Description

Indulge in this classic Chocolate Mousse, a silky and decadent dessert that’s light as air yet richly chocolatey. Made with high-quality semisweet chocolate, whipped egg whites, and fluffy cream, this recipe results in a perfectly smooth mousse topped with sweetened whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Ideal for entertaining or a special treat, it requires minimal hands-on time but needs chilling to set, offering a sophisticated finish to any meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Chocolate Base

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 ounces semisweet chocolate (best quality)
3 large eggs, separated (yolks and whites at room temperature)
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
¼ cup sugar

Whipped Cream Topping

½ cup heavy cream (cold)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons sugar
Chocolate shavings for garnish

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Instructions

Melt the Chocolate: Microwave the chocolate and butter together in 20-second intervals, stirring each time until about 75% melted. Stir to melt the remainder using residual heat or alternatively melt together in a heatproof bowl over simmering water. Let cool slightly before proceeding.
Incorporate Egg Yolks: Whisk egg yolks one at a time into the cooled chocolate mixture until smooth and well combined. Set aside.
Whip Egg Whites: Add cream of tartar to the egg whites and beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add ¼ cup sugar, then continue beating until stiff peaks form.
Fold Egg Whites: Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture with a rubber spatula, folding carefully until fully incorporated without deflating the mixture.
Whip the Cream: In a separate bowl, add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and vanilla extract to ½ cup of cold heavy cream. Beat until medium peaks form.
Fold in Whipped Cream: Carefully fold the medium-peaked whipped cream into the chocolate mixture, blending gently to maintain light texture and uniformity.
Chill the Mousse: Cover the mousse and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until set.
Prepare for Serving: Whip additional whipped cream with sugar to medium peaks. Dollop over chilled mousse and garnish with chocolate shavings before serving.

Notes

Ensure eggs are at room temperature for better volume when whipping.
Use best-quality semisweet chocolate for richest flavor.
Be gentle when folding to maintain mousse’s airy texture.
Allow enough chilling time for mousse to fully set and develop flavors.
You can prepare the mousse a day ahead for convenience.
For safety, use pasteurized eggs if concerned about consuming raw eggs.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: French