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Mousse is essentially chocolate custard folded with fluffy clouds of whipped cream.
On an overnight visit with family as a young girl, I remember my young cousin preparing this mousse on a chocolate-craving whim. I marveled that she could prepare such a decadent dessert with ease and on her own.
Once you realize the simplicity of this recipe, you’ll want to use the mousse in other ways. Enjoy it as a spread between cake layers, a filling in a cookie-crumb pie crust, or by itself simply slathered with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel.
Decadent Dark Chocolate Mousse
Yields approx. 4 cups
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream, chilled
- 4 egg yolks
- 4 Tbsp sugar
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted
- 1 Tbsp bourbon (optional)
- 1/4 tsp instant coffee granules (optional)
- raspberries, to garnish
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over low heat, warm 3/4 cup of the cream.
- In a small bowl, whisk the yolks, sugar and salt until combined. While whisking, slowly add half of the warm cream to the egg mixture.
- While whisking, slowly add the egg mixture to the saucepan with the warm cream.
- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for up to 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to thicken.
- Transfer the custard to a large mixing bowl and whisk in the vanilla, chocolate, bourbon and coffee until shiny and silky smooth; allow to cool in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.
- Beat the remaining 1-1/4 cups chilled cream until it holds stiff peaks. Reserve 1/4 cup for garnish. Fold half of the remaining whipped cream into the cooled custard, and then fold in the rest.
- Spoon the mousse into serving dishes, then cover and chill for 2 hours or up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving. Garnish with reserved whipped cream and raspberries.
Tips
- Steps 2 through 4 allow the egg mixture to be heated slowly, so you don’t end up with scrambled eggs.
- Initially the mousse will be soft, but as it chills it will begin to set.
Recipe & Photo by Phoebe Canakis, phoebespurefood.com