Growing up, I always thought chocolate mousse was so fancy. It was a dessert served only to the adults at holiday dinners and I don’t really remember ever eating it until I was an adult. And even as recently as last year, I was so intimidated to make mousse because of how special of a dessert it is and how the adults in my family always ooo’d and ahh’d over it when it was served. But when working out my menu for last year’s Easter dinner, I decided that chocolate mousse was the kind of fancy and decadent dessert I wanted to follow-up my meal. And it turns out making chocolate mousse is incredibly easy!
I made it again for our Valentine’s dinner (seafood gratin) tonight and I can’t wait to dive in! This classic French dessert is velvety smooth and is so perfectly chocolaty that I truly understand what all the hoopla was about on those holidays way back when. Because there isn’t any sugar in the mousse, you should use the best quality chocolate you can afford; the better the chocolate, the better your mousse will be. The recipe calls for either bittersweet or semisweet chocolate but I use a mix of milk and semisweet chocolates – I love love love milk chocolate and had to have it in this mousse. I also add some Khalua to the chocolate mixture and this coffee-flavored liqueur is the perfect complement to this decadent dessert. It’s still early enough for you to make this dessert for dinner tonight and what’s even better about the recipe is that the mousse can be made up to five days before serving it so if you’re still figuring out your dessert for your Valentine’s dinner tomorrow night, you’ve got plenty of time. Pull together the 5 ingredients (yes, only 5!) it takes to make this mousse and get in the kitchen!
Chocolate Mousse
source: David Lebovitz, The Sweet Life in Paris via Annie’s Eats
7 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
3 tbsp water
2 tbsp of your favorite liqueur, or just water if desired
4 large eggs, at room temperature, separated
Pinch of coarse salt
Combine the chocolate and water in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Heat until the chocolate is almost completely melted, stirring occasionally. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir until the mixture is smooth. Set aside and let cool to near room temperature.
In a clean, dry bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the egg whites and the salt. Whip on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. They should be thick and smooth.
Stir the egg yolks into the cooled chocolate mixture. Add one third of the whipped egg whites to the bowl with the chocolate and fold gently to lighten up the mixture. Fold in the remaining egg whites gently with a spatula just until no visible streaks are left.
Portion the mixture into 4-6 individual serving dishes (or 2 larger serving dishes, for a romantic, share-friendly dessert). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours. Serve with freshly whipped cream, if desired.
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
The texture of your mousse looks so perfect!! What brand of chocolate did you use?
Lauren: I use Callebaut milk and semisweet chocolates. When I need bittersweet, I usually use Scharffen Berger.
Fluffy, creamy, light and chocolaty – you managed to capture it all here in your photograph and I’m certain it was a perfect ending to your special meal. Brava!
Beautiful photos! Looks delish.
i agree, chocolate mousse is a real delight !! yours looks amazing !!
Several times now I’ve made something similar to this for my fiancée and I, usually with a dash of espresso or scoch of rum. Creamy, dreamy to dip a spoon into, and then let melt on your tongue. An absolutely wonderful idea for a Valentine’s treat. Great presentation here, too!
Cheers,
*Heather*
That first picture is to die for. I want to reach through my computer and grab a spoonful lol! Looks awesome.
I wasn’t planning on making dessert this year… until I saw this! Lovely!
This is just beautiful Tara!!! You have the perfect fluffy consistency to your mousse that makes it such a romantic and decadent dessert. Hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s! and LOVE LOVE the first photo!
Oh, does your mousse look incredible!!! PERFECT!
Mousse is an incredibly chic dessert. It is true that sometimes you don’t have to go complicated to wow people. Enjoy it!
I want this right now. Lovely. I have been tempted for a year to make mousse and I’ve never quite gotten around to it. This might push me over the edge. Very nice.
It looks very light yet chocolatey! and chocolate is always a winner for Valentine’s Day
wow, five ingredients make this beautiful dessert? It looks scrumptious!
Yum this looks delicious! Beautiful pictures!
Only few products and such amazing result
Really worth trying 
So glad you decided to try David’s version. It is truly the best! I am bummed I didn’t get to have it this Valentine’s, but you better believe I’ll be making it soon after the little one’s arrival!
Oh my that looks decadent. Love it! The serving cups are a wonderful idea.
Your chocolate doesn’t seize up when you mix it with water?
Angela: Chocolate will seize with water after it has started melting. If you incorporate the water when the chocolate is still in its solid state, as in this recipe, it will not seize.
I love chocolate mousse too, such a fancy yet simple dessert! This sounds delicious and your pictures are great!
Wow, this looks perfect! You won me over with these photos! I’ve never been crazy about chocolate mousse, but this truly looks lovely. And even sugar free! I’m so making this – for the first time ever!
I always thought mousse was fancy too
but who would think it would be so easy to make! Yours looks delicious.. I’ll have to give this recipe a try the next time I get a hankering for some good chocolate.
I am normally not a fan of mousse (don’t ask, I’m weird about textures) but this is so beautiful I really want to try it. Thank you
This sounds divine! I have never made mousse before, but now I have a good excuse, because this sounds like a great recipe. I am a huge milk chocolate fan too!!
This mousse was the perfect edition to our Valentine’s Day! Thanks for sharing.
Oh gosh! Looks amazing! Where does the liqueur come in?