Looking for a dessert to impress your sweetie? This Strawberry Mouse Brownie Cake is seriously so easy to make and will knock the socks off anyone you share it with.
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Are you over the smoothies and hummus and veggies yet?
I would say I am, but really we do eat fairly healthy on a regular basis, so those healthy foods will stick around. We balance it out with the crazy baking that I do daily. And by daily, I really do mean daily. You would not believe the amount of crazy baking ideas I get swirling in my head!! With that many ideas, I’m usually in the kitchen each day!
Sometimes those ideas go on lists, sometimes they keep swirling until I either forget about them or write them down, OR sometimes those ideas have to be made instantly!
This brownie cake was one of those crazy hair brained sweets that came to me one day, and it just had to happen. It didn’t matter that I had no rhyme or reason for it…it got made immediately!
Kind of like this Chocolate Cheesecake Cake…no reason, but holy cow! So worth it!!
Now if you want to use a box brownie mix, you totally can go for it. Most days I’m right there with you jazzing up a box mix! But today I used these Homemade Chocolate Chip Brownies as my base.
Those brownies really have become a tried and true recipe in our house. My littlest guy absolutely loves his plain brownies 🙂 Too bad he lives with me and my crazy wacky dessert brain that gets all twitchy when I can’t jazz the brownies up! Don’t worry though…he gets his plain brownies! And I usually compensate by making on overly decadent and crazy dessert the next day! It’s totally a win win for both of us!
So whisk up a batch of homemade batter and spread it into the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan. You can line the bottom with parchment paper or 8-inch cake circles. I like using the cardboard circles because it is easy to slide the cake right onto my cake stand or plate.
Bake the brownies for about 32-35 minutes, then remove and cool for a little bit. Run a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen it from the pan. Then open the springform pan and close it up again. You are not removing the pan. This is just to make sure it is completely away from the edge. Let it completely cool before making the strawberry layer.
Ok, now that the brownie layer is completely chilled out, let’s make a delicious no bake strawberry mousse. Seriously you are just a few ingredients away from strawberry amazingness. Cream cheese, Cool Whip, fresh strawberries chopped up in a Ninja chopper, and a few spoonfuls of strawberry Jell-o for some punch of color and flavor. Seriously! That’s it! Whip it up good and spread it on your brownie. It will fill the pan all the way to the top! This cake is large and in charge and so worth it!!!!
Now this is where your patience comes in my Padawans! Place the pan in the refrigerator and step away slowly! I realize you want brownies and mousse now…believe me so did I. So did I!!! But the mousse needs time to chill and set up. I suggest making it before you head off to dream land, then it will be ready for face planting in the morning!
Well, after one last step. Sheesh! I told you this was easy…what’s with all the steps? This needs the chocolate ganache on top. It just totally finishes it off!
1. Start by pouring the heavy cream in a small sauce pan and bringing it to a boil.
2. As soon as it boils remove it from the heat and plop in the chocolate chips.
3. Shake the pan slightly to get the chips covered with the cream, then let it sit for a minute.
4. Now stir, stir, stir until the rich chocolatey goodness happens.
5. Do not pour this on your cake!!! Hot ganache and soft mousse is not a match made in heaven!
6. Wait 10 minutes for the ganache to cool off! You can stir it a few times during this time.
7. Now it’s time to gently spread it on the cake.
Let it set one more time before serving. I know, I know! More patience is needed! But then it’s game on!!!
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A homemade brownie topped with a no bake strawberry mousse and chocolate ganache is an easy but fancy dessert to serve to friends and family.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/4 cup dark cocoa powder
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 cups diced fresh strawberries
- 2 Tablespoons hot water
- 4 Tablespoons powdered strawberry Jell-o powder
- 1 - 8 ounce container Cool Whip, divided
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- Chocolate candy hearts for garnish
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a saucepan. Whisk in the cocoa powder. Let cool slightly.
- Beat the eggs until frothy and light in color. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat again. Spoon in 1/4 cup of the butter/cocoa mixture and beat again. Add the rest of the butter/cocoa mixture and beat in.
- Whisk together the salt, flour, and baking powder and add to the batter. Do not over mix. Spread in the bottom of a 8 inch springform pan that has been lined with parchment paper or a cardboard circle. Bake at 350 degrees for 32-35 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan, loosen the pan ring, then close the ring back up without removing the brownie. Let cool completely.
- Beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Set aside
- Place the diced strawberries in a food processor and pulse until mashed. Stir in the hot water and Jell-o powder. Add to the cream cheese and beat again. Fold in 2 cups of Cool Whip. Spread over the cooled brownies in the pan. Place in the refrigerator and chill for a few hours before removing the pan ring.
- Place the heavy cream in a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat. Stir in the chocolate chips until it is creamy. Let cool for 10 minutes before spreading on the top of the mousse. Let set in the refrigerator again before serving. Top with remaining Cool Whip and chocolate candies and sprinkles. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
More fun cakes and brownies to bake for your loved ones:
White Chocolate Funfetti Chip Cake
Cookie Dough Cheesecake Brownie Pie
More fun cake ideas from friends:
Spumoni Cake from I am Baker
Chocolate Mousse Cake from Diethood
Grandma’s Red Velvet Cake from Something Swanky
*This post does contain a few affiliate links. I do receive a small percentage of sales made from these links that goes into making this blog possible. Thank you for letting me share products that I love and use.
Amanda says
This brownie cake is awesome! I love everything about this!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you so much Amanda!!!
Wendy says
Beautiful cake! Perfect for Valentine’s Day or whenever a strawberry-chocolate craving hits. 🙂 Sometimes, if you don’t bake the idea in your head, it can keep you up all night begging to be baked. Better to be preemptive and bake your ideas before you lose any sleep. 🙂 Been there.
Erin @ Making Memories says
This looks heavenly!
Kathleen @ Yummy Crumble says
This is completely worth breaking the diet for! Screw the hummus!
Quick question:
Have you made this mousse with raspberries? I want to make a raspberry mousse and try something besides just gelatin and whipped cream. this seems a little more special.
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Definitely worth breaking the diet!!!! I haven’t tried it with raspberries, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work! Keep me posted on how it turns out for you 🙂
Kathleen @ Yummy Crumble says
Jocelyn!!! I just made it with raspberries. I just subbed everything strawberry for the raspberries (raspberry jello) and it’s amazing! I’m going to try freezing some of it and scoop it on some cupcakes instead of frosting. like a fake raspberry ice cream 🙂 I can’t wait for you to see the post!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
That’s awesome! I can’t wait to check it out!
marcie says
Jocelyn, this cake is beyond gorgeous, and looks equally delicious! Perfect for Valentine’s Day. 🙂
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking says
Oh my gosh Jocelyn… That ganache. I want to eat an entire bowl of it with a spoon! And some of those gorgeous homemade brownies on the side wouldn’t be too bad either. 😉 Pinned!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Confession…I always eat spoonfuls of ganache whenever I make it 😉 Thanks for sharing!!!
Chels+R. says
What a beautiful cake! I love these layers!
Cheryl Kirkness says
This sounds amazing! I wish I had a piece now.
Ashle says
Jocelyn, I just started following you recently and have tried a few of your recipes. Some have been amazing, some haven’t worked out well for me. But this strawberry mousse brownie cake is to. Die. For. If I had no other dessert for the rest of my life but this I’d be content. Well worth the effort and the waiting. Thank you for the amazing recipe!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Woo hoo! I am so glad to hear that this was a winner for you! My family devoured it in no time at all too!
TammyO says
I made this cake on the weekend and it was fantastic! Everyone thought I was amazing. Thanks for making me look good!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Woo hoo! Glad to hear it was a hit! You are very welcome for the recipe to make you look awesome 😉
Beauty Follower says
Wonderful cake, and soooo yummy!
http://beautyfollower.blogspot.gr
Megan says
I made this for Valentines day it was amazing! I shared on my blog hope thats ok!!!
Cheryl says
looks delicious! Do you think the mousse would work between layers of a 3 layer cake?
Jocelyn says
I actually do not recommend this mousse for inside cake layers. It is a soft set mousse, and I think the cake layers would squish it out the sides.
sharon says
It looks and sounds wonderful! I am thinking of making this for Easter. How do you think would hold up as individual trifles?
Jocelyn says
Hi, Sharon. I think this would work great for trifle cups. Keep me posted on how you like them 🙂
Heather says
Do you think I could make this the night before or is it best the day of?
Looks amazing ?
Jocelyn says
You can make this the day before. The mousse needs time to set up anyway, so that way it will be great the next day. I hope you enjoy it.
Linda says
Just wondering if the strawberry mousse filling is stiff enough that I could use it for a strawberry mousse cake?
Jocelyn says
This is a softer mousse, so I don’t think it would hold up to cake layers. Here is a recipe for a Strawberry Mousse Cake that I just did recently. https://insidebrucrewlife.com/2016/02/strawberry-mousse-cake/
Dee says
I’m pushed for time. Could brownie mix be substituted?
Jocelyn says
Yes, just make sure you use a box mix that is for an 8×8 pan. Here is a link to another brownie cake that I did using a box mix. https://insidebrucrewlife.com/2017/01/thin-mint-cheesecake-brownie-cake/ I hope you enjoy the cake!!
Dee says
Thanks. One more question. Could recipe be adapted for 9″ springform pan? I am unable to find an 8″ locally.
Jocelyn says
Yes, you could use the 9 inch pan. You will probably need to adjust your baking time slightly though. Here is a link to one that I made a box brownie in a 9 inch pan. I hope this helps. https://insidebrucrewlife.com/2016/03/raspberry-nutella-brownie-cake/