If you’re a chocolate lover, then you know that nothing beats a delicious, showstopping dessert like Costco’s Tuxedo Cake. This cake is a chocolate lover’s dream, with layers of dark and white chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, and a dark chocolate ganache.
It’s the perfect cake for a special occasion, like a birthday or anniversary, or for any time you want to impress your guests with a decadent dessert.

The good news is that you don’t have to go to Costco to enjoy this amazing cake. With the right ingredients and a little bit of patience, you can make your own Costco Tuxedo Cake at home.
This recipe is perfect for those who want to recreate the magic of the original cake or for those who want to put their own twist on this classic dessert. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a beginner, this cake is sure to cast a love spell on anyone who tries it.
Table of contents
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What is a Tuxedo Cake?
If you’ve ever had a slice of tuxedo cake, you know how rich and decadent this dessert can be. But what exactly is a tuxedo cake? It’s a dessert that combines layers of moist chocolate cake with creamy chocolate mousse and silky white chocolate mousse. Top the cake with a thick, smooth, dark chocolate ganache.
The Layers of Flavor
The layers of flavor in a tuxedo cake are what make it so special. The different layers of chocolate cake and mousse create a rich and indulgent dessert that is perfect for any special occasion. The dark chocolate cake layers provide a deep, rich chocolate flavor, while the white chocolate mousse adds a creamy sweetness. The creamy chocolate mousse and white chocolate filling provide a light, airy texture that contrasts with the denser chocolate cake layers.
Decadent Components
In addition to the layers of cake and mousse, a tuxedo cake is often finished with a layer of chocolate buttercream or regular chocolate ganache. This adds an extra layer of chocolate flavor and helps to hold the cake together. The cake is then topped with a layer of white chocolate ganache, which provides a sweet contrast to the rich chocolate flavors in the rest of the cake.
Tuxedo Moose Cakes have become increasingly popular in recent years, and many people now associate them with Costco’s Tuxedo Mousse Cake. This cake is similar to a traditional Tuxedo Cake, but it includes additional layers of dark chocolate mousse and dark chocolate cake layers. The result is a cake that is even richer and more indulgent than a traditional tuxedo cake.

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Ingredients in Tuxedo Cake
Before you start baking your own Costco cake, you need to gather all the ingredients that you will need. Here are the ingredients that you will need for the rich chocolate cake, the mousse, and the ganache:
What you’ll need to make the cake

Cake Ingredients | Quantity |
---|---|
All-purpose flour | 2 cups |
Cocoa powder | 3/4 cup |
Baking powder | 1 1/2 teaspoons |
Baking soda | 1 teaspoon |
Salt | 1/2 teaspoon |
Vegetable oil | 1/2 cup |
Granulated sugar | 2 cups |
Large eggs | 2 |
Sour cream & buttermilk | 1 cup each |
Hot water | 1 cup |
Espresso powder | 1 teaspoon |
Vanilla extract | 2 teaspoons |
Mousse and Ganache Ingredients

Chocolate mousse & Ganache Ingredients | Quantity |
---|---|
For the chocolate mousse | |
Granulated sugar | 1/2 cup |
Heavy cream | 1 1/2 cups |
Egg Yolks | 4 |
Pinch of salt | |
High-quality dark chocolate | 6 ounces |
High-quality white chocolate | 4 ounces |
Unsalted butter | 20 grams |
For the chocolate ganache | 1 cup |
Heavy cream | 1 cup |
Semi-sweet chocolate | 8 ounces |
Make sure to use high-quality ingredients to ensure that your cake tastes as good as the incredible tuxedo cake. You can find most of these ingredients at your local grocery store. If you can’t find high-quality chocolate, you can order it online.
When measuring dry ingredients like flour and cocoa powder, make sure to spoon the ingredients into the measuring cups and level them off with a knife. This will ensure that you don’t add too much or too little of the ingredients.
Once you have gathered all your ingredients, you are ready to start baking your own Costco Tuxedo Cake!
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How To Make A Tuxedo Cake
Mixing and Baking The Cake
To begin with, preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper. In a large bowl, sift and mix the dry ingredients. Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, espresso powder, and salt. Add buttermilk, sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined. Stir in boiling water until the batter is smooth.




Divide the batter evenly between the two cake pans. Bake them for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Once they are done, let the cakes cool for 10 minutes in the pans. Then, transfer them to a wire rack and let them cool completely.


Steps for Making Dark Chocolate Mousse
For this step, you will need to make your dark chocolate mousse and white chocolate mousse separately, as shown in the steps below:









Steps for Making White Chocolate Mousse









Steps for Making the Ganache
One of the most important elements of a tuxedo cake is the ganache. Whether you prefer dark, white, or regular chocolate ganache, it’s important to get the consistency just right. If your ganache is too thick, it will be difficult to spread evenly over the cake, and if it’s too thin, it will run off the sides and make a mess.


To create the perfect ganache, start by heating your heavy cream in a saucepan until it just begins to simmer. Remove it from the heat and pour it over your chopped semi-sweet chocolate, stirring until it’s completely melted and smooth. If you’re making a white chocolate ganache, be sure to use high-quality white chocolate that contains cocoa butter for the best results


Once your ganache is ready, let it cool for a few minutes to thicken up slightly before pouring it over your cake. For a more professional look, use a spatula to spread the ganache evenly over the top and sides of the cake, smoothing out any bumps or lumps as you go.
Steps for Making the Buttercream


Assembling the Cake
Once the cakes are cooled, you can start assembling them. If you are after a four-layered cake finish first, use a large serrated knife to cut out two cake rounds from each cake. Place one chocolate cake round on a serving plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pipe a ring of vanilla buttercream around the circumference of the chocolate cake. Spread a layer of dark chocolate mousse, then place your second chocolate cake round on top of that.
Pipe a ring of vanilla buttercream around the circumference of the second chocolate cake. Spread a layer of white chocolate mousse on top of the chocolate cake, then place a third chocolate cake round. Repeat the process and alternate your dark and white chocolate mousse until all the cake rounds are used up.






Assemble the cake and chill it in the refrigerator for about 60 minutes.
Finishing Touches and Presentation
Now that you have successfully baked and assembled your Costco Tuxedo Cake, it’s time to add the finishing touches to make it look as good as it tastes. Let’s go over some tips and tricks to help you create a stunning presentation for your masterpiece.
Decorating Your Masterpiece
Now that your cake is covered in ganache, it’s time to add some decorative touches. One simple way to add some visual interest is to sprinkle cocoa nibs or chocolate shavings over the top of the cake. You can also pipe some frosting around the edges of the cake for a more elegant look.

If you’re feeling ambitious, you can also make a chocolate glaze to pour over the top of the cake. Let the glaze cool for a few minutes before pouring it over the top of the cake, using a spatula to spread it evenly over the surface.
Finally, if you’re making your cake ahead of time, be sure to store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it. This will help the ganache set up properly and ensure that your cake looks as good as it tastes when you’re ready to present it to your guests.
Tuxedo Cake Recipe: A Decadent Delight for Chocolate Lovers
Equipment
- Two 8-inch round cake pans
- Cake Ring - optional
- Cake leveler or serrated knife
- Offset spatula
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour 288g
- 2 cups granulated sugar 440g
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 90g
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk 250ml
- ½ cup vegetable oil 125ml
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup sour cream 300g
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1 cup boiling water 250ml
For the Chocolate Ganache:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate - chopped
For the Dark Chocolate Mousse:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream - (full fat)
- 6 oz high-quality dark chocolate
- 3 eggs
- 0.3 ounces unsalted butter 10g
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
For the White Chocolate Mousse: (optional)
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 4 oz high quality white chocolate
- 0.3 oz unsalted butter 10g
- ½ cup heavy cream - (full fat)
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
For the Vanilla Buttercream
- 1 cup unsalted butter - softened
- 3 – 4 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Chocolate Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
- Sift flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Blend in sugar, espresso powder, and salt in a large bowl.
- Add buttermilk, sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
- Stir in boiling water until the batter is smooth.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow the cakes to cool completely.
Step 2: Make Dark Chocolate Mousse
- Separate eggs and yolks. Place the whites in a large bowl and the yolks in a small bowl.
- Melt the chopped semi-sweet dark chocolate and unsalted butter using a double boiler or in short bursts in the microwave. Allow it to cool slightly.
- Whisk yolks, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until uniform.
- In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to over-whip.
- Whip whites: – Add sugar and beat whites until firm peaks form.
Fold together all ingredients
- Check the temperature of your semi-sweet dark chocolate; it should be warm and runny. ideal 40C
- Pour chocolate into cream yolk mixture. Fold through, and streaks are fine.
- Fold chocolate cream yolks into whipped cream using a rubber spatula. Some streaks are fine.
- Gently fold a 1/4 of beaten egg whites into the chocolate. Fold through until incorporated.
- Pour chocolate mixture into egg whites. Fold through until incorporated and has no lumps.
- Refrigerate the dark chocolate mousse until you are ready to assemble the Tuxedo cake.
Step 3: Make the White Chocolate Mousse
- Separate egg and yolk. Place the whites in a medium bowl and the yolk in a small bowl.
- Melt the chopped white chocolate and unsalted butter using a double boiler or in short bursts in the microwave. Allow it to cool slightly.
- Whisk egg yolk and sugar until its bright and uniform.
- Add vanilla extract and a pinch of salt and whisk slightly.
- Whip whites: – Beat whites until firm peaks form.
- In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to over-whip. Return it back to the fridge till you are ready to use it.
- Temper white chocolate: Add a bit of melted white chocolate into the egg yolk mixture.
- Fold the yolk mixture into the rest of the melted white chocolate.
- Return the white chocolate & yolk mixture to the double boiler and whisk lightly before removing it from the heat.
Fold together all ingredients
- Fold the white chocolate & yolk mixture into the whipped cream.
- Gently fold egg whites until well incorporated.
- Refrigerate the white chocolate mousse until you are ready to assemble the Tuxedo cake.
Step 4: Make Chocolate Ganache
- Heat heavy cream in a saucepan until it simmers.
- Pour hot cream over chopped chocolate in a bowl. Let it sit for a minute, then stir until smooth.
- Allow the ganache to cool to a spreadable consistency.
Step 4: Prepare Vanilla Buttercream
- In a large bowl, beat softened butter until creamy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Beat until smooth and fluffy.
Step 5: Assemble the Tuxedo Cake
- To achieve a four layered chocolate cake, use a large serrated knife to cut each cake in half.
- Level the chocolate cakes using a cake leveler or serrated knife. Make sure that all four chocolate cake rounds are even.
- Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Pipe a ring of vanilla buttercream around the circumference of the chocolate cake.
- Spread a layer of dark chocolate mousse.
- Place the second chocolate cake layer and repeat the buttercream process this time with a layer of white chocolate mousse.
- Repeat the process till all chocolate cakes are used and finishing with a layer of ganache on top.
Step 6: Decorate
- Decorate the top with chocolate curls, sprinkles, or additional ganache, as desired.
Notes
Recipe Notes:
1. Chocolate: You must use COOKING chocolate, not eating chocolate. Cooking chocolate (found in the baking aisle). I use bittersweet dark chocolate Lindt 70%. 2. Eggs: I find that whites fluff up better if they are at room temperature. Secondly, this mousse recipe uses raw egg yolks, as I find that I get better results with them. Make sure you use good-quality pasteurized eggs. Note: Raw eggs are not advisable for pregnant women or babies to consume. 3. Non-egg chocolate mousse recipes: There are plenty of substitutes on mousse recipes that have no egg; feel free to substitute with those instead if you wish, i.e. you can opt for an easier cream cheese mousse recipe. 4. Cream: You must use full-fat cream that can be whipped—pure cream (35% fat), thickened cream (35% fat), or heavy cream (35–40% fat). Do not use pouring cream that cannot be whipped. 5. Working with white chocolate: You will find that it can be challenging to work with white chocolate as it is temperature sensitive; therefore, try to pick up your pace. Have all your ingredients lined up and ready to go. 6. Melting the chocolate: Ensure that the bottom of your glass heat-proof bowl does not touch the actual water level (if using the double boiler method) so that you don’t scorch the chocolate. 7. Assembling your Tuxedo Cake: If you are a beginner baker, feel free to assemble your cake the next day, as it can be overwhelming to get all the steps done in one day.Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed and personalised calculations.