Chocolate cake lovers rejoice! This is a brilliant, moist chocolate cake. The filling is a sweet, creamy vanilla mouse just like the Costco cake filling. The frosting is a simple riff on chocolate ganache. And most amazing of all? Everything hinges on using a doctored up chocolate cake mix! My taste testers couldn’t believe the foundation of the cake was a mix – they thought it was the best chocolate cake they had ever had!
And while this cake looks crazy elegant, it is in fact a simple and laid back recipe! That, my friends, is baking heaven!
An Epic Chocolate Cake Recipe
Most chocolate cakes are good – they taste like chocolate so YUM! But some chocolate cakes are epic – over the TOP. What is the difference?
A truly epic chocolate cake should be moist and have a strong chocolate flavor. It needs to hold up on your fork but then melt perfectly in your mouth. The chocolate flavor should be enhanced with vanilla or almond extract or coffee. And the frosting should compliment and build on the flavors instead of detracting.
I feel it is safe to saw I’ve got all those boxes checked in this recipe!
Making Chocolate Ganache Frosting
Traditional chocolate ganache frosting is made by heating cream and then melting chocolate into it. The flavor is rich and decadent but it is also a bit heavy. I find that first time ganache makers need a bunch of tips or they don’t nail it out of the gate.
For this recipe I’ve riffed a bit off of true ganache to shift the flavor of the frosting and simplify the process for beginning bakers. A hint of brown sugar brings out an almost caramel flavor behind the chocolate which is sensational!
The Costco Vanilla Mousse Cake Filling Recipe
I’m a long time lover of Costco Cakes! I confess – they are a favorite of mine! It is the filling – the filling is just wonderful! For this chocolate cake I’m doing an easy version of Costco’s vanilla mousse cake filling. It is thick and creamy yet fluffy. And the best part is that it is SIMPLE – just a few easy ingredients and it whips together in a moment.
Tips and Tricks for Box Chocolate Cake Mix Recipes
A good quality cake mix is a simple short cut to amazing cake that tastes better than homemade! You just need a few simple tricks.
- Use a good quality mix – I only use Betty Crocker cake mixes for these kind of recipes
- Add more real ingredients! I use yogurt, oil, vanilla pudding, an extra egg and real vanilla to bring up the flavor!
- Add more chocolate – true chocolate cake lovers want their chocolate! I add 2 cups of chocolate chips to make sure there is plenty of chocolate in this cake. Every bite has chocolate chips in it – delicious!
- Don’t tell! (I’m not kidding – my taste testers said this was the best chocolate cake they had ever had! They were shocked I had used a mixx)
More Chocolate Cakes to Love
- The Best Black Magic Cake – Chocolate buttercream and chocolate cake, moist and decadent
- Best Chocolate Cake With Whipped Vanilla Buttercream – Easy, classic from scratch chocolate cake
- Chocolate Wacky Cake – Depression cake without eggs, butter or milk
- Texas Sheet Cake – Our family’s favorite chocolate sheet cake
- Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes – Truly amazing chocolate cupcakes from scratch
Chocolate Cake with Ganache and Vanilla Mousse Filling
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 package Devil’s food cake mix 15.25oz Betty Crocker Preferred
- 1 package vanilla instant pudding mix 3.3 or 3.4oz
- 1 cup low fat plain yogurt can sub any plain yogurt any fat content
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
For the Vanilla Mousse Filling
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 small box vanilla instant pudding mix 3.3 or 3.4 oz
For the Ganache Frosting
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 1/2 cups real semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Tip: A great cake is baked in such a way that it rises flat and doesn't need to be leveled! The sides and bottom will be more tender and the entire cake is taller and more fluffy. See the full tutorial here.
To Make the Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line two 9” round cake pans with parchment paper and grease the sides.
- Combine everything for the cake except the chocolate chips.
- Beat on low speed with an electric mixer for two minutes, scraping the bowl as needed. Alternately beat by hand for two minutes. (Failing to beat for two full minutes will result in a cake that does not rise.)
- Stir in chocolate chips.
- Divide the batter into the pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs but no actual batter. 25-30 minutes
- Cool on rack until cake is completely cool
To Make the Vanilla Mousse Filling
- This filling sets up quickly so be ready to put it on the cake as soon as it is made.
- When the cake has cooled place the first layer of cake on your plate or cake stand.
- Add whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract to a large bowl or stand mixer. Whip on high for a few minutes until peaks form.
- Add the pudding mix and beat on slow speed until combined. Scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula making sure all the pudding mixture is incorporated.
- Continue to beat on slow speed just until the mousse has become thick and creamy.
- Spread all of the filling on the cake – it will be about 1” thick.
- Place the 2nd layer of cake on top of the filling and then prepare the frosting.
To Make the Ganache Frosting
- In a large sauce pan over medium heat, bring cream to a simmer. You do not have to stir but watch that it does not go past a simmer.
- Add chocolate chips and brown sugar. Stir until all the chips are melted, removing from heat when they are half melted.
- Add the butter, vanilla and salt. Stir until combined and the sauce is smooth without any sugar grains.
- Let sauce cool for 10 minutes and then pour over the cake. Start pouring over the middle of the top and gently spread out to the sides until the frosting drips down over the sides.
- Place finished cake into the refrigerator until ready to serve. This cake is best served chilled.
- Leftovers should be refrigerated and will be good up to three days.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
MirlandrasKitchen.com is written to share great recipes. While we do our best to provide nutritional information as a general guideline, we are not registered dietitians and the values provided here should be considered estimates – not exact scientific data.
Bonnie Engelhardt says
As a lifelong chocoholic, I found this cake an absolute sublime experience! Easy to make and so good I didn’t want to share! BTW, this recipe also makes delicious individual cupcakes that are to die for!
Mirlandra says
Oh Bonnie – thank you! This makes me so happy – I love this cake too 🙂 SO fun that you tried it as cupcakes – totally perfect!
Crtsral says
WAy I not show us a photo of the whole finished caje?
Mirlandra says
Food photography is quite an adventure! I always try to a take a photo that most clearly conveys what a recipe will look like when you make it at home. Sometimes I take photos of the entire cake and sometimes a slice. It just depends on what I’m trying to show in the shot. Here I want to show the filling clearly so you can see that it makes a third layer.
Rosemarie Rodriguez-Hager says
Can you freeze this cake? Will the mousse stand up to freezing and thawing?
Mirlandra says
Hi Rosemarie,
This is a great question! The quick answer is that I haven’t done it so I can’t say for sure. That being said I recently froze leftovers from Costco’s Tuxedo cake which has some similar textures and it thawed out perfectly! With anything you freeze you have to be prepared for how the molecules are going to expand during freezing, how the ice crystals are going to form, and then if pockets will be left when the ice crystals thaw. There is always some break down from freezing to the molecular structure of food.
I think one great option would be to freeze a small piece and test it before assuming that this is going to be a win! But that is up to you 🙂 Sorry I don’t have an easier answer for you! Good luck.
Pam says
I am making this today for tomorrow’s birthday dinner. Should it be completely made and refrigerated overnight?
or cool and wrap layers to fill.and frost tomorrow morning?
with the vanilla mousse filling, I’m concerned about the layers soaking up too much of it before cutting. thank you.
Mirlandra says
Hi Pam,
This filling doesn’t soak up too much so it is suitable to make the day ahead! Enjoy!
T Smith says
Thank you for these recipes! I didn’t make the chocolate cake, but I made both the vanilla mousse and the chocolate ganache paired with a lemon cake for my husband’s birthday. I followed each recipe (but replaced a little bit of the semi-sweet chocolate with dark chocolate) and both were incredibly successful! I’m very pleased with the results and so is my hubby. My 4yo and 2.5yo especially loved the ganache. 🥳
Mirlandra says
Oh wow! That all sounds so wonderful. I can well imagine it was a hit. I love your creativity in trying different combinations – always a great way to find a new recipe. Thank you!!! (My youngest is 2.5 – they must be about the same age! He is a BIG fan of anything that comes out of the kitchen for his taste testing!)