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Home » RECIPE » Desserts » Frostings & Fillings » Chocolate Mousse Filling

Chocolate Mousse Filling

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By: Shinee Published: 10/10/2022Updated: 10/10/2022

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This chocolate mousse filling is creamy and rich with a light and airy texture and an intense chocolate flavor! It’s perfect for filling layer cakes, roll cakes, and decorating cupcakes.

Chocolate moussing frosting in a glass mixing bowl.

Table of Contents

  • Why you’ll love this recipe:
  • Key Ingredient Notes:
  • How to make this recipe:
  • Tips for Success:
  • Ways to use chocolate mousse filling:
  • Storing Tips:
  • FAQs:
  • More Mousse Recipes:
  • Chocolate Mousse Filling

Why you’ll love this recipe:

Don’t be fooled by its glossy sheen, pillowy texture, and decadent chocolate taste.

Chocolate mousse frosting is quick and simple to make! It’s essentially whipped cream folded into melted chocolate. The chocolate stabilizes the cream and imparts a rich chocolate flavor.

  • The best filling for chocolate cake
  • Customize it with milk, dark, or semi-sweet chocolate
  • Easy to make in just 25 minutes

I could eat this chocolate mousse icing by the spoonful, but my favorite way to use it is in chocolate layer cakes!

Try it in roll cakes, ice cream cakes, cupcakes, or even use it to fill strawberries! Yum!

Key Ingredient Notes:

Chocolate mousse filling ingredients.
  • Hot water – Hot water blooms the cocoa powder. When you bloom cocoa powder, you mix it with a hot liquid to draw out and intensify its flavor.
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder – A combination of cocoa powder and melted chocolate provide a robust, rich chocolatey taste. For a dark and intense filling, swap regular cocoa powder with dark cocoa powder.
  • Instant espresso – If you’re not a coffee fan, don’t sweat it! Instant espresso enhances the flavor of the chocolate. You won’t even know it’s there.
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips – I used semi-sweet chocolate which varies in cacao content from 40 to 60 percent. For a sweeter filling, swap with milk chocolate and for a deep, intense filling, use dark chocolate. For best results, use high-quality chocolate chips like Ghirardelli or Callebaut brand. A chopped chocolate bar works perfectly too.
  • Heavy cream – Heavy whipping cream stiffens as you whip it, until it reaches whipped cream. Always keep the cream cold or it won’t whip properly.
  • Sugar – For a touch of sweetness! Sugar helps stabilize the whipped cream.

How to make this recipe:

My chocolate mousse cake filling is simple, I promise! Here’s step-by-step instructions with photos to guide you through it.

  • In a small bowl, dissolve the cocoa powder and instant espresso in hot water. Stir it with a mini whisk or spoon.
  • In a small saucepan, bring two inches of water to a simmer. Place the chocolate chips into a large heatproof bowl and set it over the pot of simmering water. Stir until the chocolate chips are melted and smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat and let it cool slightly.
Side by side images of hot cocoa mixture and melted chocolate.
  • Stir the cocoa mixture into the melted chocolate.
  • In a mixing bowl with the whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream with the sugar until stiff peaks form. Stiff peaks means the whipped cream will hold a peak or point without falling over.
Side by side images of mixing melted chocolate with cocoa mixture and whipped cream.

Tip

Be careful not to overwhip the cream or it will separate and curdle. It should look smooth yet stiff.

  • Add a third of the whipped cream to the cooled chocolate mixture and fold until combined.
  • Combine the chocolate mixture with the remaining whipped cream and fold until no white streaks remain.
Side by side images of combined melted chocolate mixture with whipped cream.

Tips for Success:

  • Let the melted chocolate cool before you add the whipped cream. If the chocolate is hot, it will melt the whipped cream and make chocolate soup.
  • If you don’t want to use a double boiler to melt the chocolate, you can also use the microwave. Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each addition. Do not overheat, or the chocolate will burn and clump.
  • Keep your heavy cream chilled! Warm heavy cream doesn’t whip properly. Warm cream won’t reach stiff peaks, no matter how long you whip it.
  • Don’t overwhip the cream, or it will curdle. Overwhipped cream gets clumpy, separates, and eventually turns into butter.
Rich chocolate mousse frosting upclose.

Ways to use chocolate mousse filling:

  • Spoon it into a glass, top with whipped cream & sprinkles, and enjoy it by the spoonful!
  • Use a paring knife to hull fresh strawberries, then pipe in the chocolate filling. Dip in melted chocolate & chill.
  • Cut the center out of kahlua cupcakes and pipe the chocolate mousse icing inside.
  • Use it to make a chocolate layer in a homemade ice cream cake or creamy cheesecake!
  • Scoop it into a trifle and spread evenly for a decadent chocolate layer.

Storing Tips:

  • Chocolate mousse filling is best the day you make it, however it can be made a day in advance.
  • Transfer to an airtight container, or cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
  • Let the filling sit on the counter to soften before you use it to fill a cake.

FAQs:

What is chocolate mousse made of?

It depends on the recipe! Chocolate mousse can be made with melted chocolate and whipped cream, or with egg yolks, butter, and whipped egg whites. Both ways include chocolate and sugar!

What can I put in between cake layers?

A layer cake can be filled with different types of frostings or fillings. Try Swiss meringue buttercream, French buttercream, American buttercream, jam, cream filling, pie filling, custard, citrus curd, or chocolate ganache.

Is double cream the same as heavy cream?

No, double cream has a higher fat content than heavy cream. Double cream contains 48% milk fat, while heavy cream only 36%. If you do use double cream, be careful not to overwhip it.

Does mousse frosting need to be refrigerated?

Yes, chocolate mousse filling is meant to be enjoyed chilled. It loses its shape and fluffy texture if it sits out too long. It also contains whipped cream, which perishes if its not refrigerated.

More Mousse Recipes:

  • Pumpkin Mousse Pie
  • Pistachio Eclairs with White Chocolate Pistachio Mousse Filling
  • Avocado Chocolate Mousse
  • Chocolate Roll Cake with Raspberry Mousse Filling
  • Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Mousse Frosting
Rich chocolate mousse frosting upclose.

Chocolate Mousse Filling

This chocolate mousse filling is creamy and rich with a light and airy texture and an intense chocolatey flavor! It's perfect for filling layer cakes, roll cakes, and decorating cupcakes.
5 from 3 votes
serves: 24 servings
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total : 25 minutes
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Ingredients

  • ½ cup (120ml) hot water
  • 4 tablespoons (30g) unsweetened cocoa powder Note 1
  • ½ teaspoon instant espresso coffee
  • 1 ½ cups (260g) semi-sweet chocolate chips Note 2
  • 2 cups (480ml) heavy cream cold
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Note: I test all my recipes with both measurements for the most precise and accurate result!

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, dissolve the cocoa powder and instant espresso powder in hot water.
  • In a double boiler, melt the chocolate chips until nice and smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat and cool slightly.
  • Stir the cocoa mixture into the melted chocolate.
  • In a mixing bowl with the whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream with the sugar until hard peaks form.
  • Add 1/3 of the whipped cream and fold until mostly combined. Then combine the mixture with the remaining whipped cream and mix well until no white streaks remain.

Tips & Notes:

Note 1: Dark cocoa powder can be used for a rich, dark chocolate flavor. 
Note 2: Milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips all work great. For a sweet and mild mousse, use milk chocolate. For an intense mousse, use dark chocolate chips. 
Storing Tips:
– Chocolate mousse filling is best the day you make it, however it can be made a day in advance.
– Transfer to an airtight container, or cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
– Let the filling sit on the counter to soften before you use it to fill a cake.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 135kcal (7%) Carbohydrates: 8g (3%) Protein: 1g (2%) Fat: 11g (17%) Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g Monounsaturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0.01g Cholesterol: 23mg (8%) Sodium: 7mg Potassium: 93mg (3%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 5g (6%) Vitamin A: 297IU (6%) Vitamin C: 0.1mg Calcium: 21mg (2%) Iron: 1mg (6%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Author: Shinee
Course:Dessert, filling, frosting
Cuisine:American, French
Diet:Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Rich chocolate mousse frosting upclose.
Did you make this?Show me your creation! Tag me @shineshka and hashtag it #sweetandsavorybyshinee!
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  • Supreme Chocolate Cake
  • Chocolate Roll Cake with Raspberry Mousse Filling
  • Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Mousse Frosting
  • Avocado Chocolate Mousse

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  1. Amy says

    Posted on 16 March 2023 at 4:47 pm

    5 stars
    I made this as a topping for an espresso cheesecake and it was decadent!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 20 March 2023 at 2:31 pm

      Yay, so happy you tried and loved the recipe, Amy! Thank you so much for your feedback!

      Reply
  2. Phyllis Diggins says

    Posted on 10 March 2023 at 12:55 pm

    5 stars
    Made this and couldn’t be happier! Great taste enhanced the cake I filled with it.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 20 March 2023 at 2:37 pm

      Woo-hoo!! So happy you tried and loved my favorite chocolate filling!! Thank you for your feedback, Phyllis!

      Reply
  3. Jayne says

    Posted on 12 January 2023 at 9:04 pm

    Absolutely delicious and so easy 👍thanks for your recipe ❤️

    Reply

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