Learn how to make Classic Chocolate Mousse that is decadent, airy and intensely chocolatey. A generous dollop of whipped cream, shaved chocolate and fresh raspberries make this a romantic, special occasion dessert.
Add this dark chocolate mousse to your Valentines Day menu along with Filet Mignon or Lobster Tails for a truly memorable dinner!
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Chocolate Mousse!
Many of the “easy” chocolate mousse recipes take shortcuts which result in something that looks like mousse but tastes like chocolate pudding. This ‘Mousse de chocolate’ is something you might try in a fancy restaurant, but it’s simple to achieve these same results at home.
My husband and I took a “date night” cooking class together at Sur La Table and the chef taught this recipe for classic French mousse. We both were smitten with how intensely flavorful it was without being overly sweet. You’ll love every spoonful loaded with rich chocolate and whipped cream.
How to Make Chocolate Mousse:
This recipe comes together in 3 bowls and you will need a medium saucepan with 2″ of boiling water to serve as a hot water bath or “bain marie” to melt the chocolate and heat/thicken the egg yolks mixture. (I added Amazon affiliate links for tools we used)
- Melt chocolate with butter and coffee over simmering water
- Heat yolks with sugar and vanilla over simmering water
- Fold yolk mixture into chocolate mixture
- Beat egg whites and sugar and fold into mousse in thirds
- Divide between ramekins and refrigerate
Tips for Raw Egg Safety:
I highly recommend using pasteurized eggs anytime you are working with raw eggs in a recipe. Since even pasteurized eggs can become contaminated, raw egg consumption is not recommended for the elderly, pregnant women, very young children and immune-compromised individuals. Follow these tips for egg safety:
- Never use cracked, chipped or dirty eggs
- Only buy eggs from the refrigerated section of grocery stores
- Keeps eggs refrigerated and handle with clean hands
- Do not use expired eggs
- Use eggs from trusted sources
Cooks tip: The coffee amplifies the flavor of the chocolate so do not skip it. Espresso or dark brewed coffee work well.
If you love chocolate desserts, try these next:
- Classic Eclairs filled with cream and covered in chocolate
- Almond Nutella Cake – almond cake layers with Nutella and cream
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread – so moist with gooey chocolate
- Chocolate Lava Cakes – with a molten surprise inside
- Ultimate Chocolate Cake – perfect for birthdays
Watch Natasha Make Chocolate Mousse:
I hope you are inspired to recreate this homemade chocolate mousse!
Classic Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients
For the Chocolate Mousse:
- 4 large eggs
- 6 oz bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped or broken up
- 6 oz unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/4 cup strongly brewed coffee or espresso
- 1/2 cup + 1 Tbsp granulated sugar, divided
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Toppings:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp chocolate shavings
- 16 raspberries
Instructions
How to Make Chocolate Mousse:
- In a medium heat-proof mixing bowl, combine 6 oz chopped chocolate, 6 oz butter, 1/4 cup coffee. Heat a medium saucepan with 2-inches of water to a boil. Place your bowl with chocolate over a saucepan of simmering water so the bowl over the steam and not touching the water. Stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Separate eggs and put 4 yolks in a large heat-proof mixing bowl with 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Whisk to combine. Place bowl over the saucepan of boiling water, and whisk until thickened, hot to the touch and lightened in color (about 4 minutes). Remove from heat. Use a spatula to stir chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, mixing until blended.
- Place 4 whites in a third medium bowl. Beat until foamy. Gradually add 1 Tbsp sugar and continue beating until medium peaks form. Fold egg whites into the batter one third at a time, fully incorporating between each addition. Once all egg whites are in, stop folding when mousse is smooth and even in color.
- Divide mousse between 8 (4oz) ramekins, cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or ideally overnight.
How to Make Whipped Cream and Assembly:
- In a medium bowl, beat together heavy cream with 1 Tbsp sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract on medium/high speed until soft peaks form.
- Spoon generous dollops of whipped cream over chilled chocolate mousse cups and top with shaved chocolate and raspberries.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Hi Natasha,
I am yet to try your recipe. Could you please tell me how much coffee powder I need to add for 1/4 cup? How long do I need to brew it?
Thank you
Hi Pearl, we used Espresso. Are you referring to Instant Coffee when you say powder?
Hi Natasha, yes I’m referring to instant coffee
I have not tested this with instant coffee but here is what one of our readers wrote “I used 2 tbsp of black instant coffee mixed in 2 cups of water” I hope that helps.
Can I use semisweet chocolate!!
Hi Samantha, I always use bittersweet, but semisweet chocolate should work fine. It will be slightly sweeter though.
Hi Natasha
This looks yummy and i want to make this recipe.
We don’t eat eggs. Is there a substitute for eggs in this recipe.
Thanks for Sharing
Hi Jashan, that is a tough one since the mousse is egg-based. There are eggless mousse recipes that I’ve seen online but it would be difficult to modify this one.
Hi Natasha! I’m going to make this recipe using chocolate chips, since I don’t have chocolate bars. Do you think it’ll work? Also how long do you usually whisk the egg yolks and sugar together over the heat? That step confuses me. It would really help!
Hi Elena, I think that should work with chocolate chips. With the egg step, that takes about 4 minutes.
Just made this last night since I was having a major chocolate craving. It definitely satisfied it! So decadent and rich. Definitely a repeater!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
This mouse was delicious! My dad asked if I would make him mousse for his birthday. He loved it. We don’t have bittersweet chocolate here, so used 70% dark which turned out lovely. It was SO fluffy and easy to make! Thank you Natasha, everyone loved it.
That’s so awesome! I’m so happy you all enjoyed that Bianca!
Can I make this a day ahead? Along with the topping?
Thank you!
Hi Atiqa! That should work!
Natasha is there a way to substitute something else for coffee in the chocolate mousse since I don’t drink coffee
Hi Yuliya, we have only tried this with coffee – from my research coffee really enhances the flavor of chocolate but you could substitute with water instead and the recipe would still work.
This recipe is amazing! I used dark chocolate instead because that’s what I had on hand and it still came out really good. My husbands favorite is dark chocolate and it was his first time trying mousse. He really enjoyed it as well. Thank you so much for sharing!❤️
You’re so welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe, Ariane!
I was asking if I can replace the chocolate with cocoa powder?
Hi Angela, I haven’t tested that so it’s hard to advise. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
I have tried the cocoa powder and I used 1/4 cups of cocoa powder and it worked really good.
Thankyou
Thank you for sharing that with us, Angela!
Hey, these chocolate mousse cups were sooooo good! The only problem was that it didn’t make a lot. We didn’t have ramekins so I used small cups that were definitely less than 4 ounces. I barely divided them into 6 of the small cups. Next time I’ll probably make a double recipe, since our family is big. Any tips for double recipes?
Hi Helena! That’s so great! I’m so happy to hear that! I haven’t tried doubling it but it should work!
Hi Natasha,
Thanks for all recipes. I enjoy trying them. I did make the chocolate mousse but they came out thicker and dense. ( But still tasty ) Not soft and light like yours. Was it the bakers chocolate of 70% or did I over mix the ingredients. Would love to try again. Patricia
Hi Patricia, If everything else was the same per the recipe, it could also be over beating or under beating the egg whites – they should come to soft peaks before folding them in – if it get’s too stiff, it doesn’t incorporate well into the mousse. Also, I find these are the most airy right out of the fridge after letting them set completely. I found the best results when refrigerating them overnight. Hope that helps!
Natasha, can I use dark chocolate? Or what are your recommendations? I only have dark chocolate and semi sweet chocolate chips on hand.
Hi Tonya! I imagine that should work! If you experiment please let me know how you like that!
I made it with 2 dark chocolate bars and it came out great!!! I’ll try it with bittersweet chocolate next time, I’m thinking it’ll be less seeet and more chocolatey…
Can you substitute something else in for the coffee?
Hi Allyson, We have only tried this with coffee – from my research coffee really enhances the flavor of chocolate but you could substitute with water instead and the recipe would still work.
Did I miss a step and see you used raw eggs and didn’t bake it, Can’t you get sick from raw eggs. Please let know if I missed something Wold love to make this for the chocolate moose
Hi Ellen, we did leave a note in the recipe regarding the raw egg whites. “The yolks in this recipe reach the heat temperature where they are considered pasteurized but the whites do go into the chocolate mousse raw. It is recommended that the elderly, pregnant women, very young children and immune-compromised individuals do not consume raw eggs.” There are more detailed to that in the post. I hope this helps!
This looks divine! So rich and creamy!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
My family loved this for our Friday night dessert tonight!
I’m so happy to hear that you all loved the chocolate mousse recipe!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review 🙂
This is the ultimate dessert!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
The recipe and instructions in the video state the recipe makes 8 4-ounce servings, however, in the video there are only 6 ramekins. Are the ramekins in the video larger than 4 – ounces?
Hi Christine, I did fill 8 4-ounce cups – but because I made a batch the day before, I didn’t think through that I needed another 8 ramekins so the other 2 were mismatched and different colors. lol. It’s not a very good excuse but it’s the truth 🙂
Mousse is my favorite dessert ever! Can’t wait to make this over the weekend!
Hi Steph, I look forward to your feedback! Thank you for that wonderful review!
Hi Natasha! Is it ok to double the recipe or it won’t come up the same and it’s better to make it twice? Thank you!
Hi Marina, that should work.
This mousse is so rich and decadent! Love it! I will have to make it again for Valentine’s Day!
Hi Anna, Thank you for sharing your wonderful review! This will be so perfect for Valentine’s day! 🙂