Chocolate Mousse may well be the ultimate chocolate fix! Rich and creamy, yet light and fluffy, one pot is satisfying but always leaves me wanting more…….
This is a classic chocolate mousse made the proper French way, as served in fine dining restaurants. Less cream, more chocolate, a more intense chocolate flavour and a beautiful creamy mouth feel.
A classic, proper Chocolate Mousse recipe
I’ve never been 100% happy with the various chocolate mousse recipes I’ve tried in my lifetime. Not fluffy enough, not chocolatey enough, too sweet, grainy, etc etc. Many “easy” chocolate mousse recipes tend to use too much cream so the end result is more like custard, rather than aerated like real chocolate mousse should be.
Thus, when Chocolate Mousse was submitted by a reader as a Recipe Request, I had reason to focus and make it over and over again until it was exactly what I wanted.
Let me repeat: I had to make chocolate mousse over and over again for work purposes.
Life is tough, my friends. The sacrifices I make…. (she says sadly, shaking her head, thinking about the various body parts on which all that chocolate mousse appears to have ended up residing…)
What goes in chocolate mousse
Just FIVE ingredients, all good stuff we like: chocolate, cream, sugar, eggs and butter.
Chocolate
Make sure you use chocolate purchased from the baking aisle of grocery stores, not the confectionary aisle (ie eating chocolate). Chocolate intended for cooking is made especially so it melts smoothly and properly (unlike eating chocolate).
All types of chocolate can be used for chocolate mousse but I like using 70% cocoa dark chocolate (which is a bittersweet dark chocolate) because it has a good intense chocolate flavour, it’s not as sweet as milk chocolate and I don’t need to hunt down a gourmet store to find it because it’s sold at supermarkets.
Milk chocolate is more milky but you still get a great chocolate flavour. The higher the cocoa % (dark chocolate), the more chocolatey and less sweet it will be.
High quality bittersweet dark chocolate is what good restaurants typically use – not the stock standard. The quality of chocolate used by restaurants is not sold at grocery stores, you need to go to speciality stores and expect to pay upwards of $20/kg ($10/lb).
Eggs
Raw eggs are key for real chocolate mousse, the classic way to make it the way its served at fine dining restaurants. You will not achieve a result as good using a recipe that doesn’t use raw eggs, no matter what they promise. It’s just not possible to replicate the fluffy-yet-creamy texture with anything other than eggs whipped into a foam. Those “no egg” recipes will either be too dense, taste like whipped cream, or have a weird jelly-like texture.
Note on raw eggs concern
Raw eggs in food is more common than you think – and you’ve probably eaten it without even realising.
It is true that eating uncooked eggs carries a risk of salmonella food poisoning which is transmitted to the eggs via infected hens, but in this day and age, I do not consider it any greater risk than eating sushi.
This concern seems more prevalent in some regions around the world, most notably in the US and Canada, presumably because of the outbreak in 2010 which resulted in the recall of millions of eggs.
Raw eggs are used in a number of popular desserts including Tiramisu, it’s used in mayonnaise, the Japanese eat raw eggs on rice, the Koreans top Bibimbap with raw egg. And I don’t know about you but runny yolks is the only way I have fried eggs!
If you are concerned about eating raw eggs, you can used pasteurised eggs for this recipe. If you cannot find pasteurised eggs in stores, you can pasteurise eggs yourself at home if you have an accurate thermometer (have a read of this resource).
Note: raw eggs is not advisable for pregnant women and babies.
How to make chocolate mousse
The path to light and fluffy Chocolate Mousse involves just a few key steps:
Beat egg whites and sugar until foamy;
Soft peaks – it should be foamy but have SOFT peaks that flop at the top – as pictured above – not standing upright (“firm peaks”);
Whip cream;
Fold together cream and egg yolks;
Fold in melted chocolate;
Fold egg whites into chocolate mixture. Don’t beat furiously – that’s the sure fire way to a pot of liquid chocolate!
Spoon into individual pots or a larger dish, chill until firm.
The recipe video is super helpful to see the consistency of the egg whites and cream, as well as how to fold the ingredients into each other.
I chose to make little pots (using whisky glasses!) but you can make one dish if you prefer, then scoop out to serve.
First timers – never fear!
If you’re a chocolate mousse first timer and are concerned about deflation because you’re taking your time with the steps, don’t be worried! When I film recipe videos, I’m always faffing around with camera set ups and batting away a certain giant dog who is always sprawled where I want the tripod to be.
So it probably took me 3 times longer than it usually does to get the mousse in the fridge so I was quite concerned about deflation of the egg whites and cream.
But it was fine! The chocolate mousse came out exactly the same as it always has. Fluffy, chocolate perfection, as show in the photo above! – Nagi x
PS More ways to get a serious Chocolate fix: Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting or Ganache and Chocolate Mirror Glaze, Chocolate Cream Pie and BROWNIES!
Chocolate Mousse
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Chocolate Mousse
Ingredients
- 3 eggs (~55g/2 oz each)
- 125g / 4.5 oz dark cooking chocolate , bittersweet / 70% cocoa (Note 1)
- 10g / 0.3 oz unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup cream , full fat (Note 2)
- 3 tbsp caster sugar (superfine white sugar)
Decorations:
- More whipped cream
- Chocolate shavings (Note 3)
Instructions
- For reliable results, work at a steady pace so your whipped egg whites and cream do not get too warm!
- Separate eggs and yolks while eggs are cold. Place whites in a large bowl and yolks in a small bowl. Leave whites while you prepare other ingredients. (Note 4)
- Yolks: Whisk yolks until uniform.
- Melt chocolate and butter: Break chocolate into pieces and place in a microwave-proof bowl with the butter. Melt in the microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring in between, until smooth. (Stir in optional flavourings at this point, but read Note 6 first). Set aside to cool slightly while you proceed with other steps.
- Whip cream: Beat cream until stiff peaks form, being careful not to over-whip (see video).
- Whip whites: Add sugar. Beat whites until firm peaks form (see video, Note 5)
Fold together all ingredients:
- Fold egg yolks into cream using a rubber spatula – 8 folds max. Some streaks is fine.
- Check chocolate temperature: The chocolate should still be runny but warm (min 35C / 95F; ideal 40C / 104F). If too cool or thick, microwave in burst of 5 seconds at a time until runny.
- Pour chocolate into cream yolk mixture. Fold through – 8 folds max. Some streaks here are ok.
- Add 1/4 of beaten egg whites into chocolate mixture. Fold through until incorporated – "smear" the spatular across surface to blend white lumps in – aim for 10 folds.
- Pour chocolate mixture into egg whites. Fold through until incorporated and no more white lumps remain – aim for 12 folds max, but ensure there are no obvious egg white patches.
- Divide mixture between 4 small glasses or pots. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.
- To serve, garnish with cream and chocolate shavings. Raspberries and a tiny sprig of mint for colour would also be lovely!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
Back at the beach with his mates! Under strict instructions to take it easy* and ease back into it. Unfortunately, he doesn’t understand what “taking it easy” means…..
* Post knee op a few months ago. According to Dozer, he was back to 100% the week after surgery, but the doc says no! It will be months! 😂
Amazing recipe! My first time trying out chocolate mousse, and it turned out to be an absolute blast! Everyone loved it.
I highly recommend adding a teaspoon of instant coffee when melting the chocolate to intensify the chocolate flavor of the mousse and take it to the next level 😋
I’m 12 years old and just made this for my mom for Mother’s Day. I do cook and bake a lot but it was super easy. It tasted great and she loved it. If you are wondering whether to make this or not, make it! It’s actually the best mousse ever and you won’t regret it!
Working from home today so I secretly made this for my husbands birthday tomorrow and hid it in the back fridge, Watch the video before making this as you do need to work fast and timing is everything. Tastes delicious.
Sorry, forgot to leave a 5 star rating!!!
Hi Nagi! Made this mousse yesterday as a trial run for a party. It was fabulous and SOOOO easy!! Thank you, you are great and so are your recipes!!
Hi Nagi – I LOVE your recipes! However, can you clarify something in the chocolate mousse? In the video, you whipped the egg whites and sugar first and the cream second. But in your instructions step, you list doing the cream first? Usually you can’t then whip egg whites with cream on the beaters!! Thanks.
Hello Nagi
I would like to make this chocolate mousse less rich.
Do you think it would work with Greek yoghurt instead of cream?
Julie 🤔
Hey Julie, after reading your comment I decided to try with Greek yogurt (and save a trip to the store!). It worked wonderfully and probably made things less finicky than they would have been with cream. I did end up adding a bit more sugar and a tsp molasses. Despite using nonfat yogurt, it was still quite rich, but had a nice edge to the flavor.
First timer. I made this recipe scaling up to 16 servings and it turned out perfect! The scale on the website is super helpful. Thank you!!!
Truly delicious! Made as directed and it came out wonderfully light and fluffy. I used a large piping bag to decant into serving glasses for easy, mess free transfer. I needed something gluten free for an upcoming dinner party and this fit the bill perfectly! I served with diced strawberries and fresh whipped vanilla cream, with a toasted cocoa and almond flour crumb sprinkled on top for crunch and it went down a storm! 5 stars! Nagi, your recipes never disappoint! x
Is it necessary to use whole eggs? Would it be possible
to just use egg whites?
You’d get something but with the fat from the yolks gone, even if it set it would likely lose both flavour and mouth-feel. I’d Google for a different recipe.
This is the first time I’ve made the mousse. I found the video really helpful and followed your instructions to the letter. Brilliant result,
This is so delicious. The dark chocolate makes this a truly decadent treat
Hi
Seems great… have a potluck and Was planning to make 50 and do it triple layered with 3 types of chocolate…
Should I do it in batch …any tips
I hope it worked for you! My tip would have been to go for a double-layer panna cotta instead of a tripe-layer mousse. Far more stable.
5*!
Hi Nagy, well I cooked this today for Boxing Day and despite your careful instructions, which I thought I was following to the letter, I was just mixing the last bits together folding it in, nearly finished, when I turned round to see there on the bench my whole bowl of whipped cream!!! Hell’s Teeth!!! I thought oh bloody hell I’ve wrecked it!! Then I thought, Bron, pull yourself together! What would Nagy tell you to do?? She’d probably go ‘Bugger! But fear not,. Just fold it all in pronto!’ She’s Australian after all!! So I did and you know what Nagy it came out perfectly and everyone said it was just the best chocolate mousse ever so thanks a million Cobber! Happy Christmas 🎄 Xxxxx
This was a beautiful mousse, done exactly as the recipe instructed. I did use half the sugar for the second batch and liked it even better. Thanks for an easy and delicious mousse!
Absolutely delicious. I doubled the receipe for Christmas, everyone loved it. I love Nagis recipes ❤️
This is hands down the best quick and easy choc mousse I’ve ever made! Using it to fill my buche de Noel and can’t wait for everyone to taste it!
I love this recipe. It’s always a hit with my family. Thank you.
You mentioned adding up to a tbsp liqueur to the chocolate …I’d like to try mint or orange extract. How much should I add?
Had this as part of our family Xmas dinner and it went down a real treat. Served it with a fresh fruit salad and have to say even though I increased the quantities there wasn’t a lot left.