Special occasions always deserve a special cake! It can be an anniversary, a birthday, a dinner with guests, a special day or simply the wish to make at home something that is usually bought from pastry shops or ordered at the restaurant.
It is not always necessary to master the art of patisserie or to have particular and costly equipment. Some recipes only require time and a bit of organization, like this chocolate and red fruits mousse cake; the only matter here is to plan in advance all the steps, especially if it has to be served for a specific time. But, since it tastes better the day after preparation, I recommend to make it in advance and keep it the freezer until the planned day; then it is important only to remember to transfer it into the refrigerator at least four hours before serving.
The recipe is my personal adaptation of different recipes that I wanted to put together; I have to say that the result gave me great satisfaction. The cake is composed by three layers: the first one is a base of biscuit joconde, a sort of sponge-cake made with almond flour which gives a delicate nutty flavor and a slightly crunchy texture which perfectly balances the softness of the upper layers. Then comes a very peculiar milk chocolate ganache, where the cream is replaced by a blend of red fruits (I used raspberries and sour cherries because I wanted some sourness to balance the sweetness of milk chocolate, but any type of red fruits will work well). Finally on top there is a light dark chocolate mousse (light because there is no egg and no added sugar), which really has a light texture. The combination is absolutely lovely, especially for chocolate fans. I made it as a unique cake (the occasion was my son's second birthday) but it can also be shaped in mono-portion cakes (it only will take a little longer, and take up more space in the freezer). For decorating the top I tempered some milk chocolate, spread it in a thin layer over non-stick paper and, when partially solidified, cut it into little circles. I used also some raspberries to add a touch of color and served.
