Strawberry Chocolate Mousse Cake: Easy No-Bake Dessert 2026

Strawberries and chocolate are one of those pairings that seem made to be together. The sweetness of the chocolate is balanced by the bright acidity of the strawberries, and when both are folded into airy mousse layers, the result is a dessert that is hard to forget.

This cake is surprisingly easy to make and uses just a handful of ingredients: strawberries, chocolate, and cold heavy whipping cream with 38% fat, among other basics. The high fat content of the cream makes it easy to whip and helps the cake stay firm enough to hold its two layers and the top decoration.

Because it is a 100% natural product with no additives, the cream's flavor really comes through in the final result. It gives every bite a creamy, smooth texture that intensifies the softness of this cake.

Once assembled, the cake needs several hours in the fridge to set and reach the right consistency. Making it the day before is ideal, since the texture improves overnight and you get a perfect unmolding and clean slice.

For serving, you can keep the decoration simple with whipped cream on top, or add fresh strawberries and chocolate shavings for an even more striking finish.

Ingredients for Strawberry Chocolate Mousse Cake

Makes 10 servings

• 100 g crushed cookies
• 50 g melted, cooled butter
• 200 g chocolate
• 750 ml cold heavy whipping cream (38% fat)
• 2 sheets gelatin
• 170 g strawberries
• 25 g sugar
• 25 g powdered sugar
• Fresh strawberries, as desired
• Chocolate shavings, as desired

How to Make Strawberry Chocolate Mousse Cake Step by Step

1. Prepare the Pan and Cookie Base

Start by greasing and lining the base of an 18–20 cm springform pan, then set it aside. Mix 100 g crushed cookies with 50 g melted, cooled butter until the crumbs are completely soaked with butter.

2. Press the Base into the Pan

Pour the cookie mixture into the pan and smooth it with a spatula until it is lightly compacted. Place the pan in the fridge while you continue with the recipe.

3. Melt the Chocolate

Melt 200 g chocolate in 20-second bursts in the microwave until completely melted but not overly hot. We used chocolate with 55% cocoa, but you can choose any other. Set the melted chocolate aside to cool slightly.

4. Whip the Cream to Soft Peaks

Whip 300 ml cold heavy whipping cream (38% fat) to soft peaks. It is ready when the beaters begin to leave trails in the cream.

5. Fold the Chocolate into the Cream

To combine the cream with the melted chocolate, first stir a couple of tablespoons of the softly whipped cream into the chocolate and mix vigorously. Then add the rest of the cream. Mixing a small amount first equalizes the textures, making the mixture easier to blend and helping it stay airy.

6. Add the Chocolate Mousse to the Pan

Pour the chocolate and cream mixture over the cookie base and smooth the surface with a spatula. Place it in the freezer while you prepare the strawberry mousse, so the surface sets well before adding the second layer.

7. Hydrate the Gelatin

Soak 2 sheets gelatin in cold water and let them rest for at least 5 minutes.

8. Cook the Strawberries with Sugar

Wash, dry, hull, and chop the strawberries until you have 170 g. Put them in a saucepan with 25 g white sugar and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, until the strawberries soften and the liquid evaporates or integrates into the mixture.

9. Blend the Strawberries with Gelatin

Drain the hydrated gelatin and mix it with the still-hot strawberries. Blend until you have a fine purée, and optionally strain it to remove seeds and get a very smooth mousse. Set this mixture aside to cool.

10. Whip the Cream for the Strawberry Mousse

Whip 200 ml cold heavy whipping cream (38% fat) until firm.

11. Fold the Strawberry Purée into the Cream

As with the chocolate, first mix the strawberry purée with a couple of tablespoons of cream to equalize textures, then add the rest of the whipped cream, folding gently with a spatula so you do not knock out the air.

12. Layer and Chill the Cake

Pour this strawberry mousse over the reserved chocolate mousse and smooth it with a spatula. Refrigerate the cake for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight, so the mousses set well and you can unmold the cake with confidence.

13. Whip the Cream for Decoration

Once the cake is fully set, whip 250 ml cold heavy whipping cream (38% fat) with 25 g powdered sugar until very firm.

14. Unmold and Decorate

Unmold the cake and transfer the whipped cream to a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Decorate the cake with the whipped cream as desired.

15. Add the Final Toppings

Next, decorate the surface of the cake with a few strawberries and chocolate shavings as desired.

16. Serve

At this point you can serve the cake, but if you are not serving it right away, keep it in the fridge to serve it well chilled and with the perfect texture.

Tips for the Best Strawberry Chocolate Mousse Cake

Use Cold, High-Fat Cream

Cold heavy whipping cream with 38% fat whips easily and stays firm, which is essential for a layered mousse cake. Keep the cream in the fridge until the moment you whip it, and chill your bowl and beaters for the best volume.

Chill Overnight for Clean Slices

Letting the cake rest in the fridge overnight gives the mousses time to set fully. This makes unmolding much easier and ensures a clean, neat slice when you cut it.

Keep the Decoration Simple or Playful

A simple swirl of whipped cream on top is elegant on its own, but fresh strawberries and chocolate shavings add color and texture. Add them just before serving so they stay fresh and crisp.

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Maybe you're a lot like me and like having a stash of cozy comfort dishes, tried-and-true international favorites, and desserts that please a crowd.

On nights when I'm after something indulgent and rich, my picks tend to be this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever a fruity, comforting dessert is calling my name, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

For mornings that need to be easy and meals on the lighter side, these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe are a regular at my house, along with a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe or these vibrant Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And when my pantry needs a gluten-free basic, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I'm happy to whip up.

If tapas and Mediterranean cooking are what I'm craving, I'll cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, a crunchy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a smooth Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a bright Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more dressed up.

Come lunchtime or a cozy evening meal, these are the dishes I point people toward: a warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply satisfying French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Some nights I'm in the mood for street food or party fare, and that's when I'll throw together this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, a crispy Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also make a great little appetizer or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, I'll often serve dinner alongside this cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, this zippy French Remoulade Sauce recipe works beautifully on the side, or I'll finish the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for the Family

After years of testing and tweaking recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on simplicity, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely keep coming back to—whether I'm putting together a fast meal just for me or making something memorable for friends and family.

When dessert is on my mind, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to for those times I want something elegant without much fuss. The caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake, is another sweet favorite. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

On days when I want something light and fresh, I'll usually make the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For comfort cooking with more heft, the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe are ones I recommend often.

I'm also a big fan of passing along dishes from kitchens around the world, such as the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

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Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

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