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fruit-shaped mousse cakes dessert

Fruit-Shaped Mousse Cakes: 7 Stunning Trompe-l’Œil Desserts You Can Make at Home


  • Author: Velma
  • Total Time: PT6H00M
  • Yield: 8 fruit-shaped mousse cakes 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

These Fruit-Shaped Mousse Cakes are stunning, mirror-glazed entremet-style desserts crafted to look like realistic pieces of fruit—vibrant peaches, glossy apples, lemons, and pears. Each mousse cake features a velvety fruit-flavored mousse, a soft sponge or biscuit bottom, and a brilliant colored glaze.


Ingredients

Scale

For the Fruit Mousse (Choose Flavor)

(Peach, mango, raspberry, lemon, or apple flavored)

  • 1 ½ cups fruit purée (peach, mango, raspberry, lemon curd, or apple purée)
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp gelatin powder + 3 tbsp cold water
  • 1 ¼ cups heavy cream (cold), whipped to soft peaks

For the Sponge Base (Optional)

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Mirror Glaze

  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 tbsp gelatin powder + 4 tbsp cold water
  • 8 oz white chocolate, chopped
  • Gel food coloring (colors depending on fruit: yellow, red, green, peach, orange)

For Decoration

  • Small chocolate sticks or pretzels (to create stems)
  • Edible leaves or mint leaves

Instructions

1. Make the Fruit Mousse

  1. Bloom gelatin: sprinkle gelatin over cold water and let sit 5 minutes.
  2. Heat fruit purée, sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan until warm.
  3. Add bloomed gelatin and whisk until fully dissolved.
  4. Let the mixture cool to room temperature.
  5. Fold in whipped cream until smooth and airy.
  6. Pipe mousse into silicone fruit-shaped molds, filling ¾ full.
  7. Add a small round of sponge cake (optional) to the center.
  8. Freeze at least 4–6 hours, or overnight.

2. Make the Sponge Base (Optional)

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Beat eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy.
  3. Add flour, baking powder, and vanilla; mix gently.
  4. Spread batter on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  5. Bake 8–10 minutes, then cool and cut small discs to fit molds.

3. Prepare the Mirror Glaze

  1. Bloom gelatin in cold water.
  2. In a saucepan, heat sugar, water, and condensed milk until simmering.
  3. Remove from heat and add chopped white chocolate.
  4. Stir until melted and smooth.
  5. Add bloomed gelatin and whisk until fully dissolved.
  6. Strain to remove bubbles.
  7. Tint glaze with gel food coloring, depending on the fruit:
    • Peach: orange + red + a touch of yellow
    • Apple: red, green, or yellow
    • Lemon: bright yellow
    • Pear: green + yellow
  8. Cool glaze to 90–95°F (32–34°C).

4. Glaze the Frozen Mousse Cakes

  1. Remove frozen mousse shapes from molds.
  2. Place on a wire rack with a tray underneath.
  3. Pour mirror glaze evenly over each cake until fully coated.
  4. Add chocolate “stems” and edible leaves.

5. Serve

  • Chill glazed cakes for 1 hour to set.
  • Serve cold for best texture.

Notes

  • Silicone fruit molds are essential for a realistic shape.
  • Color blending (airbrushing or two-tone glaze) creates an ultra-realistic fruit appearance.
  • Work quickly when glazing—cakes must be frozen solid.
  • Prep Time: PT45M
  • Cook Time: PT10M
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 mousse cake
  • Calories: 310 Kcal
  • Sugar: 30g
  • Sodium: 60mg
  • Fat: 17g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 34g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Cholesterol: 45mg