Chocolate Mousse
AI-generated image
Vegetarian Gluten-free French

Chocolate Mousse

A classic French chocolate mousse with deep bittersweet flavor, a satiny base, and a light, airy finish. Pasteurized eggs make this elegant dessert suitable for serving without cooking the egg mixture.

30 min 4 servings Medium
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How to prepare

1
Place the chopped chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water, making sure the base does not touch the water, and stir until smooth, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool until just warm, about 10 minutes.
2
Whisk the pasteurized egg yolks into the warm chocolate mixture one at a time until the mixture is uniform and shiny. Stir in the salt.
3
In a clean, dry bowl, whisk the pasteurized egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Add the sugar gradually, then whisk on medium-high speed until the whites form glossy medium peaks that hold their shape but still curve at the tip, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Glossy egg whites whipped to medium peaks AI-generated image
4
Stir one-third of the whipped whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Gently fold in the remaining whites in two additions with a spatula, turning from the bottom until no white streaks remain; do not overmix.
5
Divide the mousse among four small glasses or ramekins. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, until softly set and gently yielding in the center.
6
Let the mousse stand at room temperature for 10 minutes, then serve chilled with optional whipped cream, berries, or grated chocolate.
Finished French chocolate mousse with whipped cream and chocolate shavings AI-generated image

Why this recipe works

Melted chocolate and butter create a glossy, flavorful base, while pasteurized whipped egg whites provide lift without the need for gelatin. Folding in stages preserves the mousse's fine, creamy bubbles.

Storage and reheating

How to store it

Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

How to reheat it

Do not reheat. If the mousse is very firm, let it stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition / serving

393kcal
8.23 gprotein
27.67 gcarbs
27.81 gfat
P
Pantryvale editorial kitchen
Recipe prepared for publication with complete ingredients and ordered cooking steps.
Published 15 Aug 2026 · updated 16 Aug 2026