Easy Chocolate Mousse (Mock Mousse)
This easy chocolate mousse filling is light, fluffy, and can be whipped up in minutes.
We have used it in several of our cakes, including our Easy Chocolate Mousse Cake! If you are looking for a quick, easy, and delicious chocolate cream filling, this is the one.
Table of Contents
How to Make Easy Chocolate Mousse Filling with Pudding and Cream
We often refer to this delicious chocolate cream filling as a mock mousse because unlike a traditional mousse, this filling is made with just two ingredients: instant chocolate pudding & heavy cream.
Nobody would ever guess how quick and easy this recipe is. It comes together in minutes (but that will be our little secret!)
- To make this recipe, you simply need a box of Instant Chocolate Pudding and heavy cream. Rather than making instant pudding the usual way with milk, the heavy cream makes it much thicker, creamier, spreadable and even pipeable (you can see an example of this in our Butterscotch Cake).
- The resulting chocolate cream has the consistency of mousse rather than pudding, and the best part is that it all comes together in minutes.
We like to use a hand mixer to mix it up for convenience.
What if the Mousse Filling is too thick?
After mixing together the pudding and cream in your mock mousse filling, you may find that the consistency is slightly thicker than expected. If this happens, simply add a little more heavy cream and mix a little longer until you are happy with the consistency.
This luscious chocolate cream filling has wonderful chocolate flavor without being overly rich. (In other words, I could EASILY get carried away and eat the whole bowl myself!)
We love this as a light filling in our chocolate cakes or injected into chocolate cupcakes.
Do you need to Sift Instant Pudding Mix?
While you do not need to sift instant pudding mix before using, I find that it results in a smoother consistency. Have you ever had a bite of pudding and noticed a little hardened piece of sugar that didn't dissolve? Ugh!
The fix for this is sifting. You'll notice when you sift pudding mix that often several little hardened granules will remain in the sifter. Just toss them in the sink- we don't want them in our pudding ;0)
I sift my cake mixes as well!
Other Variations of this easy mousse filling
We have used this Mock Mousse technique in several of our FAVORITE cake recipes. For example, our Orange Dreamsicle Cake has a delicious Orange Cream Filling which is made from vanilla pudding, cream, and orange extract.
We have also used a variation of this filling to make our Pineapple Cake Recipe with an amazing Pineapple & Cream Filling, as well as our Peaches and Cream Cake recipes!! Both of these variations contained bits of fruit in the vanilla mousse filling! Yum!!
Our Scratch Butterscotch Cake Recipe is also filled and topped with a Butterscotch Cream filling and topping which is based on this recipe.
When it comes to mock mousse fillings, the options are endless. You can experiment with different flavors of pudding, add in extracts, stir in mini chocolate chips, fruit, or coconut. Have fun experimenting!
Looking for a Rich Chocolate Filling?
For a rich, decadent filling rather than a light, fluffy mousse filling?
Hop over to our Easy Ganache Drip Recipe. This ganache is not only great for drizzling, but it can be chilled and whipped into a thick and decadent filling for your cakes and cupcakes.
It's good to have options, especially when it comes to the serious business of finding your favorite chocolate filling recipes!
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Chocolate "Mock Mousse" Filling
This easy chocolate mousse filling can be whipped up in minutes! It is so light, creamy, and delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 small box instant chocolate pudding (3.9 oz)- I like to sift the pudding mix
- 2 c. heavy cream or whipping cream
Instructions
Combine the sifted pudding mix and heavy cream in a mixing bowl. I prefer to mix with a hand held mixer, but a whisk is fine too. If using a mixer, start on low speed until well combined.
Then, switch to high speed and whip the pudding until thick and fluffy. If mousse is too thick, mix in a bit more heavy cream until you reach the desired consistency.
If mixing by hand, simply whisk rapidly for a couple of minutes or until mixture is nice and thick. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Notes
*Sifting the pudding mix is an optional step but I do find that instant pudding mixes often have a few tiny hardened granules that either do not dissolve or take longer to soften. You will see what I mean when you sift ;0) . I do this for cake mixes also!
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Do you use all of this recipe to fill one 8" cake?
Hi Cindy---no, you will definitely have some leftover.
Hi Melissa - do you have to use Heavy Cream, or would milk work? Also, would you still create a dam of thick buttercream around the outside before adding the mousse? Could you use the leftovers as a filling for cupcakes too?
Hi there--- I've had good results with heavy cream or even just regular whipping cream (not whipped topping)--but using milk would give you more of a soft pudding (since the instructions on the box actually call for milk). The whipped cream or heavy cream gives a much thicker/lighter consistency.
I would still create a dam before using the filling. Yes, you could inject cupcakes with this also--(yum!) --
**Just keep in mind that because of the cream in the recipe, you will need to refrigerate cakes/cupcakes with this filling.
Hi Melissa...how long will they stay fresh with the filling? If i keep them refrigerated up until about an hour before delivery would they be okay to be at room temperature for the party?
Hi, I think they should be eaten by the 3rd day with the filling. I would tell my customer to keep them refrigerated until party time.
I am making a wedding shower cake and the bride would like strawberry mousse filling. The cake will be covered in fondant and decorated. Can I fondant and decorate the day of the shower and still have the mousse filling hold up for hours before serving?
Hi-- are you using strawberry pudding with cream? I would think that you would be okay as long as you are chilling the cake in between decorating and the shower. I probably wouldn't keep it out longer than 2-3 hours.
Thanks so much
Hi Melissa I am planing to cover my chocolate cake with the marshmallow fondant, what filling would you recommend for the chocolate cake? I want to finish the cake 1 day prior to the party. You mentioned that we should not keep the marshmallow fondant in the fridge, need a good filing that won't go bad... Thanks!
Hi there--American buttercreams (for example, our Classic Vanilla & Chocolate or "Fluffy" Vanilla & Chocolate would all be fine. I love the versatility of buttercreams- you can add flavorings, or stir in chocolate chips or crushed oreos, etc. The spreadable ganache recipe would also be fine for a day outside of the fridge. I still would keep in a cool room in your house though. Good luck!
Hi
im from the uk and dont think we have pudding mix, what is it and what else could i use as it sounds yummy.
Thanks