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.
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:
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
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Hi Natasha
can I use instant coffe instead of expresso coffe?
Hi Ava, I haven’t tested this with instant coffee but our readers have. I recommend following packaging instructions and reading through our recipe comments from our readers.
Hello,
I want to try using this mousse in between chocolate cake layers. Do you think it will firm up in the fridge over night?
Hi Amy, to be honest, I haven’t tested that to advise. It may work but I worry it won’t be as stable to hold up layers.
Thank for another awesome chocolate recipe. It is so yummy every time we have it. Can’t live without it now 😂😂
You’re most welcome. Thank you too for trying out this recipe!
Hi Natasha
Can this recipe be used to add in a trifle dessert , should it be set and cooled in the fridge first then added ? Thanks so much for your great recipes and energy
Hi Chasity, I have not tested this in a trifle to advise but that sounds delicious! Cooling it may be best to allow it to thicken. If you experiment I would love to know how you like this in a trifle.
I’ve made several different recipes for mousse but this was definitely the best! Light and airy but very rich in flavor. The espresso flavor was subtle but it definitely came through. Will be making it again and again.
Super! I love your great feedback, Beckie thank you for sharing that with us.
Hi I’m Amara and I’m 8 yrs old
We made the mousse and it has split,What changes should we make next time?
Hi Amara, I’m so glad you’re trying our recipes. I haven’t had that happen before, with it splitting. Was anything altered in the recipe or any steps skipped? Its hard to say without being there.
Hi Natasha
I was wondering is there any way to substitute the heavy whipping cream for something else.
Thank you so much!!
Hello Lucy, I haven’t tried using anything else other than heavy whipping cream to advise.
Hi Natasha
Some things are hard to find….I have dark chocolate is that close enough to the bittersweet chocolate? I’m trying to make something as close as possible to the Mocha Mousse cake that’s always on the dessert bar at Chinese restaurants. This with your chocolate cake may come real close. (fingers crossed)
Hi Shirley, I think that should work fine with dark chocolate – dark chocolate can vary quite a bit – some are darker while some are sweeter than others.
Hello
I want to make a mousse cake with this recipe
But I have just one question.
Will the mousse hold if I make it in a spring pan and then take it out? Or will it fall apart then
Thank you for yor answer
And thank you for the best baking tip and recipies
Hi Mirna, I haven’t tested it that way but I think it would be difficult to try to cut into it since it is a mousse texture and not really a cake texture.
im 12 and i love this my family is absesed with it and i make it at least once a week
Wow that is awesome!
Hello: I made this recipe of choc. mousse several times, then made it for Mother’s Day and it got all runny. Used the freshest ingredients. Why’d it get runny? please help. Thank you!!!
Hi, did you have a chance to watch the video to see if the texture looked different at any point? That might help to see where something went wrong. Also, make sure to keep it chilled in the refrigerator and let it chill to fully set before serving.
Do I have to add coffee I don’t want to?
Hi Laura, 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.
I am 9 years old and I made this today for my family. Everyone said it was the best thing they have ever tasted!! I love all your recipes,
thank you, Natasha!!!
That’s so awesome, Sabrina! Thank you for that great review.
I only want to make 4 of these.. so, no problem halving the recipe ?
That should be alright Jack. Let us know how it goes!
Hi Natasha,
How can I make this without raw eggs in it? Will this recipe work just the same if I use the whole egg instead of just cooking the yolks on the double boiler?
Hi Ranjina, you might try pasteurized eggs if you are concerned. Also, I haven’t tried that modification so I can’t say for sure what other modifications would have to be made or how it would affect the outcome.
Your chocolate mousse was a hit in my household! It’s my daughter’s favorite dessert and she said your recipe is the best she’s tasted! Love all your recipes! Keep up the great work!
That’s so awesome! Thank you so much for sharing that with me Jane!
Hey so for the butter do you just use 6 tablespoons from the butter stick or weigh it out for 6 oz?
Hi Elena, we use 6 tbsp based on packaging measurement.
This chocolate mousse was absolutely delicious! I made it for Valentine’s Day dinner tonight for my husband. Thank you for the perfect recipe!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you both enjoyed that! I hope you had a lovely Valentine’s day!
Hello Natasha..I could not get bittersweet chocolate I did however get Dark Chocolate and Milk Chocolate can I use one of these instead of the bittersweet chocolate?
Hi Cindy! That should work. I have tried the combination of both, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
The recipe says it makes 8 servings but in the video you made 6. Were you using bigger ramekins?
Hi Cindy, the video does show 6 but the voiceover says it will fit 8 4oz ramekins, this recipe makes 8- 4oz ramekins. I hope that helps.
Thank you so much, Natasha! I love your recipes and have made so many of them.
I’m so glad to hear that, Cindy!