Belula

French Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream Filling & Meringue

This French chocolate cake recipe is simple and easy to make. It is enriched with a layer of dulce de leche and whipped cream filling and topped with Swiss Meringue.

Belula November 27, 2021
The French chocolate cake filled with whipped cream and meringue on a blue plate.

This recipe is made of a simple French chocolate cake. This chocolate cake is topped with a layer of dulce de leche and another layer of whipped cream filling, and finished off with a glossy delicious Swiss Meringue. This is a dessert looks fancy, but it is super easy to put together! All you really need is to master the French chocolate cake, especially the baking time so that is remains super soft! Then you are good to go! And it can be made into a gluten free cake too! Can't wait for you to try it!

Macro shot of the pipped Meringue on top of the French chocolate cake.
One slice of French chocolate cake filled with whipped cream and meringue on a grey plate with a spoon on the side.

Material & Ingredient Notes

  • Dark Chocolate: use good quality chocolate. I personally enjoy either Valrhona or Callebaut.
  • Swiss Meringue: you can find all the tips and tricks to Swiss meringue success here.
  • Dulce de leche: I like to use this one, because it holds up really well.
  • A 20 cm (8 inch) springform cake pan. It makes it easier to remove the cake from the pan.

How to make this recipe

  1. Make the French chocolate cake
  2. Top the chocolate cake with dulce de leche and whipped cream filling
  3. Cover the cake with glossy Swiss Meringue
  4. Enjoy!
One hand spreading a layer of dulce de leche over the French chocolate cake with a small off set spatula.
One hand spreading the whipped cream over the French chocolate cake with a small off set spatula.
2 Hands holding a piping bag decorating the French chocolate cake.
On hand the holding a blue plate with the French chocolate cake filled with whipped cream with a piping bag on the side and a bowl on top.

Notes on how to make this French Chocolate Cake

  • Prepare the cake pan before you start to make the cake. It is important to be able to remove the cake from the pan without major accidents!
  • To ensure French chocolate cake success: spray the pan with baking spray or brush with melted butter. Then cover the bottom of the pan with a round of parchment paper and re-spray so that the paper sticks to the pan.
  • Use a paddle attachment to mix this cake!
  • Scrape the sides of bowl before adding in a new ingredient!
  • The butter/sugar mixture should be light coloured and fluffy. This step is important, so be patient. It should take about 10 minutes.
  • When adding the eggs and dry ingredients in, you will see that the mixture kind of breaks apart. No worries this is normal because of all the fat present in this mixture (butter and egg yolks!). Just keep beating until the mixture is smooth before adding in the second egg.
  • Chocolate should be folded in at the very end. Make sure its properly melted and there are no chocolate lumps in there.
The springform cake pan lined with parchment paper.
The chocolate inside a bowl placed on top of a small pan.
The sugar and the butter cut into cubes inside a mixing bowl ready to start the French Chocolate cake.
The eggs/sugar mixture plus some flower and an egg inside a mixing bowl.
The eggs/sugar/butter mixture inside a beige bowl.
The French chocolate cake batter with the melted chocolate on top inside a beige bowl.
The French chocolate cake batter being mixed inside a beige bowl.
The French chocolate cake batter inside a beige bowl with a spatula inside the bowl.
The French chocolate cake batter poured inside a springform cake pan.
The French chocolate cake batter spread inside a springform cake pan.
The baked French chocolate cake inside the baking pan on top of a wire rack.
The baked French chocolate cake on top of a wire rack.

Recipe notes

  • Baking time is approximate. Always. Ovens are different, so baking time might vary. You must look out for texture. The cake is done when you insert a cake tester in the middle and it comes out slightly humid.
  • When filling the cake, let the cake set in the refrigerator after each layer has been added.
  • Leave space without dulce de leche filling to avoid it from spilling over.
  • Whipped cream must be beat to stiff peaks so that it can hold the meringue without breaking apart.
  • To top with the Swiss meringue, you can use a piping bag as I did, or you can use a spatula to cover the cake with the meringue if piping is not your thing.
The French chocolate cake filled with whipped cream and meringue on a blue plate.
The whole French chocolate cake filled with whipped cream and meringue on a blue plate with 2 spoons seen on the bottom right corner.

Storing tips

This French chocolate cake must be kept in the refrigerator. It lasts for up to 3 days after it has been filled and topped with the meringue.

It keeps at room temperature (without the filling and the meringue), for up to 1 week.

Freezer instructions

This French chocolate cake can be frozen, without the cream, dulce de leche and meringue have been added.

Once it has completely cooled off, cover in saran wrap, and place in a freezer container. It keeps for up to 1 month.

To defrost: place at room temperature overnight. Then proceed to top the chocolate cake with whipped cream filling and meringue frosting. Or enjoy as is, with a little powdered sugar dusting!

Make ahead

French chocolate cake: can me made up to 5 days in advance and kept at room temperature. Then fill with the dulce de leche, cream and meringue and keep refrigerated.

Variations to this recipe

This chocolate cake can be enjoyed as is, without the filling and the meringue topping. Simply dust with powdered sugar, maybe add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or vanilla custard sauce, and enjoy!

You can make this French chocolate cake gluten free, by simply replacing the amount of flour in the recipe for the same amount of corn-starch.

The ingredients used in all recipes on this site are measured using the metric system. I use a scale to be precise with my measurements and ensure good results. If you would also like to use a scale, here are some: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, France.
Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Servings: 8 servings
Nutrition: 444 cal
Cuisine: French

Ingredients

French Chocolate Cake

  • Dark Chocolate 100 g
  • Unsalted Butter 90 g
  • Sugar 75 g
  • Flour 30 g
  • Eggs 2

Whipped Cream Filling

  • Dulce de Leche 250 g
  • Whipping Cream 80 g

Swiss Meringue Topping

  • Egg Whites 100 g
  • Powdered Sugar 200 g

Procedure

  • 1. Prepare the French chocolate cake: Melt the chocolate over a hot water bath. In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, mix the sugar and the softened butter until light and fluffy. Add in one egg and a little flour and mix until combined. Continue to add the eggs and the flour, one at a time, as you have done before. Scrape the sides and the bottom of the bowl before each egg/flour addition. Mix until you obtain a smooth batter. Pour in the melted chocolate and fold it in until properly incorporated into the batter.
  • 2. Bake the French Chocolate Cake: Pre-heat the oven to 170 C°. Grease a 20 cm / 8-inch springform cake tin using bakers spray or softened butter. Then line the tin with parchment paper and grease once again. Pour the cake batter into the pan, spread it out evenly with a on offset spatula or the back of a spoon, and bake for 12-15 minutes. To test if it is done, insert a skewer or a cake tester at the centre of the cake and if it’s almost dry, then remove the cake from the oven. Transfer the cake onto a wire rack, remove from the pan and let it cool down completely at room temperature.
  • 3. Fill the chocolate cake: Spread the dulce de leche over the chocolate cake and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Once the dulce de leche has set, whip the cream to stiff peaks and spread it over the dulce de leche layer using and off set spatula. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • 4. Make the Swiss Meringue: Warm the egg whites and the sugar over a water bath until the mixture has reached 55/60 C°. Remove from the heat and whisk the meringue until is has completely cooled off and it forms stiff peaks.
  • 5. Frost the chocolate cake with meringue: Using a piping bag, a small spatula or a spoon cover the chocolate cake with the Swiss meringue.
If you made this recipe I would really appreciate it if you leave a rating or comment below! Also, if you share on social media please use #cookwithbelula, I would love to see what you create!
1 comment
(0)
Share
You May Also Like
1 Comment
Jeanette Bostrom-Eastham November 27, 2021

Hi Belén,
I've requested this before. I love your recipes. Could you set up your web page so it's possible to print the recipe? Maybe it's possible if viewing on a computer. But I'm using a smart phone. I hope you had a fine Thanksgiving. Jeanette

Belén Gowland
Belula December 03, 2021

Hi Jeanette,
Thanks for your message. I will see if this is possible. My site is custom made, so adding in functionalities is often a difficult endeavor!
Hope you had a beautiful holiday! So glad you like the recipes! Just made a baker a very happy girl
Have a great weekend!
Belén

Leave a comment and/or rating
Would you like to rate this recipe? (optional):