Mirror Glaze Cake – Valentine’s Desserts

Updated On Updated on February 19, 2019

The ultimate chocolate Valentines desserts to wow your loved one! Red mirror glaze cake, made with white chocolate mousse, frozen and dried strawberries, dark tempered chocolate. This blooming heart shaped dessert is great for gifting for Birthday or to your Valentine. Perfect treat for your sweetheart.

Mirror glaze cake. Blooming chocolate dessert with strawberries for Valentine's day.

It requires some techniques like tempering chocolate, making mirror glaze and the easy one – making white chocolate mousse cakes. But dont worry, I got you covered, you will learn how to make everything step by step. And in the end, if you have any questions, I will be happy to answer in the comment section below!

Ultimate Valentine’s desserts to wow your sweetheart! Red mirror glaze cake, made with white chocolate mousse and strawberries. Great idea for Valentine's day gifts for him! #valentinesday #desserts #mirrorglaze #dessertrecipes #dessertideas #chocolatecake #strawberryrecipes

This recipe makes 4 hearts just to choose your best 2 for serving. I think it is better to have spare hearts in case something sticks to your mirror glaze or any shenanigans happens. It is also nice to have white chocolate mousse with strawberries with your morning coffee! Well, if you’re confident, you can cut the recipe in half and make chocolate desserts for two.

Small and lovely blooming dessert to make for a Valentines day or Birthday party.

This dessert is made with fruit and chocolate – all you seek in Valentines desserts! It is creative, effective and certainly will surprise your loved ones! These Valentines desserts are special, but I think we can show the love and attention not once a year. Just make these to express your emotions or maybe make a proposal?

This is definitely a glazed cake that excites me to create and something that will excite the person for who you will create it!

I first saw such flower dessert made by British pastry chef Darren Purchese. I was amazed and thought only chef can make it. His blooming dessert is absolutely exquisite!

When I planned Valentines desserts, I remembered this and decided to try make it myself. But as this is a celebration of love, there should be a heart inside! By the way, you can insert the ring in the dessert, too. What a great proposal for a foodie it would be!

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But this are fun and unforgettable Valentines desserts anyone can make. I love, when the food is entertaining, do you?

Mirror glaze cake, hidden under chocolate leaves. Valentine's desserts served on a white plate.

Tips to make blooming strawberry desserts

  • Give yourself some time to make it beautiful. Start 1-2 days ahead.
  • This recipe makes 4 small Valentines desserts, so you can choose the best 2 hearts for presentation.
  • Don’t wait until the glaze is thickened in a jar, it is better to glaze 2 times while it is runny. If it thickens, place the jar with glaze in a pot with hot water. Check the temperature before glazing
  • Use food thermometer, it is pretty handy to check the temperature of tempered chocolate and glaze
  • Make some spare chocolate leaves in case some can break.
  • You can make and blend strawberry sauce ahead of time, just make sure to heat it until bubbly before serving.
  • Choose a plate, so the jam will be poured around chocolate and don’t drip to the edges of the plate.
  • You will also need heart-shaped silicone molds, parchment paper, food rings, some patience and creativity mood!
    Mirror glaze cake, blooming with chocolate leaves and strawberry sauce on a plate for Valentine's day.

White chocolate mousse cake

So let’s start with an easy part. Beautiful little red heart or mirror glaze cake that is white inside.

Actual heart consists of white chocolate strawberry mousse with an easy crust, made with butter and crushed cookies, all covered with beautiful red mirror glaze. It is like a mini layer cake.

White chocolate mousse is the one I’ve made in Giant Black Pearl Dessert, but with the addition of dried strawberries. Do you want to make something more interesting than a regular sugar cookie chocolate covered strawberries? This mousse cake recipes are perfect for you to make for Valentines day!

White chocolate mousse inside this mirror glaze cake is obviously made with chocolate, with addition of heavy cream, gelatin and dried strawberries. I used silicon heart molds to make it set. The base is made with plain store-bought biscuit crumbs with melted butter, pressed into the mold. Then you will need to bloom the gelatin, melt the chocolate with the pinch of salt to cut the sweetness, whip the heavy cream and incorporate all together.

It is best to set the mousse overnight, so plan it beforehand.

For more cake recipes you should also check our No Bake White Chocolate Mousse Cake and Raspberry Cheesecake.

Eating mirror glaze cake with a spoon. Valentine 's desserts made with white chocolate mousse.

Tempering chocolate for Valentine’s desserts

It is the process of making chocolate more glossy and easier to work with, while decorating these Valentine’s desserts. Melted chocolate won’t give the same effect. To temper the dark chocolate use a double boiler, which is a pan with a little bit of water and heat-proof bowl placed on top. Hot chocolate needs to reach the 114 F / 46 C temperature, when it is almost melted, remove from heat and reduce the temperature to 88 F / 31 C degrees by adding more chocolate.

Moreover, it seems that it is hard to make, but it actually isn’t. To make leaves I used 2 A4 soft carton, covered with parchment paper. To hold the paper I used few binder clips. Pour the tempered chocolate on the paper and smooth with the spatula.

By the way, I suggest to make a template of the leaf. On a thick paper draw the 4 inch / 10 cm long line. Then check the middle of the line and make dots to each side 1 cm. Connect the ends of the line through the dots and cut the leaf.

To use the template, hold it in one hand and draw the lines, leaving the space between them. Rotate the paper and draw the other side of the leaves. Sprinkle some dried strawberries on the leaves, which is optional but makes it so much more beautiful, to my mind.

Place the paper with chocolate in the 5 inch/ 12 cm ring mold or between the bottles to set. Then gently press the edges with your fingers and knife remove the leaves. You might want to make more leaves, in case some of the brake. Stick the leaves to the chocolate disc on the bottom of the plate, using some melted chocolate. Work in a cool room. You may want to use food gloves or small tongs to hold the leaves, while waiting for them to stick to the chocolate base.

Don’t be afraid of the amount of the chocolate that is listed in the recipe. It is much easier to temper large quantities of chocolate. You can reuse and remelt the leftover chocolate for other Valentines desserts next year!

Pouring mirror glaze on white chocolate mousse cakes

Red mirror glaze cake

Mirror glaze is made with gelatin, water, sweetened condensed milk, white chocolate, sugar and red gel coloring. Depending on the color you want, use 2-4 drops of coloring. It is important to choose gel coloring, as it will give you more color and you will need less drops to use for chocolate mirror glaze.

Bloomed gelatin is melted into simmering mixture of water, condensed milk and sugar. Then you pour it into a bowl with white chocolate, let it melt and add food coloring. Blend until smooth with immersion blender and sieve to remove lumps and bubbles. You can also use hand whisk instead of immersion blender.

Chocolate glaze should be 91 F / 33 C before pouring on Valentine’s desserts.

This amount of glaze is enough to cover 4 hearts in two coats. After first coating you can scrap the leftovers to the jar and put it in the warm water. Allow the first coat to set for 20 minutes, then pour another one on every mirror glaze cake. I used wire rack and glasses for pouring and I thing glasses work better for me, but it is easier to transfer the hearts from the rack. But just be careful and give yourself some time! You can use this colored mirror glaze cake recipe for your other dessert projects.

Plated Valentine's desserts, red mirror glaze cake on a plate with opwnwd chocolate leaves and strawberry desserts.

Decorating mirror glaze cake

For me the most time consuming and patience requiring part of making these Valentines desserts, was waiting for the leaves to glue to the base. You need to work in a cool room, maybe not in the kitchen. It takes between 40 minutes to hour to decorate one plate of the dessert, but the presentation is worth the time! Some leaves will stick faster then the others you might need to coat more in chocolate or add a little bit more chocolate on the edge of the knife on the bottom of the plate.

Try to remember physics from school, the center of gravity of the leaves should be moved more to the side of the plate, so that leaves won’t fall on the heart. Keep in mind that leaves should cover the heart, but they should fall on the plate. If you’re not sure, stick the leaves bottom approximately on 45 degree angle from the the side heart or mirror glaze cake. if some leaves will fall on the heart you can help them with your fingers. If your desserts were in the fridge overnight, fallen chocolate leaves won’t stick to the mirror glaze.

For blooming effect, pour around the plate hot strawberry sauce or hot chocolate. Depending on the thickness of your leaves, they will melt in the sauce if they are thin or won’t melt, if  they’re thick.

For the best flavor combination, use fresh or frozen strawberries, blended with some freshly squeezed lemon juice and heated in a sauce pan. To my mind, strawberry sauce will perfectly cut accompany the sweetness of Valentines desserts and tart and sweet dark chocolate. Chocolate strawberry desserts are perfect for Valentine’s day or date night!

Hope you’ll try to make mirror glaze cake for your beloved one and use this as one of your gift ideas. Moreover, for quick and easy Valentine’s desserts check Easy Strawberry Desserts, Healthy Strawberry Desserts with chocolate lace or Blueberry Chocolate Cake. These dessert recipes are perfect for romantic dinner.

Happy Valentines day!

Mirror Glaze Cake – Valentine’s Desserts view from top

Valentine's Mirror Glaze Cake

Recipe AuthorCooking Journey
5 from 3 votes
Ultimate Valentine’s desserts to wow your sweetheart! Red mirror glaze cake, made with white chocolate mousse and strawberries. Chocolate blooming heart.
Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling, decorating 4 hours 20 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
 
Course Dessert
Cuisine Global
Servings 6
Calories 1057 kcal
Equipment
  • 6 pcs 2.3 inch / 6 cm wide heart shape silicone molds
  • food processor
  • a pot and a heat proof bowl to place on top
  • flat tray
  • food processor or a bag with rolling pin
  • food thermometer
  • 4 pcs A4 carton, covered with parchment paper
  • glasses
  • medium size microwave-safe bowl
  • spatula, spoons and a knife
  • bottles with water to hold
  • off-set spatula
  • 2 rings (3 inch / 8 cm and 5 inch / 12 cm) or round cookie cutters
  • immersion blender or whisk
  • small pot
  • parchment paper


Ingredients
 
 
White chocolate mousse:
  • 83 g white chocolate (chopped)
  • 117 ml heavy cream
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tsp gelatin
  • 0,5 tbsp water
  • 0,5 tbsp strawberries dried, crushed
Base:
  • 35 g biscuits
  • 1 tbs butter salted melted
Red mirror glaze:
  • 67 g sweetened condensed milk
  • 107 g granulated sugar
  • 50 g water
  • 117 g white chocolate chips
  • 6 g gelatin
  • 1/6 cup water
  • 4 drops red gel food coloring
For decoration:
  • 1 tsp desiccated coconut
  • 600 g dark chocolate
  • 1,5 tsp dried strawberries dried
Strawberry sauce:
  • 250 g frozen strawberries defrosted
  • 1/2 lemon juiced

Making this recipe?Mention @cookingjourneyblog or tag #cookingjourneyblog!
 

Instructions
 
Prepare the base for the hearts:
  • In a food processor put biscuits and process until crumbs. Add melted butter and process until it resembles wet sand.
    35 g biscuits, 1 tbs butter salted
    In a food processor put biscuits and process until crumbs. Add melted butter and process until it resembles wet sand.
  • Distribute biscuit mixture to silicone heart molds and press with the spoon. Put in the refrigerator.
    Distribute biscuit mixture to silicone heart molds and press with the spoon. Put in the refrigerator.
Prepare the white chocolate mousse:
  • In a small glass or cup combine gelatin with water. Set it aside to bloom for 5 minutes.
    1 tsp gelatin, 0,5 tbsp water
    Inasmallglassorcupcombinegelatinwithwater.Setitasidetobloomforminutes.
  • Meanwhile, in a medium size microwave-safe bowl combine white chocolate with 33 ml or ⅕ heavy cream and a pinch of salt.
    83 g white chocolate, 117 ml heavy cream, 1 pinch salt
    Meanwhile,inamediumsizemicrowave safebowlcombinewhitechocolatewithmlheavycreamandapinchofsalt.
  • Microwave chocolate in 20 seconds increments, stirring until smooth and melted (repeat, if needed). Let it cool a little, stirring occasionally.
    Microwavechocolateinsecondsincrements,stirringuntilsmoothandmelted(repeat,ifneeded).Letitcoolalittle,stirringoccasionally.
  • Whip leftover heavy cream for mousse until stiff peaks.
    Whip leftover heavy cream for mousse until stiff peaks.
  • Microwave gelatin for 10 seconds and add to the white chocolate mousse, stir until incorporated.
    Microwavegelatinforsecondsandaddtothewhitechocolatemousse,stiruntilincorporated.
  • Fold whipped cream into the chocolate in batches until fully incorporated and smooth. In the end incorporate dried strawberries.
    0,5 tbsp strawberries
    Fold whipped cream into the chocolate in batches until fully incorporated and smooth. In the end incorporate dried strawberries.
  • Distribute the white chocolate mousse in the silicone heart molds and let them set in the fridge for at least 2 hours or better overnight.
    Distributethewhitechocolatemousseinthesiliconeheartmoldsandletthemsetinthefridgeforatleasthoursorbetterovernight.
Chocolate discs and leaves.
  • Temper the chocolate. Set 30% or 180 g of chocolate aside. In the double boiler (the pan with a little water and heat-proof bowl with chocolate on top) melt bigger part of chocolate chocolate, stirring, until it almost melted and the temperature is 46 C.
    600 g dark chocolate
    Temperthechocolate.Set%orgofchocolateaside.Inthedoubleboiler(thepanwithalittlewaterandheat proofbowlwithchocolateontop)meltbiggerpartofchocolatechocolate,stirring,untilitalmostmeltedandthetemperatureisC.
  • Remove from heat, add remaining chocolate and stir until melted and the temperature is 31 C.
    Removefromheat,addremainingchocolateandstiruntilmeltedandthetemperatureisC.
  • Pour on the 4 pcs A4 carton, covered with parchment paper and smooth with the spatula.
    PouronthepcsAcarton,coveredwithparchmentpaperandsmoothwiththespatula.
  • Holding a a template in one hand, cut the one side of the leaves with a knife. Rotate the paper and cut the other side of the leaves, leaves should be 4 inch / 10 cm long. Sprinkle dried strawberries on the leaves.
    1,5 tsp dried strawberries
    Holdingaatemplateinonehand,cuttheonesideoftheleaveswithaknife.Rotatethepaperandcuttheothersideoftheleaves,leavesshouldbeinch/cmlong.Sprinkledriedstrawberriesontheleaves.
  • Place the carton in the bigger ring mold or between the bottles, so that they are setting under the angle. Let them set in the cool place. You will need approximately 10 leaves per serving, make some extra in case they brake, you can also remelt and re-temper the leftovers to make more leaves.
    Placethecartoninthebiggerringmoldorbetweenthebottles,sothattheyaresettingundertheangle.Letthemsetinthecoolplace.Youwillneedapproximatelyleavesperserving,makesomeextraincasetheybrake,youcanalsoremeltandre tempertheleftoverstomakemoreleaves.
  • Then pour leftover part of chocolate on tray with parchment paper. Smooth with an off-set spatula. Use a small ring to cut the discs - one per serving. Let the rings set in the fridge or in a cool place.
    Thenpourleftoverpartofchocolateontraywithparchmentpaper.Smoothwithanoff setspatula.Useasmallringtocutthediscs oneperserving.Lettheringssetinthefridgeorinacoolplace.
  • Then cut again with the knife and place on the serving plates.
    Then cut again with the knife and place on the serving plates.
  • When the leaves are set, gently remove the leaves by pressing the edges with your hand or helping with the knife. Choose the best ones for assembling.
    When the leaves are set, gently remove the leaves by pressing the edges with your hand or helping with the knife. Choose the best ones for assembling.
For the red mirror glaze:
  • Combine gelatin with 1/6 cup water. Set aside to bloom for 5 minutes.
    6 g gelatin, 1/6 cup water
    Combinegelatinwith/cupwater.Setasidetobloomforminutes.
  • In a small sauce pan add condensed milk, water and sugar. Heat on low and bring it to simmer. Remove from heat, add bloomed gelatin and stir until melted.
    67 g sweetened condensed milk, 50 g water, 107 g granulated sugar
    In a small sauce pan add condensed milk, water and sugar. Heat on low and bring it to simmer. Remove from heat, add bloomed gelatin and stir until melted.
  • In a large heat proof bowl add chocolate chips. Add the mixture from the saucepan and top and let the chocolate sit for 5 minutes.
    117 g white chocolate chips
    Inalargeheatproofbowladdchocolatechips.Addthemixturefromthesaucepanandtopandletthechocolatesitforminutes.
  • Add desired amount of red gel coloring and use the immersion blender or whisk until smooth. You can mix more coloring, if needed.
    4 drops red gel food coloring
    Add desired amount of red gel coloring and use the immersion blender or whisk until smooth. You can mix more coloring, if needed.
  • Sieve the mixture into the pouring jar to remove any lumps or bubbles. Let the mirror glaze cool to 33 C before pouring.
    Sievethemixtureintothepouringjartoremoveanylumpsorbubbles.LetthemirrorglazecooltoCbeforepouring.
  • Gently remove white chocolate mousse from the molds and with the side of the knife smooth the edges. Put the hearts with the base down on the glasses (or use wire rack with parchment paper underneath for easier clean up). Pour the glaze on the hearts and let them set for 20 minutes.*
    Gentlyremovewhitechocolatemoussefromthemoldsandwiththesideoftheknifesmooththeedges.Puttheheartswiththebasedownontheglasses(orusewirerackwithparchmentpaperunderneathforeasiercleanup).Pourtheglazeontheheartsandletthemsetforminutes.*
Assembling:
  • Choose the best hearts for serving and place them on the chocolate discs that you made before. Using a small teaspoon stick the desiccated coconut to the bottom of the hearts. Refrigerate 20 minutes more.
    1 tsp desiccated coconut
    Choosethebestheartsforservingandplacethemonthechocolatediscsthatyoumadebefore.Usingasmallteaspoonstickthedesiccatedcoconuttothebottomofthehearts.Refrigerateminutesmore.
  • Melt (use microwave or double boiler) 2-3 tbsp of leftover chocolate.
    Melt(usemicrowaveordoubleboiler) tbspofleftoverchocolate.
  • Dip one end of the leaves in melted chocolate and stick it to the chocolate disc. You may consider using small tongs, if the leaves are melting in your hands. Wait until one leaf sticks, then repeat, placing the leaves around the heart, slightly covering it. **
    Dip one end of the leaves in melted chocolate and stick it to the chocolate disc. You may consider using small tongs, if the leaves are melting in your hands. Wait until one leaf sticks, then repeat, placing the leaves around the heart, slightly covering it. **
  • Let it set in the fridge for half an hour.
    Let it set in the fridge for half an hour.
Strawberry sauce (make before serving)
  • Add strawberries with lemon juices in blender and blend until smooth. Heat the sauce in a pan and transfer to a heat-proof pouring jar. Pour the sauce around desserts and enjoy!
    250 g frozen strawberries, 1/2 lemon
    Addstrawberrieswithlemonjuicesinblenderandblenduntilsmooth.Heatthesauceinapanandtransfertoaheat proofpouringjar.Pourthesaucearounddessertsandenjoy!
Rate this recipe and leave a comment

Notes
*Let the jar with the glaze sit in a very warm water, stirring occasionally. Check the temperature of the glaze before pouring the second layer. Let the second layer set for 20 minutes more.
**Work in a cool room and place the plate from time to time in the fridge, so it is cold.
This recipe makes 6 hearts, but I chose the 4 best ones for serving.
Nutrition Facts
Valentine's Mirror Glaze Cake
Amount per Serving
Calories
1057
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
64
g
98
%
Saturated Fat
 
37
g
231
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
19
g
Cholesterol
 
46
mg
15
%
Sodium
 
137
mg
6
%
Potassium
 
879
mg
25
%
Carbohydrates
 
108
g
36
%
Fiber
 
12
g
50
%
Sugar
 
79
g
88
%
Protein
 
13
g
26
%
Vitamin A
 
424
IU
8
%
Vitamin C
 
11
mg
13
%
Calcium
 
199
mg
20
%
Iron
 
12
mg
67
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword chocolate, mirror glaze, mousse cake, strawberry dessert, Valentines day

Comments COMMENTS

  1. 5 stars
    I’ve always wanted to try making a mirror glaze, and Valentine’s Day seems like the perfect occasion to try!

  2. You have outdone yourself with this stunning and delicious dessert. It is perfect for date nights in and Valentine’s Day.

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