Chocolate Mousse Layer Cake

As promised here is my boyfriends second cake for the family party we had one Sunday. Sorry it is so late, with final assignments and exams looming next week my week has been more of a trying to get everything done than anything else but in 13 days I am  free!! Until next year at least. No one every warns you how mentally exhausting university is I guess that may be because my holidays were actually spent on prac so I haven't had a holiday since summer. 

Summer to me is sitting in the backyard in the heat with family and friends having a few drinks, eating good food (and lots of it). That's what the party on Sunday was like it was even complete with a summer storm and a few food comas. 

My main problem with this cake was the fact that every single shop I went to (3 different supermarkets) didn't have the ingredients I needed. So instead I had to settle for a packet mix chocolate cake (Duncan Hines in this case) and OMG! Chocolate Mousse. That day was not my day apparently and there wasn't enough time to go somewhere else. But it still worked perfectly and tasted great plus you always know a packet mix is going to give good results. 

First I made the packet mix,  I always make sure to sett the time 10 minutes before it says that way you can get it exactly the way you want it. I also always make sure to go by feel if I feel it needs more milk I add it sometimes you just need to trust your instincts. I didn't quite follow the directions it said to separate the mixture into two separate pans instead I used my trust (seriously old) cake pan. It was my great grandma's and my grandma gave it to me one day because I always said I wanted it. It is one of those ones that has a really high side so that you can have a big cake all in one pan. The reason I did this is because I only have the one pan in that size so instead of have two cakes I sliced the one cake in half. 

Once it was completely cooled I used both packets of the OMG! Chocolate Mousse and spread a thick layer on the top of the bottom layer and placed the other one on top. It was then covered in chocolate icing on the top allowing it to drip down the sides giving it the 'naked cake' look. I also decided to crush up some meringues (check my lemon meringue tart for the recipe  http://alittlebakersaddiction.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/spring-bbq.html) for the top of the cake just to break up the chocolate colour. 

Chocolate Icing Recipe 

Ingredients

•  4 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee 
• 4 tablespoons softened butter 
• 1 - 1 1/2 cups icing sugar 
• Milk (adjust to the consistency you want) 

Method 

1. Using an electric mixer combine all ingredients in a bowl until smooth.