Valentines Day Strawberry Mousse (Printable)

Light, airy cake layered with fresh strawberry mousse and a glossy glaze for special occasions.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sponge Cake

01 - 3 large eggs, room temperature
02 - 1/2 cup minus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
04 - 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
05 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
06 - Pinch of salt

→ Strawberry Mousse

07 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled
08 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
09 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
10 - 2 teaspoons powdered gelatin
11 - 2 tablespoons cold water
12 - 1 cup heavy whipping cream, cold

→ Strawberry Glaze

13 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled
14 - 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
15 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
16 - 1 teaspoon powdered gelatin
17 - 1 tablespoon cold water

→ Decoration

18 - Fresh strawberries, halved
19 - White or dark chocolate shavings
20 - Edible rose petals

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a mixing bowl, beat room temperature eggs and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until pale and tripled in volume, approximately 5 minutes. Add vanilla extract. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together, then gently fold into egg mixture until just combined.
03 - Pour batter into prepared springform pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely in the pan.
04 - Puree 2 cups fresh strawberries with 1/3 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice until smooth. Bloom 2 teaspoons powdered gelatin in 2 tablespoons cold water for 5 minutes.
05 - Warm one-third of the strawberry puree in a saucepan over low heat without boiling. Remove from heat and dissolve bloomed gelatin into the warm puree. Stir this mixture back into the remaining cold puree and allow to cool to room temperature.
06 - In a clean bowl, whip cold heavy whipping cream to soft peaks. Gently fold whipped cream into the cooled strawberry mixture until fully combined.
07 - Remove cooled sponge cake from springform pan. Clean the springform ring and place cake base back inside. Pour mousse mixture evenly over cake and smooth the top. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until mousse layer is set.
08 - Puree 1 cup fresh strawberries with 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon lemon juice until smooth. Bloom 1 teaspoon powdered gelatin in 1 tablespoon cold water for 5 minutes.
09 - Heat a few tablespoons of strawberry puree in a saucepan without boiling. Dissolve bloomed gelatin into the warm puree, then stir this mixture back into the remaining puree. Cool slightly and pour gently over set mousse layer.
10 - Refrigerate for an additional hour until glaze is completely firm. Carefully release cake from springform pan and transfer to serving plate.
11 - Decorate with fresh strawberry halves, chocolate shavings, and edible rose petals immediately before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks elegant enough to impress but comes together without requiring professional pastry skills.
  • The mousse is impossibly light and fluffy, making each bite feel like eating flavored air.
  • You can prepare it a day ahead, which means less stress and more time enjoying the moment.
  • Fresh strawberries shine here without being overpowered by heavy cream or sugar.
02 -
  • Gelatin is temperamental—never let it boil, or it loses its setting power, and never skip the blooming step or you'll end up with grainy texture.
  • Your mousse will only be as good as your strawberries, so taste one before committing to them; if they're not naturally sweet, add a touch more sugar.
  • The cold water in your mixing bowl makes an enormous difference when whipping cream; I once warmed mine slightly and ended up with butter halfway through the process.
03 -
  • If you're nervous about the gelatin step, make a small test batch first—it removes the mystery and builds real confidence.
  • Use a hot, damp knife to slice through the cake, wiping it between cuts; this prevents the glaze from cracking and keeps your presentation pristine.
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