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This easy chocolate mousse recipe requires just 3 ingredients: chocolate, cream and sugar! Whip it up for a decadent no bake treat.
Looking for a simple dessert? Try this easy chocolate mousse recipe! All you need are three ingredients and 15 minutes to whip up this tasty treat. It comes out rich and creamy, with decadent chocolaty flavor.
Why we love this recipe: This recipe is even easier than our classic mousse recipe and comes together in a flash. It’s perfect for a dessert to impress a crowd or it’s easy to make a half recipe for a romantic dinner for two!
Ingredients in easy chocolate mousse
Chocolate mousse is a classic dessert made with chocolate, cream, sugar and eggs. A classic chocolate mousse recipe uses raw eggs to add smooth, fluffy texture to the mousse. However, some eaters prefer not eating raw eggs: and they’re not required! This easy chocolate mousse has no eggs. While the texture is a bit denser once it’s set, it’s still just as rich and delicious. The three ingredients you’ll need for chocolate mousse are:
- Semisweet chocolate chips
- Whipping cream
- Powdered sugar
How to make easy chocolate mousse
This easy chocolate mousse recipe is quick and simple to put together. Then you’ll need a few hours for the mousse to set! The texture right away is very light, like chocolate whipped cream. But once you refrigerate for a few hours, the texture becomes richer and denser. Here’s what to do:
- Melt chocolate and cream: In a small saucepan, heat the whipping cream until it is hot to the touch but not quite simmering (175°F). Pour the heated cream over the chocolate chips and stir until the chocolate melts and is smooth.
- Whip additional cream and powdered sugar: Attach the balloon whisk attachment to an electric mixer. Whip on medium speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the melted chocolate: Pour in the melted chocolate and whip until just combined.
- Refrigerate: Spoon the mousse into small glasses. Refrigerate for 4 hours until set (or at least 2 hours).
Best chocolate to use
This easy chocolate mousse requires no fancy chocolate: just simple chocolate chips! Here are a few notes on the best chocolate to use here:
- Chocolate chips: We found chocolate chips melted easily here. We tested this recipe first with bittersweet baking chocolate wafers, but this resulted in a grainy texture when melted with the cream.
- Semi-sweet chocolate (around 55% cacao): Here we found semi-sweet chocolate had the best flavor, though we’re big dark chocolate fans! Bittersweet chocolate with 75% cacao tasted much too bitter. You can use bittersweet chocolate if you like, but you may want to add a bit of additional powdered sugar to offset the bitterness.
Ways to serve easy chocolate mousse
This easy chocolate mousse tastes great plain, but it’s even better with a whipped cream topping! Since you’ll already have cream on hand from the mousse, it’s easy to whip up the topping since you don’t need additional ingredients. Here’s how to make homemade whipped cream:
- Place whipping cream and powdered sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Use ½ cup heavy whipping cream and 1 tablespoon powdered sugar.
- Whip on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Use the balloon whisk attachment.
If you’d like, you can add a bit of shaved chocolate as a topping. It’s a brilliant way to top off this simple, classic recipe!
More easy dessert recipes
More often than not, we’re looking for easy desserts that take minimal time and energy to whip up. Here are are a few more ideas:
- Try No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies or Fudgy Olive Oil Brownies.
- Mix up a simple Chocolate Mug Cake…in the microwave!
- Bake these 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies.
- Make a batch of Chocolate Covered Strawberries.
Dietary notes
This easy chocolate mousse recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free.
Easy Chocolate Mousse (3 Ingredients!)
This easy chocolate mousse recipe requires just 3 ingredients: chocolate, cream and sugar! Whip it up for a decadent no bake treat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 4 oz (¾ cup) quality semisweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup + 2/3 cup whipping cream, divided
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- For serving: ½ recipe Homemade Whipped Cream, chocolate shavings (optional)
Instructions
- Place the chocolate in a heat proof bowl.
- In a small saucepan, heat ½ cup of the whipping cream until it is 175°F (or hot to the touch, but not quite simmering; do not simmer or boil). Pour the heated cream over the chocolate chips and stir until the chocolate melts and is smooth and glossy.
- Meanwhile, attach the balloon whisk attachment to an electric mixer. Add 2/3 cup whipping cream and the powdered sugar to the bowl and whisk on medium speed until firm peaks form, about 2 to 3 minutes. Pour the melted chocolate into the whipped cream and whisk on medium speed until just combined.
- Spoon the mousse into small glasses. Refrigerate at least 2 hours; the best “set” texture is achieved after about 4 hours. If desired, top with homemade whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Store leftovers refrigerated for up to 5 days.
Delicious!!! It’s so easy to make.
So easy and delicious! Beats the mousse I have had in upscale restaurants anyday. I’ve already sent the recipe to my 2 daughters.