Name: Double Chocolate Bavarois Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 8 people
Ingredients: 100 gr (1/2 cup melted) Butter; 150 gr (6 oz) Dark Cooking Chocolate; 2 Eggs; 2 tbsp Brown Sugar; 80 gr (1/2 cup) Plain Flour; 1 teasp. Baking Powder; 1 pinch Salt; 120 ml (1/2 cup) Full Fat Milk (optionally, with 1 tbsp of Instant Coffee Powder); 250 ml (1 cup + 1 tbsp) Full Fat Milk; 3 Egg Yolks; 20 gr (2 tbsp) Caster Sugar; 200 gr (7 oz) Dark Cooking Chocolate; 1 1/2 teasp. Agar Agar Powder (see note 1 if you are using Gelatine Powder); 200 ml (3/4 cup + 2 tbsp) Heavy Thickened Cream (or whipping cream)

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A decadent Chocolate Brownie Base and an intense Dark Chocolate Bavarois Mousse… This two layers Chocolate Bavarian Cake is a real chocolate-lover dream!

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What is a Bavarois Cake?

A Bavarois Cake, sometimes also called Bavarian Cream Cake, is a delicious classic French Dessert. It is made with a Creme Anglaise base that is mixed with a gelling agent, then folded in whipped cream. This mousse is then set on a pre-baked base, or inserted into an Entremet Cake for example. The result is a deliciously light and airy set mousse that will hold its shape perfectly in a layered cake!

A Bavarois Cream can be flavoured with many different ingredients – often chocolate or a fruit. Whichever flavour you choose, the Bavarian Cream is always made with the same base ingredients:

Egg Yolks
Sugar
Milk
Flavouring agent, like Vanilla, Chocolate or Fruits
Gelatine or other gelling agent like Agar Agar Powder
Whipped Heavy Cream

Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Base for your Chocolate Bavarois Recipe

For this Double Chocolate Bavarian Cake recipe, I used one of my favourite – and easiest – chocolate brownie as a base for the dessert. This chocolate brownie recipe is the most versatile one I have, and can be used in many different ways! I have already shared a Mini Chocolate Brownie Bites version of it, but it also works amazingly as a base for a mousse cake.

To make this Brownie Base, you will need to follow these steps:

Melt the Dark Cooking Chocolate and Butter together, then set aside to cool down
In a seperate bowl, whisk the Eggs and Sugar until frothy, then sift in the dry ingredients (Flour, Baking Powder & Salt)
Stir in the Chocolate and Butter, then the milk.
Pour the batter into a Round Springform Tin and bake at 180’C for 15 to 20 minutes.

How to make a Chocolate Bavarian Cream

The most important part of this recipe is the Dark Chocolate Bavarois Cream that will be poured over the Chocolate Brownie. The technique to make this set mousse is the classic one, with the exception of the use of Agar Agar Powder instead of Gelatine. To make this Chocolate Creme Bavarois, follow these steps:

Pour the milk into a medium-size pot and slowly bring to a boil. In the meantime, whisk the Egg Yolks with the Sugar in a seperate heat-proof bowl.
When the milk starts to boil, directly remove from the heat and pour over the Egg Yolk and Sugar while whisking. Transfer back into the pot and on the heat. This is your Creme Anglaise base.
Add the Dark Chocolate and continuously stir while it is melting. Make sure the temperature is not too high as you want to avoid burning the chocolate. When the chocolate is completely melted and starts to boil, add the Agar Agar Powder. Whisk for a minute, then transfer into a clean bowl and set aside to cool down.
While the Set Chocolate Creme Anglaise is cooling down, whisk the Heavy Cream until you get a stiff Whipped Cream.
Fold in the Chocolate cream into the Whipped Cream. Pour over your cake base and place in the fridge to set.

Ideas to decorate your Chocolate Bavarois Cake:

Your cake will be absolutely delicious on its own, but you can finish it in many different ways if you like! I, for example, made some mini Raspberry Cream Domes using a really fun Semi-Sphere Silicone Molds. I placed them in the centre of the cake for a touch of colour and a tangy contrast with the dark chocolate. I also sprinkled some fresh raspberries, Cacao Nibs and Shredded Coconut over the cake. You could also serve it with:

a dark chocolate ganache or chocolate coulis for an even more intense chocolate taste
some fresh berries, a berry compote or a berry coulis.
some poached pears
a little bit of Espresso Powder or Icing Sugar.

More Chocolate Recipe Ideas:

Chocolate Brownie Bites

Chocolate Raspberry Brownies

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Easy Flourless Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Chiffon Cake

Double Chocolate Mousse Cake Recipe:

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5 from 9 votes