Dark Chocolate Layer Cake with Eggnog Mousse

5 from 3 votes

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Dark Chocolate Layer Cake with Eggnog Mousse is the perfect holiday flavor combination! Trust me, making this cake is easier than it looks.

Layer Cake

I have a killer recipe for you all today, Dark Chocolate Layer Cake with Eggnog Mousse! This chocolate cake is fabulous as is, but because it’s the holidays, I layered it up with some really simple eggnog mousse. It’s fabulous, creamy, cold and super chocolatey! How every cake of the chocolate variety should be, in my humble opinion. –>Never mind. I’m really not that humble when it comes to cake.

I loosely based this cake off of this pumpkin cake, but made it more festive for Christmas. It’s the kind of treat that looks fancy, but couldn’t be simpler! And you don’t need any special pans or ingredients…unless you classify a half sheet pan and/or eggnog as special. Whatevs. Totally normal stuff I have this time of year.

Here’s how you make this awesome cake:

Layer CakeStart by softening some butter. I had salted and unsalted butter in my fridge so I used both. Use what you have! No big deal!

Layer CakeCream the butter with some granulated sugar until light and fluffy.

Chocolate Layer CakeWhile that is mixing, chop up some unsweetened dark chocolate. I used Scharffen Berger.

Chocolate Layer CakeAnd you’ll also want to mix together some dry ingredients. Simple stuff: flour, salt, baking soda and unsweetened cocoa powder. Again, using Scharffen Berger cocoa.

Layer CakeBack to the bowl. Stir in eggs and vanilla into your butter and sugar.

Layer CakeScrape the bottom of the bowl and mix again. It should be a little more liquidy, but still pretty airy.

Chocolate Layer CakeNow we can dump in the dry ingredients…

Layer Cakealong with some buttermilk and sour cream. I love adding both of these ingredients to any cake because it keeps it so moist! All cake in the world should be moist. Amen.

Chocolate Layer CakeSo, the last thing to do is melt down that chocolate you chopped and stir it into the batter.

Chocolate Layer CakeSpread it into a well greased half sheet pan and bake. It will spread really thin, but should grow to be about 1/3-1/2 of an inch thick.

Chocolate Layer CakeLike so! Let it cool and then cut into equal fourths, width-wise.

Eggnog Mousse

While the cake is cooling, we can make the eggnog mousse. Calm down. It’s not REAL mousse. I’m a pregnant impatient lady. I made a box of instant vanilla pudding with eggnog instead of milk and then folded in a bunch of whipped cream. THAT’S IT. Store this in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble.

Layer CakeOnce you are ready to go, layer cake and mousse 4 layers high and then top with lots of chocolate shavings. {I just took a vegetable peeler to a big hunk of chocolate….super simple.} Store this in the fridge until you’re ready to serve 🙂 So yummy, guys! You must must must try it this holiday season.

Dark Chocolate Layer Cake
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5 from 3 votes

Layered Dark Chocolate and Egg Nog Mousse Cake

Dark Chocolate Layer Cake with Eggnog Mousse is the perfect holiday flavor combination! Trust me, making this cake is easier than it looks.
servings 12 servings
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes

Ingredients

for the cake:

for the eggnog mousse:

  • 2 cups eggnog
  • 1-3.4 oz. box instant vanilla pudding small box
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • chocolate shavings for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray one half sheet pan with non stick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whip butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Stir in eggs and vanilla. In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Alternate adding in dry ingredients with buttermilk and sour cream. Scrape sides, pour in melted chocolate and mix again briefly. Pour into prepared baking sheet and spread as evenly as possible. It will be a very thin layer. Bake 10-12 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted. Cool completely.
  • For the mousse, whip cream until stiff peaks form. Set aside. In another bowl, whip eggnog together with vanilla pudding until it starts to thicken. Fold in cream. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.
  • For assembly, cut chocolate cake into 4 even pieces width-wise. Using a large spatula, remove one of the four pieces and place carefully onto a serving platter. Top with 1/4 of the eggnog mousse. Continue this layering process until you have 4 layers of cake with eggnog mousse in between each, being sure to finish with eggnog mousse. Top with chocolate shavings and refrigerate until serving. Slice into pieces and serve cold.

Nutrition

Calories: 386kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 274mg | Potassium: 234mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 715IU | Vitamin C: 0.8mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 2.1mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: dark chocolate, egg nog mousse cake, holiday
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Strawberry and Cream Layer Cake

Layered Pumpkin Walnut Cake with Caramel & Chocolate Frostings

Layered Red, White & Blue Vanilla Cupcakes with Fool-Proof Cream Cheese Frosting

5 from 3 votes

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45 Responses
  1. LjThies

    5 stars
    Made this for Christmas 2016….Fabulous recipe. I had a guest turn down dessert at first…then had a bite. He had TWO slices ! A holiday must !

  2. gabriela zabaleta

    Hi Lauren!
    First of all congrats on this amazing site!!!
    My question is very simple: since I am in Uruguay, South America, and there isn’t anything like eggnog, do you think it would be fine if I substitute it with condensed milk?

    Please do let me know since it looks absolutely amazing + ideal for Xmas dessert!

    Love,
    gaby

    PS I would love you to have a look at my Facebook Pequeños Gourmets en Acción and let me know what you think 😉

  3. Christmas Baking: Peppermint, Nutella + Eggnog - Handcrafted Parties

    […] Layered dark chocolate and eggnog mousse cake  {Lauren’s Latest} […]

  4. ashe_phoenix

    It’s like Christmas tiramisu! Thank you for sharing!

    (Wonder how divine a spiked version of this would be….

    Don’t try until after the baby!)

  5. zoesgarden

    5 stars
    Where was this when I was trying to figure out what to bring to today’s Christmas brunch? This looks amazingly easy and I think I would cheat and do a cake mix. I always add a little Jack Daniels because it makes my cakes moister and fluffier. Jack is good in soooo many things!!

  6. Katie @ Blonde Ambition

    Omg, I could just eat that giant sheet of chocolate cake. But the egg nog “mousse” sounds pretty good too 🙂
    Congrats on the boy! And the new site looks great!

  7. Shanna@ pineapple and coconut

    Your pictures are GORGEOUS!! The cake looks and sounds amazing. And I adore using Scharffen berger chocolate in my baking! Awesome giveaway!

  8. Schweet Life

    I rarely eat chocolate as candy but I’ve used Valrhona and Trader Joe’s Pound Plus for baking and they were ok. I’ve heard great things about Scharffen Berger but haven’t tried any of their products as yet. I’ll have to add it to my list of things to look for and pick a recipe to test the different chocolate brands.

    The cake looks delicious! I tried egg nog as a kid but didn’t like the texture so I haven’t had any since about the age of 5 or 6. Its been quite a few years so maybe I should give it another shot this holiday season.

    Congrats on your baby boy!

  9. Danielle

    Oh my gosh! This looks amazing and sounds super easy to make! Since my husband loves chocolate and I love eggnog this cake will be the perfect compromise! 🙂

  10. Alaina @ Fabtastic Eats

    5 stars
    oh.my.god. you know when you see a picture, then a recipe and you HAVE to have it, like right away? This is that for me..Ive been wanting it since you put it on Instagram…I am SO happy to not have to wait any longer! ha! THANK YOU!

  11. Yvette Novak

    Lauren,

    Congratulations on your little boy!

    I just made another batch of your Lemon Crinkles yesterday. All
    it takes is one cookie, and I have people asking for the recipe!

    This chocolate cake looks delightful. I can’t wait to try it.

  12. Peggy

    Lauren,
    You’ve done it again! and isn’t Scharffen Berger chocolate the best! I have to make a point to tell our teenage boys to leave it alone or they will eat the semi-sweet or dark chocolate baking bars. Trust me, more than once I’ve gone to make something and only found a partial bar… I think my husband sneaks nibbles too.. 🙂 (I can’t blame them as it is so good!!)

    Congratulations once again!!

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