Ultimate Pomegranate Mousse Cake Recipe

One of the most interesting and delicious desserts you’ll ever make is my Pomegranate Mousse Cake. It has a few more steps than most of my recipes, but it’s well worth the effort and is a guaranteed show-stopper!

Named by Huffington Post as one of the Best Dessert Recipes of all Time

**updated from original post shared on June 27, 2010.

I had already decided to make a cake, but I wanted it to be a little different than the usual layer cake.

As I looked through my countless cookbooks, I finally found my inspiration In Baking by James Peterson. It wasn’t a particular recipe that caught my eye, but a mixture of a few recipes. After working through the process, I adjusted and combined three recipes to make my Ultimate Pomegranate Mousse Cake!

How do I Make a Pomegranate Mousse Cake?

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make the yellow cake.

*Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 9-inch cake pans.

Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt together, making sure they are well blended. Set aside till needed.

• Cream butter and ¾ cup of sugar with the paddle attachment of your mixer. After the butter has softened, replace the paddle with the whip attachment, and continue mixing for about 5 minutes.
• Whisk in the egg yolks one at a time until the mixture is smooth. 
• Add the milk and vanilla to the mixing bowl and mix just enough to blend.
• Add the flour mixture, ½ cup at a time. Don’t overmix! Transfer this all to a larger bowl.

• Whip egg whites and cream of tartar in your mixer for about 3 minutes until soft peaks form. Add the remaining sugar and continue to whip for about 2 minutes until medium peaks form.
• Add egg white mixture to butter mixture ¼ at a time and fold in with a rubber spatula; fully incorporating before adding more, repeat the process until all your egg whites have been folded in.
• Spread batter into your cake pans, dividing it evenly. Then, smooth it out with an offset spatula.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes in a conventional oven or until the cake bounces back to the touch or a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the layers cool for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a cake rack.

*While the Cake is Baking Make the Pomegranate Curd and Mousse

How do I make pomegranate curd?

• Place the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, pomegranate reduction, and lemon zest into a heatproof bowl that fits over a saucepan and whisk until well blended(not over the saucepan).
• When the first step is completed, place the bowl over a saucepan with an inch of simmering water in it as the mixture begins to get warm, add the butter a little at a time, and whisk the mixture until it thickens. This will take about 5-7 minutes; make sure not to let the mixture boil!
• Allow mixture to cool until needed

How do I make Pomegranate Mousse?

• Whip your cream to medium peaks, adding the sugar as it begins to thicken. Refrigerate until needed.
• Place the gelatin and water in a small bowl and let it sit for about 10 minutes or until it has absorbed all the water
• Stir the softened gelatin with a fork to get rid of any lumps. Then, place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water until the gelatin dissolves completely.
• Add the gelatin mixture to the curd. The curd must be warm for it to mix in properly ( you may have to warm up the pomegranate curd if it has cooled too much). it should be warm to add your gelatin mixture into it. Whisk the mixture until it has been well blended. Once finished, set aside and allow to get to room temperature.
• Fold (by hand) the whipped cream into the room-temperature curd mixture mix just enough to blend; do not over-mix or use an electric mixer. This will cause the mousse to break!!

*Refrigerate until needed.

• Take your cooled cake and split each layer into 2 sections; this will give you four layers.
• After splitting the layers, brush the cut side with pomegranate syrup.
• After you have brushed on the pomegranate syrup, spread an even layer of mousse on top of the cake, using a spatula or knife to make it level to the edges.
• Add the next layer with the cut layer up and repeat the process for the next two layers.
• For the final layer, place the baked side up. There is no need to brush this layer.
• Place this into the refrigerator to chill while you make the topping for the cake.

How do I make the topping for the pomegranate mousse cake?

• Add the pomegranate juice and pomegranate liquor (optional) to a small bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over the liquid and let it stand for 1 minute to soften the gelatin.
• Transfer the liquid to a small saucepan. Add the sugar and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. 
• Pour the mixture into a bowl and set the bowl into an ice and water bath, stirring the mixture gently until it is cold and slightly thickened but not yet set. 
• Stir in pomegranate seeds and spoon the topping onto the top layer of the chilled mousse cake
• Place the cake back into the refrigerator for at least one hour to finish setting up.

*This cake can be made a day ahead of time in the refrigerator before serving.

I picked up a fresh Pomegranate and prepared the arils to use in the cake topping. If you can’t find fresh pomegranates, you can find Pomegranate Fresh Arils (Pom Poms Wonderful) at most grocery stores.

Kitchen tools I use for my cakes

Chef's Choice

USA Bakeware 9 inch Nonstick Round Cake Pan

A good cake pan makes all the difference in making your favorite layer cakes. These are the pans I use in my home kitchen.

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Chef's Choice

9 Inch Parchment Baking Circles - Set of 100

These parchment baking circles make removing cakes from the pan quick and easy.

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Chef's Choice

11-inch Heat Resistant Silicone Spatulas (4-piece)

These are the spatulas I use in my kitchen. They are durable, heat resistant and easy to keep clean.

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Chef's Choice

Fat Daddio's 8 Inch Offset Spatula

This offset spatula is essential for baking and frosting cakes.

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More Cake Recipes You’ll Love!

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4.43 from 26 votes

Pomegranate Mousse Cake

Named as one of Huffington Posts Best Desserts of all time, my Pomegranate Mousse Cake with pomegranate mousse between each layer and topped with pomegranate seeds in a pomegranate glaze is the Ultimate Cake!

Prep Time1 hour hr

Cook Time45 minutes mins

chill time2 hours hrs

Total Time3 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 16 slices

Calories: 472kcal

Author: Chef Dennis Littley

Ingredients

Yellow Cake

• 2¼ cups cake flour
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter (2 sticks) room temperature
• 1½ cup sugar
• 3 large eggs separated
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 teaspoon vanilla
• ⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar

Pomegranate Curd

• 2 large eggs
• 2 large egg yolks
• 4 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest finely grated
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ¾ cup pomegranate reduction reduce 32 ounces of pomegranate juice to 10 ounces over medium high heat.

Pomegranate Mousse

• 4½ teaspoons unflavored gelatin 1½ packets
• ¼ cup water
• 3 cups pomegranate curd
• 1½ cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Pomegratate Syrup

• 3 cups pomegranate juice
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Pomegranate Topping

• 6 ounces pomegranate juice
• 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
• 1 ounce pomegranate liquor optional – can be easily ommitted, use 1 ounce more pomegranate juice in its place
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• seeds from one pomegrante or Fresh Arils (refrigerated in a cup at grocery store)

US Customary – Metric

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Yellow Cake

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 9 inch cake pans.
  
• Mix the flour, baking powder and salt together, making sure they are well blended. Set aside till needed.
• Cream butter and ¾ cup of sugar with the paddle attachment of your mixer. After the butter has softened replace the paddle with the whip attachment, and continue mixing for about 5 minutes.
• Whisk in the egg yolks one at a time until the mixture is smooth. 
• Add the milk and vanilla, to the mixing bowl and mix just enough to blend.
• Add the flour mixture, ½ cup at a time. Don’t over mix! Transfer this all to a larger bowl
• Whip egg whites and cream of tartar in your mixer for about 3 minutes until soft peaks form. Add the remaining sugar and continue to whip for about 2 minutes until medium peaks form.
• Add egg white mixture to butter mixture ¼ at a time, fold in with a rubber spatula, Fully incorporating before adding more, repeat process until all your egg whites have been folded in.
• Spread batter into your cake pans dividing evenly, and smooth it out with a spatula.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes in a conventional oven, or until the cake bounces back to the touch, or a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean.

  Let cool for 5 minutes then turn out onto a cake rack

Pomegranate Curd

• Place the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, pomegranate reduction and lemon zest into a heatproof bowl that fits over a saucepan and whisk until well blended(not over the saucepan).
• When the first step is completed, place the bowl over a saucepan with an inch of simmering water in it, as the mixture begins to get warm add the butter a little at a time, and whisk the mixture until it thickens.

  This will take about 5-7 minutes, make sure not to let the mixture boil!
• Allow mixture to cool, until needed

Pomegranate Mousse

• Whip your cream to medium peaks, adding the sugar as it begins to thicken. Refrigerate until needed
• Place the gelatin and water in a small bowl and let it sit for about 10 minutes, or until it has absorbed all the water
• Stir the softened gelatin with a fork to get rid of any lumps. Then place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water until the gelatin dissolves completely.
• Add the gelatin mixture to the curd. The curd must be warm for it to mix in properly ( you may have to warm up the pomegranate curd if it has cooled too much). it should be warm to add your gelatin mixture into it. Whisk the mixture until it has been well blended.

  Once finished, set aside and allow to get to room temperature.
• Fold (by hand) the whipped cream into the room temperature curd mixture, mix just enough to blend, do not over mix or use an electric mixer. This will cause the mousse to break!!

  *Refrigerate until needed.

Assembly

• Take your cooled cake and split each layer into 2 sections, this will give you 4 layers.
• Begin with the first layer, After splitting the layers brush the cut side with pomegranate syrup.
• After you have brushed on the pomegranate syrup, spread an even layer of mousse on top of the cake, using a spatula or knife to make it level to the edges.
• Add the next layer with the cut layer up and repeat the process for the next two layers.
• For the final layer place the baked side up. There is no need to brush this layer.

  Place the cake into the refrigerator to chill while you make the topping for the cake.

Pomegranate Topping

• Add the pomegranate juice and pomegranate liquor (optional) to a small bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over the liquid and let stand 1 minute to soften gelatin.
• Transfer the liquid to a small saucepan. Add the sugar and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved
• Pour the mixture into a bowl and set the bowl into an ice and water bath, stirring the mixture gently until it is cold and slightly thickened but not yet set. 
• Stir in pomegranate seeds and spoon the topping onto the top layer of the chilled mousse cake
• Place the cake back into the refrigerator for at least one hour, to finish setting up.

  *This cake can be made a day ahead of time in the refrigerator before serving.

Pomegranate Syrup

• Add the pomegranate juice, sugar and lemon juice to a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Bring the ingredients to a light boil to make sure the sugar has dissolved.
• Reduce heat just enough to maintain a simmer and continue to simmer until the. juice has reduced to about 1 cup.

Video

Notes

***you can use chamboard or any berry liqour if you can’t find pomegranate liqour.  You can also eliminate the liqour completely.  Just add another ounce of pomegranate juice to replace the liqour.

Nutrition

Calories: 472kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 151mg | Sodium: 157mg | Potassium: 167mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 910IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 1mg

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