Chocolate Mousse Torte

Shortly before Christmas, I was alerted by Meijer that they are getting ready to partner with Katie Brown in the spring with a new product line in stores. If you don't know Katie Brown, she is a “lifestyle maven”, current PBS host and Oxygen network alumnus. She has also authored several books focusing on lifestyle and entertaining, and is a syndicated lifestyle columnist as well. She has a motto that I just love and already work to instill in my house and that is "keeping things simple!"

Anyway, Meijer sent me a Katie Brown kit containing one of her recipes, a 10" Anchor Hocking serving cake plate, the non-perishables, a nice big canvas bag and a $10 Meijer gift card to get the rest of the ingredients to do up one of Katie Brown's recipes and I must say that it could not have come at a better time!  I was really struggling to figure out a dessert to have after Christmas dinner that was something simple but yet elegant.  I really didn't want to fix what I call an everyday dessert like chocolate cake or chocolate chip cookies. I wanted something more but didn't take me all day to put together.

The Chocolate Mousse Torte of Katie's in the kit was the answer!! It was easy to assemble, and even though I missed putting the melted chocolate into pudding mixture it didn't ruin the taste or presentation of the dessert.   I liked the fact that several of the needed ingredients are items that I keep in my pantry so I could have made up the dessert without making a special trip to the store.

Chocolate Mousse Torte

37 Nilla Wafers, divided
4 Squares Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided
2 Pkg. Jell-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
2 Cups + 2 tbsp. Cold Milk, divided
1 Tub(8oz) Cool Whip Whipping Topping, thawed, divided
1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, softened
1/4 Cup Sugar
3/4 Cup(6 oz pkg) Raspberries, fresh

1. Stand 16 wafers around inside edge of a 9-inch round pan lined with plastic wrap. Melt 3 chocolate squares as directed on package.

2. Beat pudding mixes and 2 cups milk in medium blow with whisk, 2 minutes. Add melted chocolate; mix well. Stir in 1 cup Cool Whip; pour into prepared pan.

3. Beat cream cheese, sugar, and remaining milk with mixer until well blended. Stir in 1 cup of remaining Cool Whip; spread over pudding. Top with remaining wafers.

4. Refrigerate 3 hours.

5. Invert torte onto plate. Remove pan and plastic wrap. Shave remaining Chocolate Square into curls. Top torte with remaining Cool Whip, berries, and chocolate curls.

Notes: I used a pie pan since I didn't have a springform pan or round pan with straight sides. I think it would be better because I had a hard time keeping the wafers on the side of the pan. However, putting some of the pudding mixture in the bottom of the pan and spreading it to the edges helped to "stand up" the wafers on the side of the pan. I forgot the melted chocolate squares in the pudding mixture, I think it would have been more "airy"/mousse texture and less sloppy and pudding like in consistency.  However, the end result of the torte still tasted yummy.  Instead of refrigerating the dessert for 3 hours, I stuck in the freezer for 1 1/2 hours before inverting the torte on the serving plate. Once inverted on the serving plate, I placed the torte in the fridge until serving time. Most of my family doesn't like raspberries so I probably will omit them the next time I make this torte (esp. if they are $3.49 for 6oz) and just use the chocolate curls for the garnish.

Review: I give this torte a 10 out of 10. It was a simple dessert although it takes a bit of planning ahead to allow for "chilling" of the torte. I had all but 2 ingredients(raspberries, and chocolate squares) in my pantry at the time of making up the dessert. I definitely will be making this torte again for my family.

The other dessert I served with my Christmas dinner this year(that is shown on the picture above) was Tammy's Pumpkin Sheet Cake!(watch for another post on the cake!)




This post is linked to: 

• Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace!
• Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam!
• Tuesdays at the Table at All the Small Stuff!
• Fearless Friday at Home Ec 101!