If you’ve ever found yourself marveling at the luscious layers of the famous Tuxedo Cake at Costco and wishing you could recreate that magic at home, I have some fantastic news for you. This Tuxedo Cake Costco Copy Cat Recipe captures every bit of that rich, moist decadence, combining voluptuous layers of vegan chocolate and white chocolate mousses with fudgy brownie and chocolate cake bases. It’s a celebration of textures and flavors that’s not just a dessert but an experience. Get ready to impress family and friends with this show-stopping plant-based delight that feels indulgent but is surprisingly approachable!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this recipe has a purpose, creating a harmony of taste, texture, and color that makes the Tuxedo Cake Costco Copy Cat Recipe truly unforgettable. While it sounds fancy, these essentials are easy to find and straightforward to work with, ensuring your homemade masterpiece turns out perfect.
- Vegan white chocolate (8 ounces / 226g): The creamy base for the vanilla bean mousse, adding sweetness and a smooth finish.
- Plant milk (4 fl oz / 60ml): Helps soften and meld flavors in the mousse layers without overpowering.
- Vanilla bean paste or extract (1 or 2 teaspoons): Gives that warm vanilla aroma, elevating the white chocolate mousse.
- Agar powder (½ teaspoon + ½ teaspoon): A plant-based gelatin substitute that ensures your mousses set beautifully.
- Aquafaba (¼ cup + ¼ cup / 60ml): Fluffy and light, this chickpea brine whips into a mousse-like consistency to add airiness without animal products.
- Sugar (2 tablespoons + 2 tablespoons / 28g): Sweetens and stabilizes your mousse and whipped components.
- Cream of tartar (¼ teaspoon + ¼ teaspoon): Helps stabilize the aquafaba for perfect peaks every time.
- Vegan whipping cream (1½ cups + 1½ cups): The luxurious whipped cream that adds richness and volume to both mousse layers.
- Semi-sweet vegan chocolate (8 ounces / 226g): Gives a deep, intense chocolate flavor to the chocolate mousse.
- Strong brewed coffee (4 tablespoons / 60ml): Enhances the chocolate notes for a richer, more complex profile.
- Chocolate cake (½ recipe): A moist foundation layer adding a tender crumb to the cake.
- Fudge brownies (½ recipe): Adds fudgy, chewy texture, contrasting beautifully with the light mousses.
How to Make Tuxedo Cake Costco Copy Cat Recipe
Step 1: Prep Pans & Oven
Start by greasing and lining your 1/8 and ¼ sheet pans with parchment paper. This ensures your cakes come out clean and intact. Then, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C), setting the stage for perfectly baked chocolate cake and brownies.
Step 2: Bake the Cakes
Prepare your vegan chocolate cake and fudge brownies following your favorite recipes. These two layers provide the essential structure to your Tuxedo Cake Costco Copy Cat Recipe. Be sure to bake them until just done, moist, and bursting with chocolate flavor.
Step 3: Cool & Prepare
Once your cakes have baked to perfection, give them plenty of time to cool completely. Fast cooling can wreck the texture. After fully cooled, line a loaf pan with plastic wrap, then cut your cake and brownies to fit snugly into the pan. This pan will serve as your cake mold.
Step 4: Make Vanilla Bean Mousse
Heat your plant milk, vanilla bean paste, and agar powder to just simmering, then fold this warm mixture into the melted vegan white chocolate. The agar ensures the mousse firms up nicely. Once combined, gently fold in your whipped aquafaba and vegan whipping cream. Pour this luscious mixture into your loaf pan, interspersed with chunks of brownie for delightful texture surprises. Refrigerate to let it set.
Step 5: Make Chocolate Mousse
Melt your semi-sweet vegan chocolate, then combine it with agar and strong brewed coffee. The coffee amplifies the chocolate depth beautifully. Fold in whipped vegan cream and aquafaba, creating a mousse that is rich yet airy. Pour this over your vanilla mousse layer, allowing the flavors to build in harmony.
Step 6: Assemble & Chill
Top your layered mousses with the remaining slice of chocolate cake to create that classic tuxedo look. Pop it in the refrigerator overnight or freeze for at least four hours. This chilling step is crucial — it lets all the textures set firmly and the flavors meld into a perfect symphony.
Step 7: Serve
When you’re ready to enjoy your work of art, carefully unmold the cake, glaze it with a silky ganache if you like, and decorate as you wish. The presentation will wow your guests, but each bite will keep them coming back for more.
How to Serve Tuxedo Cake Costco Copy Cat Recipe
Garnishes
A sprinkle of shaved vegan white and dark chocolates on top adds elegance and texture. Fresh berries like raspberries or strawberries lend a bright tartness, balancing the cake’s richness seamlessly. A dusting of powdered sugar or edible gold flakes elevates this cake into a celebration-worthy centerpiece.
Side Dishes
The luxurious layers of this Tuxedo Cake Costco Copy Cat Recipe pair wonderfully with simple sides like a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream or a dollop of fresh coconut cream. A cup of strong coffee or rich espresso is perfect to cut through the sweetness and accentuate the chocolate notes.
Creative Ways to Present
Try slicing the cake into elegant thin layers and stacking them with extra mousse or berry compote between. Alternatively, serve individual portions in clear glasses showing the distinct chocolate and vanilla layers for a stunning effect. Personal touches like edible flowers or drizzles of berry coulis make it uniquely yours.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
This cake keeps beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 5 days when covered tightly. Because of the mousse layers, keeping it chilled preserves texture and flavor. Slice only what you need each time to keep the rest fresh and moist.
Freezing
You can freeze the whole Tuxedo Cake Costco Copy Cat Recipe or individual slices wrapped securely in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw slowly in the refrigerator overnight before serving to maintain the smooth mousse texture.
Reheating
This dessert is best enjoyed cold, so reheating is not recommended. If you want to soften the texture slightly, leave slices at room temperature for 20–30 minutes before serving to let the mousse soften just a touch without melting.
FAQs
Can I use regular gelatin instead of agar powder?
Yes, you can substitute gelatin if you prefer, but agar powder is a great vegan alternative that yields a firm yet delicate texture. Just be sure to adjust quantities as gelatin sets differently than agar.
What alternatives can I use for aquafaba?
Aquafaba is essential in this recipe for that light, airy mousse texture, but if unavailable, you might experiment with aquafaba from other legumes. However, none replicate the egg white substitute properties quite as well.
Is the cake suitable for gluten-free diets?
The cake and brownies in this recipe would need to be made with gluten-free flours to be gluten-free. You can adapt your favorite gluten-free chocolate cake and brownie recipes for this purpose.
How long does the Tuxedo Cake Costco Copy Cat Recipe take to set?
Chilling it overnight is ideal, but a minimum of 4 hours in the freezer will let the mousse layers firm up properly for slicing and serving.
Can I prepare parts of this dessert ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can bake the cake and brownies a day or two in advance and prepare the mousses several hours before assembly. This makes it easier to manage when hosting.
Final Thoughts
Making the Tuxedo Cake Costco Copy Cat Recipe at home is a rewarding journey that brings together rich chocolate, creamy mousses, and tender cakes in one unforgettable dessert. Whether it’s a special occasion or a weekend treat, this cake promises to delight and amaze everyone at your table. So grab those ingredients, have some fun in the kitchen, and enjoy every decadent bite!
Print
Tuxedo Cake Costco Copy Cat Recipe
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Total Time: 9 hours (including chilling time)
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Tuxedo Cake Costco Copy Cat Recipe features rich layers of vegan vanilla bean mousse and chocolate mousse combined with decadent chocolate cake and fudge brownies. The cake boasts a creamy, airy texture thanks to aquafaba and vegan whipping cream, making it a delightful vegan dessert perfect for special occasions or indulgent treats.
Ingredients
Vanilla Bean Mousse
- 8 ounces (226g) vegan white chocolate
- 4 fl oz (60ml) plant milk
- 1 or 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or extract
- ½ teaspoon agar powder
- ¼ cup (60ml) aquafaba
- 2 tablespoons (28g) sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1½ cups vegan whipping cream, whipped
Chocolate Mousse
- 8 ounces (226g) semi-sweet vegan chocolate
- 4 tablespoons (60ml) strong brewed coffee
- ½ teaspoon agar powder
- 1½ cups vegan whipping cream, whipped
- ¼ cup (60ml) aquafaba
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 2 tablespoons (28g) sugar
Cake Layers
- ½ recipe vegan chocolate cake (see notes for recipe)
- ½ recipe vegan fudge brownies (see notes for recipe)
Instructions
- Prep Pans & Oven: Grease and line 1/8 and ¼ sheet pans with parchment paper. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) ensuring it will be ready when baking the cakes.
- Bake the Cakes: Prepare the vegan chocolate cake and fudge brownies according to their respective recipes. Pour the batter evenly into prepared pans and bake until set and cooked through.
- Cool & Prepare: Allow the baked cake and brownies to cool completely at room temperature. Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap and cut the cake and brownies into pieces that fit inside the loaf pan for layering.
- Make Vanilla Bean Mousse: Heat the plant milk, vanilla bean paste or extract, and agar powder together until warm and the agar powder is dissolved. Combine this mixture with melted vegan white chocolate. Next, gently fold in whipped aquafaba (whipped with sugar and cream of tartar) and the whipped vegan cream to create a smooth mousse. Pour this vanilla mousse into the loaf pan, embedding brownie chunks within. Refrigerate until set.
- Make Chocolate Mousse: Melt the semi-sweet vegan chocolate and mix in the agar powder dissolved in strong brewed coffee. Whip aquafaba with sugar and cream of tartar until fluffy and fold into the melted chocolate mixture along with the whipped vegan cream. Pour this chocolate mousse layer evenly over the set vanilla mousse in the loaf pan.
- Assemble & Chill: Place the remaining layer of chocolate cake on top of the chocolate mousse. Refrigerate the assembled cake overnight to ensure it sets properly or freeze for a minimum of 4 hours for quicker setting.
- Serve: Remove the cake from the loaf pan using the plastic wrap, unmold carefully, and glaze with vegan chocolate ganache. Optionally, decorate the cake as desired before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Ensure aquafaba is whipped well with sugar and cream of tartar for proper mousse texture.
- The vegan chocolate cake and fudge brownie recipes referenced are required for the layers; consider using your favorite tried-and-true vegan cake and brownie recipes.
- Agar powder is used as a vegan gelatin substitute to help mousse set firmly.
- If ganache glazing, use a vegan chocolate ganache recipe for a luscious finish.
- Chilling overnight yields the best texture and flavor meld.
