Chocolate Mousse

This Chocolate Mousse recipe is the BEST authentic French Mousse au Chocolat made with only 4 simple ingredients. A light & fluffy decadent dessert that’s easy to make and ready in minutes.

 

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

If you’ve ever travelled to France you’ll already know how irresistible and delectable French food can be. We absolutely love French bistro-style cuisine and there’s nothing quite like sipping a glass of wine at a cafe in Paris, followed by a serving of Steak Frites. Unless, of course, you enjoy some delicious chocolate mousse for dessert!

This French Chocolate Mousse recipe is one that’s been in our family for years. It’s easy to make with basic, easy-to-find ingredients, it’s a super impressive dessert for entertaining, and it comes together in minutes. It’s truly the best chocolate mousse we’ve had outside of Paris!

Here are just a few of the reasons this Mousse au Chocolat recipe is one we reach for again and again!

1. It’s EASY to make. If you can whip egg whites and operate a blender, then you’ll have no problem making this delicious chocolate mousse recipe. There’s no need for any specialized culinary skills or experience, no pouring hot cream over chocolate, making ganache, or other complicated steps.
2. It calls for BASIC ingredients. With only 4 simple ingredients (eggs, chocolate, sugar and coffee, plus an optional shot of brandy or rum), there’s no need to visit specialty markets or stores for hard-to-find ingredients that many other cultural recipes require.
3. It’s QUICK to make. This chocolate mousse recipe takes about 10 minutes to prepare and 1-2 hours to set in the fridge, making it a fast dessert to throw together.
4. It’s DAIRY-FREE. You won’t find any butter or cream in this recipe since the eggs are what gives it its airy texture. If you use dairy-free dark chocolate, this chocolate mousse is naturally dairy-free.
5. It’s DECADENT and IMPRESSIVE. For a dessert with only 4 ingredients, it’s incredibly indulgent and will impress any dinner guests! They might not believe you made it yourself!
6. It reminds us of PARIS. This chocolate mousse is JUST like what we’ve ordered in French bistros or cafes. Just a taste takes us back to times we’ve spent in Paris.

Chocolate mousse is a rich, decadent, and airy dessert that’s known for it’s delicate texture and intense chocolate flavour. It’s a popular dessert in France served in restaurants and bistros, and it’s quintessentially French – when it comes to French desserts, less is definitely more, and this Chocolate Mousse certainly fits in that category. The French word “mousse” means “foam” which perfectly describes the light and creamy texture of this dessert that’s typically made by combining dark chocolate, eggs, and sugar.

Authentic French Chocolate Mousse is made without whipped cream and is instead made by combining melted chocolate, egg yolks, and espresso together with egg whites whipped with sugar. When the chocolate mixture is folded into the egg whites, the mixture becomes thick and foamy and sets in the fridge to become a light and delicate mousse with an intense chocolate flavour. Trust us – if you’ve never tried French chocolate mousse, you’ve GOT to try this recipe!

While traditional French chocolate mousse is made with real chocolate, eggs, and sugar, there are a variety of ways to make a less authentic version of this classic French dessert. Here are a few other ways to make Chocolate Mousse that are more popular outside of France:

1. With Whipping Cream: North American recipes often use heavy cream or whipping cream to add richness and create a silky, smooth texture. The cream is whipped into soft peaks and folded into a mixture of chocolate. This method is generally lighter in chocolate flavour but richer and heavier in texture than the French version.
2. With Plant-Based Ingredients: Vegan versions of chocolate mousse are often made with silken tofu for a creamy, light texture. We love making this Vegan Chocolate Mousse Tart for a plant-based treat that’s reminiscent of our favourite French treat. It’s also possible to make a vegan version with aquafaba, the liquid from canned chickpeas. It can be whipped almost like egg whites to create a mousse-like texture.
3. With Gelatin: Some more modern recipes incorporate gelatin to stabilize the mousse, ensuring that it sets firmly. This method is often used for mousses used in cakes, tortes, or pastries where a denser, more stable structure is necessary to hold the dessert together.

Want to make the BEST chocolate mousse you’ve ever had? Follow all our favourite tips and tricks!

The key to a high quality chocolate mousse is high quality ingredients. Use the best dark chocolate you can find that’s meant for melting and high quality espresso that’s freshly made.

The key to a smooth texture is eggs that combine well with the other ingredients. Be sure to let the eggs sit out at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before using.

In order to be sure your chocolate mousse is food safe (according to food safe guidelines), be sure to use pasteurized eggs that are safe to eat.

Brew the coffee or espresso fresh and add it to the chocolate while it’s hot. If you add it slowly to the blender while it’s running, it won’t cook the egg yolks and it will keep the mixture nice and smooth and creamy.

Whipped egg whites are what gives this chocolate mousse its airy texture. Be sure the egg whites are whipped until stiff peaks form and incorporate the sugar into the egg whites while they whip – don’t wait until soft peaks form to add the sugar. Begin adding the sugar when the eggs whites are just foamy and add it in a slow, steady stream.

We like using a whisk to fold the whipped egg whites and chocolate mixture together as this helps prevent the egg whites from deflating. A rubber spatula can also be used. Don’t worry if the egg whites deflate a little bit – they’ll still give an airy texture.

Choose a large shallow serving bowl, dish or individual serving dishes (ramekins), pour the mousse mixture into whatever dish(es) you choose, and chill it to set for 1-2 hours. During this time the mousse will harden slightly and take on that airy, creamy texture.

Trouble in chocolate mousse paradise? Here’s a list of common problems you might encounter when making your own mousse au chocolat and how to fix them:

If it’s not setting and has a goopy texture, it’s likely because the egg whites weren’t whipped enough. It could also be because the chocolate was low quality.

If the chocolate wasn’t melted properly before blending or it was mixed with cold egg yolks and then seized up, there will be tiny chocolate chunks throughout the mixture. Be sure to use eggs that are at room temperature and thoroughly melt and cool the chocolate before blending. If the eggs and the chocolate are at the same temperature the mixture will be very smooth.

If the mousse has set too much, let it sit out at room temperature for several minutes so it can relax before serving.

The intensity of the coffee and the chocolate can affect the taste, so feel free to taste the mixture before chilling it in the fridge to be sure it tastes just right.

If any oil from the yolks gets mixed in with the whites they won’t whip properly. Be sure the bowl and whisk attachment is clean and dry before using.

Here’s a list of all the basic kitchen equipment you’ll need to make this easy mousse au chocolat (chocolate mousse) recipe (paid links):

• a Stand Mixer or an electric Hand Mixer (we like using a stand mixer to whip the egg whites as it works very quickly and saves time)
• Blender
• a large knife and a chopping board for chopping the chocolate
• a Whisk
• a Silicone Spatula
• measuring cups and spoons
• liquid measuring cups
• Individual Serving Dishes for serving. We LOVE these ones because they look just like the ones used at Chez Janou in Paris!

• 8 ounces dark chocolate finely chopped – you can also use semi-sweet chocolate, but be sure the chocolate you use is intended for baking so it melts evenly
• 2 1/2 ounces hot espresso – feel free to use brewed espresso, strong hot coffee, or instant espresso
• 4 pasteurized large eggs separated – we recommend using pasteurized eggs for this recipe in keeping with food safe guidelines.
• 10 teaspoons granulated sugar
• A splash of brandy or rum optional – adding alcohol is optional, and it can also be replaced by a splash of vanilla extract, rum extract, or you can just leave it out.

1. Salted Caramel – Fold in some salted caramel to the mousse mixture before setting it in the fridge. Once it’s set and before serving, drizzle with some more caramel sauce and top with some flaky sea salt.
2. Mint Chocolate – Add some peppermint extract to the melted chocolate mixture and make the recipe as directed. Top with some shaved chocolate and fresh mint leaves for garnish.
3. Strawberry – Once the chocolate mousse is prepared according to the recipe directions, fold in some strawberry puree but be sure to not to integrate it fully, leaving large streaks of fruit throughout the mixture. Chill in the fridge as directed and top with fresh strawberries.
4. White Chocolate – Melt the white chocolate, mix with the egg yolks and some heavy cream. Fold the mixture into the whipped egg whites and sugar and refrigerate to set.
5. Chocolate Hazelnut – Add some chopped hazelnuts and chocolate hazelnut cream into the chocolate mixture, fold in the egg whites and sugar and refrigerate to set.

There are so many ways to enjoy this delicious and easy Mousse au Chocolat. Here are some dishes we recommend serving alongside it!

1. Steak with French Fries – It doesn’t get any more French-Bistro than Steak Frites and this easy chocolate mousse is the perfect dessert!
2. Air Fryer Salmon, Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Parmesan, and a side salad makes the perfect decadent meal.
3. Easy One Pan French Onion Stuffed Chicken – delicious, tender and juicy chicken stuffed with caramelized onions and cheese.
4. Make an appetizer buffet with these Cucumber Appetizers with Smoked Salmon, this Pomegranate Cranberry Baked Brie Appetizer, this Easy Charcuterie Board, and finish it off with this Tarte Tatin and some delectable chocolate mousse!

We hope you love this mousse au chocolat (chocolate mousse) recipe as much as we do! Let us know in the comments below, what’s your favourite French recipe to make at home? We’d love to know!

• Tarte Tatin
• Lemon Tart
• Fresh Nectarine Tart with Lemon Mascarpone Filling
• New York Cheesecake
• Key Lime Pie
• Baileys Chocolate Cake
• The Perfect Pavlova
• Chocolate Cheesecake
• Angel Food Cake
• Hot Chocolate with Baileys
• San Sebastian Cheesecake

Watch the video below to see exactly how we make this recipe. You can find many more deliciously simple recipe videos on our YouTube channel!