No-Bake Desserts

Chocolate Mousse

This mousse is for anyone who loves intense dark chocolate without the heaviness. We make it without raw eggs: warm ganache is gently folded into whipped cream, giving a cloud-light texture and a deep cocoa flavour. The whole trick is temperature, and the steps below explain exactly what to look for.

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Chocolate Mousse — the finished dish
Prep
25 min
Cook
5 min
Rest
3 h
Total
3 h 30 min
Servings
6
Level
Easy
Per serving
440 kcal

Ingredients

For the mousse

To decorate

Makes: 6 servings of 100 g

Method

  1. Step 1: Make the ganache

    Finely chop the chocolate and put it in a bowl. Heat 100 ml cream until it steams and small bubbles appear at the edge, pour it over the chocolate and leave for 2 minutes. Stir from the centre outwards to a smooth, glossy ganache.

  2. Step 2: Cool the ganache

    Stir in the salt and let the ganache cool until barely warm, about 30–35 °C (86–95 °F), 10–15 minutes. Too hot and it melts the cream; too cold and it seizes into flecks.

  3. Step 3: Whip the cream

    With a mixer, whip the cold cream with the powdered sugar to soft peaks: it holds its shape but the tips flop over. Do not overwhip or the mousse will turn grainy.

  4. Step 4: Fold it together

    Briskly stir a quarter of the cream into the ganache to loosen it. Fold in the rest in two additions, lifting from the bottom, until no white streaks remain.

  5. Step 5: Portion the mousse

    Spoon or pipe the mousse into 6 small bowls or glasses.

  6. Step 6: Chill the mousse

    Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, until set and springy enough to hold its shape on a spoon.

  7. Step 7: Add chocolate shavings

    Just before serving, shave the remaining chocolate over the mousse with a vegetable peeler.

Tips & variations

  • Tip

    The mousse tastes exactly like the chocolate you use, so pick one you enjoy eating on its own. Above 70% cocoa it becomes denser and more bitter.

  • Tip

    If the ganache seizes into specks after adding the cream, set the bowl over hot water for a few seconds and stir quickly.

  • Variation

    Infuse the hot cream with grated orange zest or 1 tsp instant coffee for an orange or mocha mousse.

  • Storage

    The mousse keeps, covered, in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Nutrition

Approximate nutrition per serving and for the whole dish
1 serving Whole dish 6 servings
Energy440 kcal2,640 kcal
Protein4 g24 g
Fat37 g222 g
Carbohydrates21 g126 g

Approximate values calculated from standard ingredient data.

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