The ones I filled with graham crackers, milk chocolate mousse, marshmallow frosting and chocolate sauce. Yeah, that week I went a little mousse crazy.
And when I say a little, I really mean A LOT.
We were eating mousse after every meal and for every snack for like a week.
Nothing wrong with that though.
So there is a lot of layers in these.
You have the super moist chocolate cake layer that is, wait for it……
Soaked in Kahlua. Yes, soaked. It is amazing.
Then there is the chocolate coffee caramel.
It is chocolate caramel sauce, spiked with coffee. It’s kind of crazy.
Then the mousse.
The best part. It’s light and airy and I just cannot get enough of it.
Top it all off with some fresh whipped cream.
You know, to balance out all the chocolate!
These are the perfect party dessert since everyone can get their own and you do not have to make them as big as mine. Just find some smaller serving dishes and divvy up all the layers equally. Or to make this crazy easy just grab one giant bowl and make a trifle, those are always stunning!
Either way you go, just make all the layers. Every last one brings something awesome to the table and trust me, you just do not want to miss out on any of the awesomeness.
To make the cake, heat oven to 350°F. Grease a square 8x8 baking dish or one 8 inch cake pan.
Stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Beat on medium speed of mixer for two minutes. Beat in the hot coffee. Evenly spread the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until the cake no longer jiggles in the center. Remove and allow to cool 5 minutes. Then poke the cake all over with a fork and evenly pour the Kahlua all over the cake. Cover the baking dish and place in the fridge.
To make the chocolate mousse, in a microwave safe bowl add the chocolate, butter and 2 tablespoons water. Microwave on 30 second intervals, stirring after each, until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool. In a small sauce pan whisk together the egg yolks, 2 tablespoons water and sugar. Place on the stove over medium heat and stir constantly until the sauce thickens slightly and just coats the back of a spoon, about 2-3 minutes. Stir the melted chocolate into egg mixture until completely smooth. Place in the fridge while you whip the cream.
Place 1 1/2 cups of the cream in the bowl of a stand mixer and whip cream until stiff peaks form. Make sure not to over-beat, cream will then become lumpy and butter-like. Now add half the whipped cream to the cooled chocolate mixture. Gently fold the cream into the chocolate until no more streaks remain. Add the remaining cream and gently fold into the mousse. Place in the fridge.
Now add the remaining cream to a clean bowl and whip just as you did earlier. Once whipped add 1 tablespoon powdered sugar and whip until combined. Place in the fridge.
Make the chocolate coffee caramel, whisk together heavy cream and vanilla in a small bowl. Set aside. Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once it begins to boil watch closely and whisk until the mixture starts to smell like caramel and turn a golden color, and then to a light brown. This will take about 5-6 minutes. When you see that it has started to turn brown, slowly pour in the cream mixture, whisking constantly and quickly. The sugar will harden around the whisk, don’t worry, it will melt. Just keep whisking! Continue to heat over medium-high until mixture has thickened and is a light caramel color, about 5 minutes more (don't let it get too thick, it will thicken as it sits). Remove from the heat and stir in the, coffee, chocolate chips and vanilla.
To assemble the cakes line up 6 glasses or glass jars. Drizzle the bottom of each jar with 1 tablespoon of the coffee caramel, then crumble in a layer of the cake. Drizzle that with another tablespoon or so of caramel, then add a layer of mouse and a layer of whipped cream. Repeat the layers 2 more times finishing with a layer of whipped cream. Then add crumbled cake to the top of the whipped cream and drizzle with more caramel sauce. Refrigerate 2 hours or until ready to serve.
Wow! These are outstanding. Awesome.
My sister would adore that chocolate coffee caramel. She loves anything with coffee. and chocolate.
Gorgeous recipe and pictures! Pinned. 🙂
oh my! Good golly gosh!
Tieghan, you might just be a “smidge crazy …” but this is driving me way overboard crazy!
GORGEAOUS! SCRUMDILIUMPTIOUS! FANTABULOUS!
Chocolate cake soaked in kaluuuuuuuuuuuuuuua?!!?! Ohhhh deary me, my heart is pounding just thinking about this delicious dessert. I have a major thing for layered desserts – LOVE them..and of course chocolate anything is my favorite…I feel like I go to heaven every time I read your posts! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Holy cow that looks absolutely incredible! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thanks Eric!
If this is mousse crazy, I’m all in! Gorgeous!
Thanks so much, Laura!
Are you even kidding me with this? Holy smokes. Want!
Thank you so much, Heather!! You are the queen of desserts so that means the world coming from you!
I’m officially obsessed with this!! Thank you! Making this soon! 🙂
Thanks Julie!! Hope these work out awesome for you!
Wow! These are outstanding. Awesome.
My sister would adore that chocolate coffee caramel. She loves anything with coffee. and chocolate.
Gorgeous recipe and pictures! Pinned. 🙂
Thank you so much, Abbie!
I almost licked my screen, Tieghan. This looks amazing!
Thanks Eva!
You know I love everything with chocolate! These look delicious! Can’t wait to try.
Thanks Melanie!
By alllll means – keep going mouse crazy!! I love these a million times over!!
Thanks Megan!
Holy WOW!!!! Pinning these to a few boards 🙂
Thank you!! You are too kind, Marla!
oh my! Good golly gosh!
Tieghan, you might just be a “smidge crazy …” but this is driving me way overboard crazy!
GORGEAOUS! SCRUMDILIUMPTIOUS! FANTABULOUS!
Hehe! Thank you!
Chocolate cake soaked in kaluuuuuuuuuuuuuuua?!!?! Ohhhh deary me, my heart is pounding just thinking about this delicious dessert. I have a major thing for layered desserts – LOVE them..and of course chocolate anything is my favorite…I feel like I go to heaven every time I read your posts! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Thanks Julia! Hope you have a great weekend too!
The second I saw this on Pinterest, I thought, “THESE HAVE TO BE FROM HBH!” And sure enough, they are! Pinned (and drooled on) 🙂
Lol!! Thank you, Kelly!!
fsdjhhyhgshrturhibf!! That’s how I feel about this.. Not one coherent sentence can be formed!!
haha! Thanks Erika!
Look away, no don’t, yes, no. Oh man…I just want to stare at this dessert in hopes that it will magically appear on my table!
I wish I could send you one! Thanks Steph!
THUD!! That was me falling over in awe of these desserts from paradise….
Haha! Thanks Gerry!
ha ha Gerry. I wonder what the sound effect would be once you ate this dessert? Looks great doesn’t it?