Best Strawberry Mousse Recipes

STRAWBERRY & WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• Crush the biscuits with a rolling pin to fine crumbs, add the melted butter and mix well. Tip the mix into a 20cm lined, loose-bottomed cake tin, smooth with the back of a spoon and put in the fridge for 30 mins.
• Melt 375g of the chocolate in a microwave or glass bowl set over a pan of simmering water, then allow to cool slightly.
• Take out 6 nice-looking strawberries and set aside. Blitz the remaining strawberries in a food processor until smooth, then add them to a bowl with the soft cheese and cream. Beat until really smooth and thick, then stir in the melted white chocolate. Pour on top of the biscuit base and smooth the top. Place in the fridge and chill overnight.
• Halve the reserved strawberries and place on top of the cheesecake. Melt the remaining 25g chocolate and drizzle over the top, then keep chilled until ready to serve.

STRAWBERRY CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix crumbs and butter to blend thoroughly. Press evenly onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Arrange strawberry halves around the pan side-by-side, pointed ends up, with cut sides against the side of pan; set aside.
• Place chocolate chips in blender container. Pour water and corn syrup into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 minute. Immediately pour over chocolate chips and blend until smooth. Pour into a mixing bowl and cool to room temperature.
• While chocolate cools, whip 1 1/2 cups of the cream to form stiff peaks. Use a rubber spatula or large whisk to fold 1/3 of the whipped cream into the cooled chocolate to lighten it. Gently fold in the remaining whipped cream until mixture is thoroughly blended. Transfer the mousse into the prepared pan and smooth the top. The points of the strawberries might extend about the chocolate mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours.
• Up to 2 hours before serving, in a medium mixing bowl, beat remaining 1/2 cup of cream to form soft peaks. Add sugar. Beat to form stiff peaks. Remove the side of the springform pan and place the cake on a serving plate. Pipe or dollop whipped cream onto top of cake. Arrange remaining halved strawberries on whipped cream. To serve, cut into wedges with thin knife, wiping blade between cuts.

FRESH STRAWBERRY MOUSSE

Steps:

• Crush strawberries; drain and reserve juice. Set berries aside. Add enough water to reserved juice to measure 3/4 cup; pour into a saucepan. Bring to a boil. In a small bowl, combine gelatin and sugar; add boiling juice mixture and stir until gelatin is dissolved. Cool completely. , Stir in crushed strawberries. In a small bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form; fold into berry mixture. Return all to the bowl. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Before serving, beat until fluffy.

LISA'S WHITE CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• For the Cake: Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease and flour 2 round 8" pans.
• Beat flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, shortening, milk and vanilla in a large mixing bowl on low speed, scraping the bowl occasionally, for about 30 seconds.
• Then, beat on high speed for about 2 minutes.
• Add egg whites; beat on high speed 2 minutes longer.
• Fold in white chocolate.
• Pour into pans.
• Bake until wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean- 30 to 35 minutes.
• Allow cakes to cool completely, and then carefully slice each in half, lengthwise.
• For the Mousse (I recommend making the night before): Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler. Set aside.
• Puree fresh strawberries.
• Place the berries in a small saucepan, add the preserves, and cook over medium heat (stirring constantly) until thickened, or just before boiling.
• Remove from heat, and allow to cool slightly.
• Fold into melted chocolate.
• Allow the strawberry chocolate mixture to cool until tepid.
• Then gently fold in whipped cream, followed by gently folding in egg whites.
• Cover and refrigerate 8 hours.
• For the Icing: In a medium saucepan, combine melted chocolate and flour.
• Blend in milk, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick (about the consistency of melted chocolate alone).
• Cool completely.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream together sugar, butter and vanilla.
• Beat until light and fluffy.
• Gradually add completely cooled chocolate mixture.
• Beat until well blended, but DO NOT over beat, or it will become runny.
• To Assemble Cake: Spread set mousse between layers of cake (there will be three layers of mousse).
• Make sure not to have any mousse leaking out of the sides, or it will make icing the cake difficult.
• After the mousse is between the layers, put the cake in the freezer.
• In the meantime, melt the 3 ounces of chocolate.
• Arrange the thinly sliced strawberries on a pan that has been covered with saran wrap.
• Drizzle the chocolate in thin ribbons, in all directions over the strawberries, until they are nicely covered (but not completely).
• Take the cake out of the freezer, and place the pan of strawberries in the freezer.
• Ice the cake generously with the white chocolate icing using a spatula, so it forms soft peaks all over the cake.
• Once the cake is completely iced, take the strawberries out of the freezer.
• Arrange them around the perimeter of the top of the cake, points inward, and around the bottom of the cake, points upward.
• Use five strawberries to form a "flower" in the middle of the cake, if desired.

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• Lightly coat the insides of 3 (9 by 1 1/2-inch) cake pans with melted butter. Line each pan with parchment paper, then lightly coat the parchment with more melted butter. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat 1-inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. Place remaining butter and 8 ounces semisweet chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Tightly cover the top with film wrap. Allow to heat for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat, stir until smooth, and hold at room temperature.
• Place the egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle. Beat on high until slightly thickened and lemon-colored, about 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat on high for an additional 2 minutes.
• While the egg yolks are beating, whisk 4 egg whites in a large stainless steel bowl until stiff but not dry, about 3 to 4 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, fold the melted chocolate mixture into the beaten egg yolk mixture. Add a quarter of the beaten egg whites and stir to incorporate, then gently fold in the remaining egg whites. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, spreading evenly, and bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool in the pans for 15 minutes. (During baking, the surface of the cakes will form a crust; this crust will normally collapse when the cakes are removed from the oven.) Invert 1 of the cakes onto the bottom of a springform pan. Invert the other 2 cakes onto cake circles. Remove the parchment paper and refrigerate cakes for 30 minutes.
• To prepare the chocolate and strawberry mousse, reserve the 12 best-looking strawberries to decorate the top of the cake. In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, puree 4 ounces of strawberries (12 medium-sized berries should yield 1/2 cup of puree). Set aside until needed. Refrigerate the remaining berries until needed (that includes the 12 berries for decoration) Heat 1-inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. Place 16 ounces semisweet chocolate, the white chocolate and the strawberry puree in the top half of the double boiler. Tightly cover the top with film wrap. Allow to heat for 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth. Transfer to a stainless steel bowl, using a rubber spatula to remove all of the melted chocolate mixture. Keep at room temperature until needed. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a balloon whip, whisk the 6 egg whites on high until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Continue to whisk on high while gradually adding 2 tablespoons sugar. Whisk until stiff but not dry, about 30 seconds. Set aside at room temperature until needed.
• Using a hand-held whisk, whip the heavy cream in a well-chilled stainless steel bowl until stiff. Fold a quarter of the egg whites into the melted chocolate mixture, then fold in the whipped cream. Now fold in the remaining egg whites. Set aside at room temperature until needed.
• Assemble the springform pan. Spread 1/2 cup of chocolate strawberry mousse onto the cake layer in the assembled springform pan. Arrange 1/2 the amount of reserved strawberries (not including the 12 for decoration), stem side down, into the mousse. The berries should be arranged in 2 rings: the first ring being 3/4-inch from the outside edge of the cake, and the second, inside ring, 3/4-inch away from the first. Distribute 3 cups of mousse over the berries, being careful to keep the berries in position. Holding the pan by the top rim, gently but firmly tap the bottom of the pan 2 to 3 times on your work surface (this will eliminate air pockets). Position a cake layer on top of the mousse, then repeat the process used on the first cake layer (1/2 cup mousse, remaining strawberries, and 3 more cups mousse). Top the mousse with the remaining cake layer and gently press into position. Refrigerate the cake for 2 hours (do not freeze).
• Refrigerate 1 cup of Semisweet Chocolate Ganache for at least 1 hour. Keep the remaining ganache at room temperature until needed.
• Remove the sides from the springform pan (do not remove the bottom of the pan from the cake; this will make it easier to handle later). Use a cake spatula to smooth and fill in the sides of the cake with 2 to 3 tablespoons of room-temperature ganache. Evenly spread the remaining amount of this ganache over the top and sides of the cake. Refrigerate the cake for 1 hour.
• Transfer the chilled cup of ganache to a pastry bag fitted with a large-sized star tip. Remove the cake from the refrigerator. Pipe a circle of 12 evenly spaced stars along the outside edge of the top of the cake. Place a strawberry, stem side down, into each ganache star. Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes.
• Cut the cake with a serrated slicer, heating the blade of the slicer under hot running water before making each slice. Allow the slices to come to room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.
• Heat the heavy cream, butter, and sugar in a 2 1/2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. When hot, stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil. Place the chocolate in a stainless steel bowl. Pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Allow to cool to room temperature.
• Yield: 2 cups

WHITE CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY MOUSSE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Stir cookie crumbs and butter together in a bowl. Press crumb mixture into the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until browned and set, about 10 minutes; cool completely.
• Heat 2/3 cup cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until just barely bubbling, 3 to 4 minutes. Place white chocolate in a bowl and pour hot cream over the chocolate. Whisk until white chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Cool to room temperature.
• Beat 1 1/2 cups cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add vanilla extract and continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
• Puree 2/3 pound strawberries in a blender or food processor.
• Fold 1/2 the whipped cream into the cooled white chocolate mixture. Fold white chocolate mixture into remaining whipped cream. Add the strawberry puree and fold until just combined. Spoon strawberry mixture on top of the crumb crust in the springform pan. Top with chopped strawberries. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours.

STRAWBERRY AND WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE TART

Steps:

• For crust:
• Blend flour, sugar, and salt in processor. Add butter and cut in using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Whisk egg yolk and 1 tablespoon ice water in small bowl to blend; add to processor and process until moist clumps form, adding more ice water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Roll out dough on floured surface to 13-inch round. Transfer dough to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Trim overhang to 1/2 inch. Fold overhang in and press onto sides, forming double-thick sides. Pierce crust all over with fork. Freeze crust 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until crust sides are light brown, about 25 minutes. Remove foil and beans; bake until crust is cooked through and golden brown, about 20 minutes longer. Cool crust completely in pan on rack.
• For mousse:
• Combine white chocolate and 1/4 cup whipping cream in large metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water) and stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove bowl from over water; cool chocolate mixture until lukewarm, about 15 minutes.
• Beat remaining 1 cup whipping cream and vanilla in large bowl until peaks form. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites with cream of tartar in medium bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold whites into chocolate mixture, then fold in whipped cream. Transfer mixture to cooled crust; smooth top. Chill overnight.
• Combine jam and lemon juice in small saucepan; bring to simmer, stirring over medium heat until jam melts. Remove from heat. Arrange sliced strawberries in concentric circles atop tart. Brush berries with melted jam mixture. Chill tart up to 2 hours and serve.

STRAWBERRY MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the mousse: Puree halved strawberries in a food processor. Pass through a very fine sieve into a bowl (you should have about 1 cup puree). Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice; set aside.
• Melt chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring until smooth; set aside.
• Put 1/4 cup cool water into a small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over top; let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir 1/4 cup cream and the confectioners' sugar in a small saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add gelatin mixture, and stir until gelatin has dissolved. Pour into bowl with the melted chocolate, and stir until smooth. Whisk in 3/4 cup strawberry puree; reserve remaining 1/4 cup puree.
• Put remaining 1 3/4 cups cream into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until medium peaks form. Whisk one-third of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Fold in the remaining whipped cream using a large rubber spatula. Refrigerate 1 hour. Stir 1 tablespoon lemon juice into the sliced berries. Fold berries into mousse; refrigerate 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Make the cake: Coat a 12-by-18-by-1-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Line bottom with parchment paper, and spray parchment. Dust with flour, and tap out excess.
• Put eggs, egg yolks, and sugar into the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly until the mixture is warm and the sugar has melted, about 2 minutes. Attach bowl to mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until egg mixture is pale, thickened, and has cooled, about 6 minutes.
• Remove bowl from mixer; sift together flour and salt over the top of egg mixture, and sprinkle with lemon zest. Using a large rubber spatula, carefully fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture, cutting through center and lifting gently over sides. When the flour is almost incorporated, pour butter down side of bowl, and gently fold in to incorporate.
• Pour batter into prepared baking sheet; smooth top. Bake until center springs back when lightly touched, 7 to 12 minutes. Invert, and unmold cake onto a parchment-lined wire rack; peel parchment from cake, and let cool completely.
• Assemble the cake: Cut cake crosswise into 3 rectangles. Set one layer, top side down, on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Brush with half of the remaining strawberry puree. Spread a 3/4-inch-thick layer of mousse over the top (about 2 cups mousse). Top with second cake layer, top side up. Brush with remaining strawberry puree, and spread with a 3/4-inch-thick layer of mousse. Place third cake layer on top, top side up. Refrigerate at least 2 hours (preferably overnight). Trim sides of cake to be straight.
• Make the ganache: Bring cream just to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Pour hot cream over the chocolate in a medium bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Stir in salt and lemon juice. Let stand until ganache is pourable and has cooled slightly. Pour ganache over top of cake, allowing it to drip down sides. Refrigerate assembled cake 1 hour before serving. Using 2 large spatulas, transfer cake to a serving platter. Garnish with strawberries.

QUICK CHEAT'S STRAWBERRY MOUSSE

Steps:

• Put the strawberries, lemon juice, sugar and 2 tbsp water in a large pan over a medium heat and cook for 5 mins until the fruit has softened. Scrape into a bowl leave to cool. Tip 300g of the mixture into a blender (reserve the rest for later), blitz until smooth and sieve into a jug.
• Whisk the mascarpone in a large bowl to soften, then add the double cream, vanilla bean paste and lemon zest, and whisk again until just starting to thicken. Fold in the blitzed, sieved strawberry purée to combine - it will thicken a bit more. Alternatively, swirl it through so you have layers of compote going through the mousse.Will keep chilled for up to a day.
• Spoon or pipe the mousse into glass tumblers and top with the reserved strawberry compote, the gingernut crumbs, pistachios and dried strawberries, if you like.

STRAWBERRY MOUSSE

Steps:

• Chop hulled strawberries in a food processor, leaving a few chunks. Stir in sugar. In a bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks form. In another bowl, whip egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into strawberries. Fold egg whites into strawberry mixture. Serve immediately.

STRAWBERRY LIME MOUSSE

Steps:

• Put the sweetened condensed milk, strawberries, sugar and lime juice in a blender. Blend until smooth and well mixed. Transfer to a bowl. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the lime zest and thawed frozen whipped topping until thoroughly combined.
• Scoop into 6 pretty glasses and add a vanilla wafer to each serving.

STRAWBERRY MOUSSE

Steps:

• Place half the strawberries in a bowl and sprinkle with the granulated sugar and kirsch.
• Let macerate for 15 minutes.
• Puree the remaining strawberries together with the confectioners' sugar in a blender.
• Whip the cream to stiff peaks.
• Reserve a quarter of the whipped cream for garnish and refrigerate.
• Carefully fold the remaining cream into the pureed strawberries.
• Arrange the macerated strawberries in 4 balloon-shaped wine glasses, reserving a few strawberry slices for garnish.
• Fill the glasses with the strawberry cream, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for a few hours.
• Pipe the reserved whipped cream through a pastry bag fitted with a star tip over the mousse and decorate with the remaining sliced strawberries.
• Variation: Substitute an equal amount of raspberries for the strawberries.

STRAWBERRY MOUSSE PARFAITS

Steps:

• Place strawberries in a food processor; process until pureed. In a small saucepan, combine cornstarch and strawberries until blended. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Transfer to a large bowl; refrigerate until chilled. , Set aside 1 cup strawberry mixture. Add condensed milk, orange juice and, if desired, food coloring to remaining mixture; stir until blended. Fold in whipped cream., Spoon 1/4 cup cream mixture into each of 12 parfait dishes or cocktail glasses. Layer each with 4 teaspoons of reserved strawberry mixture and 1/4 cup cream mixture. Refrigerate until serving.

STRAWBERRY CHOCOLATE MOUSSE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat milk on medium-low heat until scalding around 180˚F (82˚C). Do not boil the milk.
• Pour hot milk over chocolate.
• Add vanilla and salt. Let it stand for 3 minutes to soften.
• Whisk together until fully incorporated. Let cool.
• Add yogurt. Whisk together until fully incorporated.
• Layer chocolate in the bottom of 2 cups followed by strawberries. Repeat until the glasses are full.
• Enjoy!

STRAWBERRY MOUSSE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in flour. Press onto the bottom of a 9-in. or 10-in. springform pan; prick with a fork. , Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 300°; bake 20-25 minutes longer or until lightly browned. Cool. , Meanwhile, for filling, puree enough berries (about 1-1/2 pints) to make 2 cups. Set aside remaining berries for garnish. Stir lemon juice and sugar into puree. , In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over cold water; let stand for 1 minute. Heat over low heat, stirring until gelatin is completely dissolved. Add to puree; chill until mixture begins to thicken. , Fold in whipped cream and food coloring if desired. Pour into crust; chill until set. Garnish with reserved strawberries.

STRAWBERRY MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• CAKE: Butter and flour the bottom and sides of a 9 inch springform pan; set aside.
• In a large bowl beat whites and cream of tartar to soft peaks.
• Gradually beat in 1/4 cup of the sugar, continuing to beat to stiff peaks.
• In a separate bowl beat the yolks with remaining sugar until light yellow and thickened.
• Scrape yolks over whites, add lemon rind and vanilla and fold together.
• Sift flour and salt over batter, folding in gently but thoroughly.
• Transfer to prepared pan.
• Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes or until the top springs back when lightly touched.
• Let cool in pan on wire rack.
• If making ahead, remove from pan and wrap well for storage at cool room temperature for one to two days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
• MOUSSE: In a very small saucepan sprinkle gelatin over water; set aside.
• Rinse, hull and puree berries.
• In a small saucepan combine puree, sugar and lemon juice and heat gently just long enough to dissolve sugar.
• Remove from heat.
• Warm softened gelatin over low heat until clear and syrupy.
• Stir into strawberry mixture.
• Transfer to a large bowl and chill to consistency of raw egg white.
• Whisk in the yogurt.
• Whip cream until form; fold into mousse and return to fridge.
• SYRUP: In a small saucepan bring water and sugar to a boil.
• Remove from heat, cool and stir in liqueur.
• ASSEMBLY: Using a long serrated knife, cut cake into 2 thin layers.
• Place top half, but side up, in the bottom of a clean 9 inch spring for pan.
• Drizzle half the syrup evenly over the cut side of each of the 2 halves.
• Spoon strawberry mousse over cake in pan; don't worry if mousse extends over the sides.
• Set remaining layer, cut side over mousse, pressing gently.
• Cover and chill thoroughly, overnight if possible.
• Release sides of pan, and using a wide lifter, transfer cake to service plate, doily-lined if you've thought that far ahead.
• CREAM FROSTING AND GARNISH: Rinse and hull berries.
• Slice thinly.
• Whip cream until it's stiff and firm.
• Sweeten with sugar and spread evenly over top and sides of cake.
• Arrange berry slices in circle around the top and bottom edges of the cake.
• Refrigerate until serving time, which should be within the following hour or two.

STRAWBERRY MOUSSE

Steps:

• Put all but 2 strawberries into a pan along with 100ml water and the sugar. Over a medium heat, cook strawberries until soft enough to mash, about 3 mins. Take off the heat and squash the berries, using a fork, until pulpy. Add the marshmallows, then stir them into the hot strawberries until they dissolve. Leave to cool.
• Whip the cream until it holds its shape. Fold the cream into the cooled strawberry mix, then spoon into one bowl or separate pots and chill for about 2 hrs, or until set. Cut the reserved strawberries in half and use to decorate.

STRAWBERRY MOUSSE DESSERT CUPS

Steps:

• In small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1 tablespoon whipping cream; set aside to soften gelatin.
• In food processor, place strawberries and powdered sugar. Cover; process until smooth. Pour mixture into 1-quart saucepan; add softened gelatin. Cook over medium heat, beating with whisk occasionally, until mixture comes to a simmer and gelatin is dissolved. Remove from heat; cool 30 minutes.
• In small bowl, beat whipping cream with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. On low speed, beat strawberry mixture into whipped cream until blended.
• Place mousse in decorating bag fitted with small star tip. Pipe mousse into chocolate cups. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours before serving. Garnish with fresh sliced strawberries, if desired.

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY MOUSSE CAKE - TRELLIS RESTAURANT

Steps:

• Chocolate Cake:.
• Lightly coat the insides of 3 (9 by 1 1/2-inch) cake pans with melted butter. Line each pan with parchment paper, then lightly coat the parchment with more melted butter. Set aside. (Note: you must line cake pans with parchment paper or wax paper, otherwise the cake layers will be hard to remove and will fall apart.).
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat 1-inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. Place remaining butter and 8 ounces semisweet chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Tightly cover the top with film wrap. Allow to heat for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat, stir until smooth, and hold at room temperature.
• Place the egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle. Beat on high until slightly thickened and lemon-colored, about 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat on high for an additional 2 minutes.
• While the egg yolks are beating, whisk 4 egg whites in a large stainless steel bowl until stiff but not dry, about 3 to 4 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, fold the melted chocolate mixture into the beaten egg yolk mixture. Add a quarter of the beaten egg whites and stir to incorporate, then gently fold in the remaining egg whites. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, spreading evenly, and bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool in the pans for 15 minutes. (During baking, the surface of the cakes will form a crust; this crust will normally collapse when the cakes are removed from the oven.)
• Invert 1 of the cakes onto the bottom of a springform pan. Invert the other 2 cakes onto cake circles. Remove the parchment paper and refrigerate cakes for 30 minutes.
• Chocolate Strawberry Mousse:.
• Reserve the 12 best-looking strawberries to decorate the top of the cake. Set aside.
• To prepare the chocolate and strawberry mousse, in a food processor fitted with a metal blade, puree 4 ounces of strawberries (approximately 12 medium-sized berries should yield 1/2 cup of puree). Set aside until needed.
• Refrigerate the remaining berries until needed (that includes the 12 berries you set aside for decoration).
• Heat 1-inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. Place 16 ounces semisweet chocolate, the white chocolate and the strawberry puree in the top half of the double boiler. Tightly cover the top with film wrap. Allow to heat for 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth. Transfer to a stainless steel bowl, using a rubber spatula to remove all of the melted chocolate mixture. Keep at room temperature until needed.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a balloon whip, whisk the 6 egg whites on high until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Continue to whisk on high while gradually adding 2 tablespoons sugar. Whisk until stiff but not dry, about 30 seconds. Set aside at room temperature until needed.
• Whip the heavy cream in a well-chilled stainless steel bowl until stiff. Fold a quarter of the egg whites into the melted chocolate mixture, then fold in the whipped cream. Now fold in the remaining egg whites. Set aside at room temperature until needed.
• Assembly:.
• Assemble the springform pan. Spread 1/2 cup of chocolate strawberry mousse onto the cake layer in the assembled springform pan. Arrange 1/2 the amount of reserved strawberries (not including the 12 for decoration), stem side down, into the mousse. The berries should be arranged in 2 rings: the first ring being 3/4-inch from the outside edge of the cake, and the second, inside ring, 3/4-inch away from the first. Distribute 3 cups of mousse over the berries, being careful to keep the berries in position. Holding the pan by the top rim, gently but firmly tap the bottom of the pan 2 to 3 times on your work surface (this will eliminate air pockets). Position a cake layer on top of the mousse, then repeat the process used on the first cake layer (1/2 cup mousse, remaining strawberries, and 3 more cups mousse). Top the mousse with the remaining cake layer and gently press into position. Refrigerate the cake for 2 hours (do not freeze).
• Refrigerate 1 cup of Semisweet Chocolate Ganache for at least 1 hour. Keep the remaining ganache at room temperature until needed.
• Remove the sides from the springform pan (do not remove the bottom of the pan from the cake; this will make it easier to handle later). Use a cake spatula to smooth and fill in the sides of the cake with 2 to 3 tablespoons of room-temperature ganache. Evenly spread the remaining amount of this ganache over the top and sides of the cake. Refrigerate the cake for 1 hour.
• Transfer the chilled cup of ganache to a pastry bag fitted with a large-sized star tip. Remove the cake from the refrigerator. Pipe a circle of 12 evenly spaced stars along the outside edge of the top of the cake. Place a strawberry, stem side down, into each ganache star. Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes.
• Cut the cake with a serrated slicer, heating the blade of the slicer under hot running water before making each slice. Allow the slices to come to room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.
• Chocolate Ganache:.
• Heat the heavy cream, butter, and sugar in a 2 1/2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. When hot, stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil. Place the chocolate in a stainless steel bowl. Pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Allow to cool to room temperature. Yield: 2 cups.

STRAWBERRY MOUSSE: MOUSSE DE FRAISES

Steps:

• If using sheet gelatin, soak the sheets in cold water for 15 minutes.
• Puree the strawberries in a food processor. Drain through a fine strainer to eliminate the seeds. Heat the lemon juice and dissolve the powdered gelatin into it. Or, if using sheet gelatin, drain and dissolve the softened sheets into the warm lemon juice.
• Blend the lemon juice into the pureed strawberries, add the powdered sugar, and mix thoroughly. Cool the mixture completely until it thickens.
• Whip the cream and gently fold into the strawberry mixture. Pour into a lightly buttered mold and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
• Remove from mold, and garnish with cleaned and sweetened sliced strawberries.