh berries or edible flowers are lovely if you want to add color and a hint of tartness. Each option adds its own personality, inviting guests to dig in.
Side Dishes
While the Tuxedo Cake: A Triple Chocolate Mousse Delight is incredibly rich, it pairs beautifully with simple sides like a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream, or even a handful of fresh raspberries. If you’re feeling adventurous, serve with espresso or a glass of cold milk for a true crowd-pleaser combo.
Creative Ways to Present
You can serve this cake as an impressive layer dessert, or get playful with presentation! Try cutting the cake into petite squares for a bite-sized dessert tray, or layer the components in glass jars for individual tuxedo cake parfaits. For birthdays or elegant dinners, arrange on a cake stand with extra chocolate shavings falling artfully around the base.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If—by some miracle—you have leftovers, store slices covered in the refrigerator. The mousse keeps its lovely texture for up to 3 days, and the cake layers stay moist. Just be sure to keep it airtight so nothing dries out.
Freezing
The entire Tuxedo Cake: A Triple Chocolate Mousse Delight (or just individual slices) can be frozen! Wrap well in plastic and foil, then freeze for up to a month. Defrost overnight in the fridge to preserve those silky mousse layers. Hold off on garnishing until after thawing for the prettiest results.
Reheating
No reheating needed! This cake is best served chilled, straight from the fridge. If you prefer softer mousse, let your slice rest at room temperature for 10–15 minutes before enjoying.
FAQs
Can I make this cake a day ahead?
Absolutely! In fact, the Tuxedo Cake: A Triple Chocolate Mousse Delight is even better when chilled overnight, allowing the mousse layers to set beautifully for sharp, clean slices.
What if I don’t have buttermilk?
No problem! Mix 1/2 cup regular milk with 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar, let it sit for 5 minutes, and you’ll have a quick buttermilk substitute perfect for this recipe.
Can I use chocolate chips instead of chocolate bars?
You can, but for the smoothest, silkiest mousse, high-quality chocolate bars are best. If you use chips, make sure they’re designed for melting and are not overly sweetened or waxy.
What’s the best way to slice the cake cleanly?
Use a sharp, hot knife (dip it in hot water and wipe dry between cuts) for neat, bakery-style slices—especially important given the mousse layers.
Is this recipe suitable for a gluten-free diet?
Swap the all-purpose flour for your favorite gluten-free blend. Since most of the decadence comes from the mousse, the texture remains delightful even without traditional flour.
Final Thoughts
I can’t recommend enough that you try making the Tuxedo Cake: A Triple Chocolate Mousse Delight. The process is nearly as fun as enjoying that first, melty, chocolate-drenched bite! Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just to treat yourself, this cake turns any day into a true celebration.
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Tuxedo Cake: A Triple Chocolate Mousse Delight Recipe
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking, Chilling
- Cuisine: American, European-Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the ultimate chocolate lover’s dream with this Tuxedo Cake. Layers of moist chocolate cake sandwiched between rich dark, milk, and white chocolate mousses, finished with chocolate curls for a decadent treat.
Ingredients
For the chocolate cake layers:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup hot coffee
For the dark chocolate mousse:
- 6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream, divided
- 2 tablespoons sugar
For the milk chocolate mousse:
- 6 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream, divided
- 2 tablespoons sugar
For the white chocolate mousse:
- 6 ounces white chocolate, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream, divided
- 2 tablespoons sugar
For garnish:
- Chocolate curls or shavings
- Cocoa powder for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare cake pans.
- Prepare the cake layers: Mix dry ingredients, add wet ingredients, pour into pans, and bake.
- Make the chocolate mousses: Heat cream, pour over chocolate, whip remaining cream, fold in, and repeat for each chocolate type.
- Assemble the cake: Layer cakes with each mousse type, chill, and garnish before serving.
Notes
- For a neater finish, assemble the cake in a springform pan lined with parchment.
- This cake is best made a day ahead to allow the mousse to firm up.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 41 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg
