Chocolate Mousse

In my lifelong experience with chocolate mousse, thanks to my mother, two versions come to mind. One is thick and dense, almost like soft fudge. The other is like the first, but aerated with whipped cream or egg whites, or both.

My preferred version is the dense one. I mean, if you’re going to eat chocolate, eat chocolate!

This is so easy to make, and the individual servings are pretty.

Chocolate Mousse
About 8 servings
Printable recipe below

6 eggs, at room temperature
12 ounces dark chocolate
10 tablespoons unsalted butter
Splash of cognac
1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
Whipped cream to top
Chocolate curls, optional

Separate eggs, placing whites in a large bowl and the yolks in a small bowl. I go the extra mile and separate one egg at a time in a small bowl, and then continue with the remaining eggs. I still have the memory from a million years ago of accidentally having a bit of yolk in my whites, and of course the whites couldn’t be whipped. You never forget these things!

In the top of a double boiler, over hot water (not boiling), melt the chocolate and butter together, stirring constantly. Remember you are melting, not cooking.

Remove the top pan, and gradually pour the melted chocolate and butter into the egg yolks, whisking the whole time. Alternately, add one egg yolk at a time to the pan with the melted chocolate, but it needs to be off of the hot water.

Let the chocolate egg yolk mixture cool for 10-15 minutes, then stir in the cognac and coffee.

The coffee was always my mother’s trick. If you’re ever enjoying something chocolate, but it has some je ne said quoi… it’s probably coffee. It makes chocolate even more magical than it already is.

Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until almost stiff; you don’t want them too dry. Use a whisk or spatula to combine the whipped egg whites with the chocolate mixture. Make sure no white streaks remain.

You don’t have to be too gentle doing the folding. The mousse needs to end up dense, not fluffy. However, the egg whites prevent this mousse from being fudge!

Pour the mousse into a serving bowl, cover tightly and refrigerate for several hours or overnight before serving.

Alternatively, place the mousse in individual serving dishes, which I prefer.

To serve, add some whipped cream, if desired, as well as chocolate curls, if you’re that artsy! If you don’t want to buy Ready Whip in a can, try one of these! They work great!

I served this mousse with cookies a friend’s daughter gifted me, and they were so good with the mousse, even though they ended up looking like tortilla chips!

The mousse can be made ahead of time, but cover tightly because chocolate can absorb refrigerator odors.

I also served the mousse with sherry. Just because. The cookies went really well with the sherry, too!

By Published On: March 2nd, 202166 Comments on Chocolate Mousse

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

66 Comments

  1. Travel Gourmet March 2, 2021 at 6:04 AM - Reply

    Wonderful! Such a classic but oh so good :)

    • chef mimi March 2, 2021 at 6:57 AM - Reply

      Exactly! A perfect dessert, if you love chocolate!

  2. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen March 2, 2021 at 6:27 AM - Reply

    Love! Save me a bowl! I’ll be right over!

    • chef mimi March 2, 2021 at 6:58 AM - Reply

      And it is so good for entertaining. Remember that word?!!

  3. angiesrecipes March 2, 2021 at 7:12 AM - Reply

    I love Lindt :-) So fudgy or airy, as long as it’s Lindt, I would devour it. Creamy rich chocolate with crisp waffle…perfect!

    • chef mimi March 2, 2021 at 7:15 AM - Reply

      I don’t love many desserts, but I’d have to pick this if I had to choose. And ice cream!

  4. thatskinnychickcanbake March 2, 2021 at 7:16 AM - Reply

    I’ve never made a chocolate mousse that the hubby did not love! So he’d be all for me making your version. Would be a great Easter dessert!!

    • chef mimi March 2, 2021 at 7:59 AM - Reply

      It would! This recipe is fabulous.

  5. bernlag March 2, 2021 at 8:09 AM - Reply

    Thanks for the recipe and the step by step which I will need for this.

    • chef mimi March 2, 2021 at 8:10 AM - Reply

      You are so welcome!

  6. Jovina Coughlin March 2, 2021 at 9:06 AM - Reply

    One of my favorites

  7. Ronit Penso Tasty Eats March 2, 2021 at 11:44 AM - Reply

    This looks so rich and tasty! Definitely with you on the addition of coffee. My other secret is a dash of chili powder… :)

    • chef mimi March 2, 2021 at 11:44 AM - Reply

      Actual chili seasoning? Not just cayenne? Interesting!

    • chef mimi March 2, 2021 at 11:53 AM - Reply

      Which kind of chile pepper?

  8. StefanGourmet March 2, 2021 at 1:55 PM - Reply

    This is how I also make chocolate mousse :-) It is also great to stuff an ancho chile with it; you get one try to guess whose recipe that was!

    • chef mimi March 2, 2021 at 2:36 PM - Reply

      Hahahaha! Sounds wonderful!

  9. cookingwithauntjuju.com March 2, 2021 at 4:43 PM - Reply

    I love a creamy chocolate mousse – my secret is to add some Baileys!

    • chef mimi March 2, 2021 at 5:02 PM - Reply

      Well of course that would be wonderful!!!

  10. Raymund March 2, 2021 at 7:57 PM - Reply

    Ohh yes! they look rich and decadent

    • chef mimi March 2, 2021 at 10:29 PM - Reply

      They definitely are. 😁

  11. Tandy | Lavender and Lime March 3, 2021 at 2:25 AM - Reply

    I am like you and separate my eggs one at a time. It is a habit I learnt in a Kosher kitchen. And yes, if you are going to eat chocolate, eat chocolate! This type of mousse is the one I make as well :)

    • chef mimi March 3, 2021 at 7:55 AM - Reply

      It’s just good chocolate flavor, and a fabulous texture.

  12. David @ Spiced March 3, 2021 at 6:26 AM - Reply

    Haha – I love your comment about ‘if you’re going to eat chocolate, then eat chocolate’! So true. This sounds like a decadent and delicious recipe, Mimi – perfect for a weekend night. And I really should serve dessert with sherry more often. It sounds so fancy! :-) (P.S. I saw your note on my post about ads – I left a comment back in case you don’t get the notice. Thanks!)

    • chef mimi March 3, 2021 at 7:55 AM - Reply

      I just happen to love sherry and port. Sometimes I’ll have it in the afternoon just to feel special! By the fake fire! I gave you information on the Irish Nachos post, hope it helps, although i noticed a bunch of typos after the fact. Hopefully you’ll understand my comment. Seriously, the bidet sales were probably from the lack of toilet paper!

  13. Jeff the Chef March 3, 2021 at 8:23 AM - Reply

    This sounds fantastic, Mimi!

  14. kitchenriffs March 3, 2021 at 9:36 AM - Reply

    This looks terrific! I like rich, dense mousse, too. I’ll certainly eat fluffy versions of it, but I prefer that each bite of my mousse packs a wallop. :-) Good recipe — thanks.

    • chef mimi March 3, 2021 at 10:14 AM - Reply

      The funny thing is, later after I made this I made the fluffy version, and wow! I had second thoughts! You want to dive into the bowl of fluffiness! And the flavor is still wonderful.

  15. Liz @ spades, spatulas, and spoons March 3, 2021 at 10:13 AM - Reply

    If I am eating chocolate then I want it to be chocolate, dense and rich. This is perfect Mimi. And I love the suggestions for Bailey’s and chili powder. A touch of heat might be very interesting. Thank you Mimi for the no ads posts and blog. I find those multiple pop up ads very irritating, but I guess some folks want to make money. It takes something away from the authenticity.

    • chef mimi March 3, 2021 at 10:16 AM - Reply

      Oh goodness, those ads are terrible. Sometimes you can’t even click them out of the way, either. No, definitely people make money blogging, and I respect that, and maybe we’re lucky that we don’t need that income?!! By the way, Ronit didn’t mean chili powder, she actually meant chile powder, but didn’t tell me which one. In the US it’s spelled chile. She definitely didn’t mean chili powder seasoning mixture. When I catered I put ground cayenne pepper in a chocolate cookie, as well as black pepper, and they were always a hit!

      • Liz @ spades, spatulas, and spoons March 3, 2021 at 10:21 AM

        Thanks, I have some ancho powder…might be good to try. I pinned this recipe for my book club, whenever we get to meet in person again. One member cannot eat gluten or dairy. This is a wonderful dessert to make when it’s my turn.

      • chef mimi March 3, 2021 at 10:39 AM

        Mmmmm or chipotle powder…

  16. Ann Coleman March 3, 2021 at 11:18 AM - Reply

    That looks delicious! But I have just one question….does the heated chocolate cook the egg yolks enough that this is considered eating raw eggs? I would assume so, but I’m not sure. And I hadn’t realized that adding coffee to chocolate had just great results!

  17. cookingontheweekends March 3, 2021 at 7:02 PM - Reply

    What a beautiful chocolate mousse. I should’ve known better than to read about it when I’m hungry. How will I go make a savory meal now that this is all I can think about? I love a dessert that’s inherently gluten-free for my chocolate loving GF son. Clearly, I’ll be making this VERY soon. :-) ~Valentina

    • chef mimi March 4, 2021 at 6:52 AM - Reply

      Honestly I’m a more savory loving person, but I won’t push away a good chocolate mousse. Or a great ice cream! Sorry to make you hungry!

  18. Debra March 3, 2021 at 10:45 PM - Reply

    Oh wow! This is so enticing, Mimi! I love chocolate, the richer the better, and I also have a birthday coming up. I think this may be my gift to myself. I haven’t had a good chocolate mousse in ages and ages. Now I won’t be able to stop thinking about it. :-)

    • chef mimi March 4, 2021 at 6:58 AM - Reply

      Ha! Well good! It packs a wallop! Full of good chocolate flavor, and I love the texture. Happy future birthday!

  19. Shannon March 4, 2021 at 5:05 AM - Reply

    Although both versions sound insanely delicious, I’m with you Mimi: give me the dense chocolate mousse! These look like decadent PERFECTION. And how elegantly you’ve plated them! Love everything about this chocolate mousse, yum!

    • chef mimi March 4, 2021 at 6:57 AM - Reply

      Thanks, Shannon! I’d rather have a little bit of mousse than a big slice of cake or pie.

  20. sherry March 4, 2021 at 5:14 AM - Reply

    i used to make this mousse many many moons ago but i eventually found it too heavy. i now make Nigella’s chocolate dessert as my go-to; it’s so light and easy. i had to giggle when i kept seeing that everyone loves dessert with sherry… I have mentioned the ads to david @ spiced too. today i was trying to leave a comment on his post, and the ads just kept covering the whole screen so i couldn’t see what i wrote. so frustrating! I understand that some bloggers need/want payment for their blog, but it is incredibly annoying when ads flicker and jump out at you… I have given up on some blogs because it’s just not worth the agony!

    • chef mimi March 4, 2021 at 6:56 AM - Reply

      Dessert with Sherry! Could be a movie!!! I’ve stopped following people as well, but when you can’t read the text or see the photos it becomes ridiculous. I’m not familiar with Nigella’s dessert, but yes, this one is definitely rich and heavy!

  21. Kim Bultman March 4, 2021 at 8:41 AM - Reply

    Mimi, I was already swooning over your Monte Cristo crepes when your chocolate mousse recipe appeared. I don’t think it was a coincidence. Actually, it sounds like a heavenly combo whether it was intentional or not. Birthday dinner? :) Sigh…

    • chef mimi March 4, 2021 at 8:56 AM - Reply

      Ha! Well, it could be! You crack me up!

  22. Carrie Tyler March 4, 2021 at 10:19 AM - Reply

    Chocolate Mousse is such a classic dessert, but often can seem intimidating to make! You really made it seem so simple to do at home :)

    • chef mimi March 5, 2021 at 8:02 AM - Reply

      Oh, it’s simple. It has to be or I couldn’t make it!

  23. Our Growing Paynes March 4, 2021 at 2:45 PM - Reply

    This is my husband’s favourite dessert and I like your tips. Good stuff.

    • chef mimi March 5, 2021 at 8:01 AM - Reply

      It really is wonderful. If I had to pick, and I couldn’t pick ice cream, my favorite would be chocolate mousse!

  24. Eva Taylor March 5, 2021 at 5:50 AM - Reply

    What a classic, I love a dense mousse as well. I usually add coffee to my chocolate desserts but occasionally, if only adults will consume, then I add some heat, like a pinch of cayenne!

    • chef mimi March 5, 2021 at 8:00 AM - Reply

      Great idea. It’s interesting what coffee does to chocolate!

  25. David Scott Allen March 6, 2021 at 9:50 AM - Reply

    I will take chocolate mousse ANY way it is served to me: dark, milk, gianduia, dense, light… bring it on. Yours looks particularly luscious.

    • chef mimi March 6, 2021 at 10:13 AM - Reply

      Thank you! And I can relate.

  26. Frank Fariello March 6, 2021 at 12:32 PM - Reply

    Wow, look at the gorgeous color of that mousse.. Mouth watering. And I don’t even have much of a sweet tooth. But I do make an exception for dark chocolate. The denser the better!

    • chef mimi March 6, 2021 at 5:50 PM - Reply

      I don’t either, but I do love good ice cream and good chocolate mousse!

  27. The-FoodTrotter March 7, 2021 at 3:30 AM - Reply

    I love chocolate mousse so much! How something so simple can taste so delightful!

    • chef mimi March 7, 2021 at 7:37 AM - Reply

      Exactly! It’s chocolate!

  28. neil@neilshealthymeals.com March 8, 2021 at 5:31 AM - Reply

    I concur too that I prefer a dense chocolate mousse Mimi. I’ve got several different versions I like. I make mine with semolina flour and sometimes with an avocado too. I love your classic recipe here. We’re in need of a treat to cheer us up here. Thanks!

    • chef mimi March 8, 2021 at 6:38 AM - Reply

      It’s a great recipe. If I go sweet, I never try to make it “healthy.” But there’s also silken tofu that works so well puréed!

  29. Trina and Tina March 8, 2021 at 5:18 PM - Reply

    A must bake!

  30. 2 Sisters Recipes by Anna and Liz March 12, 2021 at 7:59 PM - Reply

    LOVE LOVE LOVE Chocolate Mousse!! This is an amazing recipe – thanks Mimi!

    • chef mimi March 12, 2021 at 8:08 PM - Reply

      You are so welcome! Nice and rich, and perfect for a special occasion!

  31. Roz March 13, 2021 at 1:43 PM - Reply

    This pudding looks so yummy, Mimi. A perfect ending to any meal! You make it look so easy too!

    • chef mimi March 13, 2021 at 5:50 PM - Reply

      It is easy Roz, or I couldn’t make it!

  32. 김해출장 April 7, 2022 at 3:43 PM - Reply

    Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you, However I am going through difficulties with your RSS. I donít understand the reason why I am unable to join it. Is there anybody else having similar RSS issues? Anybody who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanx!!

  33. Chef Mimi April 7, 2022 at 6:00 PM - Reply

    My blog is changing over to a new service, and there are a few glitches!

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