Chocolate Mousse

Dive into a world of pure chocolate bliss with our irresistible Chocolate Mousse recipe. This velvety dessert is a dream come true for all chocolate lovers, combining the perfect balance of rich, creamy flavors with a light and airy texture.

Whether you're planning a romantic dinner, a special celebration, or simply craving a sweet treat, our Chocolate Mousse is sure to delight your taste buds and leave you wanting more.

Why you'll love this

Intense Chocolate Flavor

This Chocolate Mousse is made with premium quality, dark chocolate that delivers an intense and indulgent cocoa taste. Each spoonful is a heavenly experience that will satisfy even the most discerning chocolate connoisseur.

Silky Smooth Texture

The secret to this velvety smooth Chocolate Mousse lies in its light and airy consistency. With each bite, you'll be greeted by a luscious, melt-in-your-mouth sensation that's simply unforgettable.

Effortless to Prepare

Despite its luxurious taste and appearance, our Chocolate Mousse recipe is surprisingly easy to whip up. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, you can impress your guests or treat yourself to a guilt-free indulgence without the hassle.

Versatile Delight

This Chocolate Mousse is a versatile dessert that can be enjoyed on its own or as a delightful accompaniment to various dishes. Whether you serve it with fresh berries, a dollop of whipped cream, or as a filling in your favorite cake, this decadent treat is bound to elevate any dessert experience.

How to prepare Chocolate Mousse

• Melt your chocolate: Melt the chocolate in a double boiler until smooth.
• Cook the zest and egg yolks: Cook the zest, sugar and egg yolks in a double boiler, whisking every few minutes until the thick and pale.
• Beat the cream: Beat your cream until soft peaks have just been reached.
• Fold and fold: Fold ½ the egg yolks into the melted chocolate until well combined and repeat.
• Beat the egg whites: Beat your egg whites until stiff peaks form.
• Fold and fold again: Add half the chocolate cream to the egg whites and fold until well combined. Repeat.
• Refrigerate: Spoon the mousse into a large bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably several hours.
• Serve: Spoon into serving bowls and dig in!

Ingredients and substitutions for Chocolate Mousse

• Sugar: Superfine or caster sugar works best as it dissoves and adds sweetness without adding additional flavor. You could substitute with raw or light brown sugar instead.
• Heavy cream: Homemade whipped cream is best here for freshness and control over your cream topping. You could subsititute with whipped coconut cream.
• Chocolate: Finely chopped chocolate with 50% cocoa solids helps to avoid making our mousse too sweet.
• Eggs: As well as adding structure and richness to the mousse, the eggs help give our mousse the perfect texture.
• Orange peel: Orange flavored chocolate can be a divisive flavor, however, here, the peel adds a depth to our mousse that helps cut through the richness. It's a subtle undertone that is recommended not to omit, at least that first time you make this.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make Chocolate Mousse:

Place the chocolate pieces in a bowl in a double boiler and melt over low heat, stirring to melt smoothly.

Place the egg yolks, sugar and orange zest in a bowl in a double boiler and whisk intermittently over low heat until thickened and pale, approximately 7 minutes.

Set aside to cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, whip the heavy cream until soft peaks have just formed.

Add ½ the yoke mixture into the chocolate and fold to combine until smooth, the chocolate will become stiffer almost immediately, if the eggs and chocolate aren't even enough in temperature.

Repeat with the remaining yoke mixture to the chocolate and continue to fold. Do not fear if the chocolate is stiff due to the combination of the yoke mixture, the mousse will still turn out perfect.

Spoon the chocolate into the whipped cream and fold through until well combined and most of the chocolate lumps have been smoothed out as you incorporate into the cream.

The cream should resemble thickened almost curdled whipped chocolate cream.

Lastly, whip the egg whites until you reach soft peaks.

Add ⅓ of the chocolate cream and carefully fold through the egg whites so as not to lose volume.

Spoon the mousse into a serving dish and refrigerate for minimum 1 hour, but this is best served after chiling for 8 hours.

Serve the fluffy mousse into individual serving bowls.

Dig in!

Equipment needed to make this

Mixing bowls: You’ll need two medium mixing bowls for the cream and egg whites.

Heatproof bowls: To melt your chocolate and cook those egg yolks in a double boiler or bain marie.

Hand or stand mixer: To whip the cream and egg whites, this is best done with a mixer to get as much air as possible into the moist ingredients.

FAQ's for the best Chocolate Mousse

What type of chocolate is best for Chocolate Mousse?

The key to a rich and indulgent Chocolate Mousse lies in using high-quality dark chocolate. Opt for a dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content to achieve that intense and heavenly chocolate flavor. Choose a brand that you love and trust to ensure the best results.

Can I customize my Chocolate Mousse?

Absolutely! Our Chocolate Mousse recipe serves as a fantastic base that you can customize to suit your preferences. You can add a hint of espresso for a mocha twist, incorporate a touch of mint extract for a refreshing taste, or even mix in some crushed cookies for a delightful crunch. Get creative and make it your own!

Can I replace the orange zest with orange extract?

While it is possible to replace orange zest with orange extract in some recipes, it is not recommended for Chocolate Mousse. The zest of an orange provides not only a burst of citrus flavor but also adds moisture and texture, which helps the mousse set properly. Using orange extract as a substitute may result in a mousse that fails to set or lacks the desired consistency. To achieve the best results and ensure a perfectly set Chocolate Mousse, it's best to stick to using orange zest as specified in the recipe.

Can I make Chocolate Mousse ahead of time?

Yes, you can! This Chocolate Mousse recipe is a perfect dessert to make ahead for parties or special occasions. Simply prepare the mousse, portion it into individual serving dishes or ramekins, and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. This will allow the flavors to meld together and the mousse to set beautifully. Just remember to cover the dishes to prevent any unwanted flavors or odors from seeping in.

Can I use Chocolate Mousse as a cake filling?

Absolutely! Chocolate Mousse makes a fantastic filling for cakes and pastries. Its velvety texture and rich flavor add a luxurious element to any dessert. Spread a layer of Chocolate Mousse between cake layers or use it to fill cream puffs, eclairs, or even cupcakes. The possibilities are endless!

What is the ideal serving size?

This mousse is rich! So 3 heaped tablespoon amounts to 1 perfect serving size, making this great for a crowd. Though, you can definitely increase the amount you serve...you do you here!

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