Ingredients

serves 8 to 10

　　

For the Mousse

1 pound strawberries, hulled and halved, plus 2 cups sliced strawberries

　　2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

　　8 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped

　　1 1/4 teaspoons unflavored gelatin

　　2 cups heavy cream

　　2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

　　

For the Cake

Vegetable oil cooking spray

　　1 cup sifted cake flour, plus more for baking sheet

　　5 large eggs plus 2 large egg yolks

　　3/4 cup sugar

　　Pinch of salt

　　1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest

　　6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

　　

For the Ganache

2/3 cup heavy cream

　　12 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped

　　Pinch of salt

　　2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

　　Whole and halved strawberries, for garnish

　　

Step 1

Make the mousse: Puree halved strawberries in a food processor. Pass through a very fine sieve into a bowl (you should have about 1 cup puree). Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice; set aside.

　　

Step 2

Melt the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring until smooth; set aside.

　　

Step 3

Put 1/4 cup cool water into a small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over top; let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir 1/4 cup cream and the confectioners’ sugar in a small saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add gelatin mixture, and stir until gelatin has dissolved. Pour into bowl with the melted chocolate; stir until smooth. Whisk in 3/4 cup strawberry puree; reserve remaining 1/4 cup puree.

　　

Step 4

Put remaining 1 3/4 cups cream into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until medium peaks form. Whisk one-third of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Fold in the remaining whipped cream using a large rubber spatula. Refrigerate 1 hour. Stir remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice into the sliced berries. Fold berries into mousse; refrigerate 1 hour.

　　

Step 5

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Make the cake: Coat a 12 × 18 × 1-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Line bottom with parchment paper, and spray parchment. Dust with flour, and tap out excess.

　　

Step 6

Put eggs, egg yolks, and sugar into the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly until the mixture is warm and the sugar has melted, about 2 minutes. Attach bowl to mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until egg mixture is pale, thickened, and has cooled, about 6 minutes.

　　

Step 7

Remove bowl from mixer; sift together flour and salt over the top of egg mixture, and sprinkle with lemon zest. Using a large rubber spatula, carefully fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture, cutting through center and lifting gently over sides. When the flour is almost incorporated, pour butter down side of bowl, and gently fold in to incorporate.

　　

Step 8

Pour batter into prepared baking sheet; smooth top. Bake until center springs back when lightly touched, 7 to 12 minutes. Invert, and unmold cake onto a parchment-lined wire rack; peel parchment from cake, and let cool completely.

　　

Step 9

Assemble the cake: Cut cake crosswise into 3 rectangles. Set 1 layer, top side down, on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Brush with half of the remaining strawberry puree. Spread a 3/4-inch-thick layer of mousse (about 2 cups) over the top. Top with second cake layer, top side up. Brush with remaining strawberry puree; spread with a 3/4-inch-thick layer of mousse. Place third cake layer on top, top side up. Refrigerate at least 2 hours (preferably overnight). Trim sides of cake to be straight.

　　

Step 10

Make the ganache: Bring cream just to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Pour hot cream over the chocolate in a medium bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Stir in salt and lemon juice. Let stand until ganache is pourable and has cooled slightly. Pour ganache over top of cake, allowing it to drip down sides. Refrigerate assembled cake 1 hour before serving. Using 2 large spatulas, transfer cake to a serving platter. Garnish with strawberries.

　　Reprinted with permission from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, copyright © 2007. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of The Crown Publishing Group.Buy the full book from Amazon.