Eggless Chocolate Mousse Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

  • The alkalinity of Dutch cocoa prevents the dairy from curdling.
  • Condensing the milk and cream creates a thick, stable base without eggs.
  • Cocoa powder, a starch, intensifies the overall flavor while adding stability to the base.

Any good chef will have a chocolate mousse recipe in their repertoire. Typically, the recipe involves whipping egg yolks and sugar until they're light and fluffy (perhaps over a water bath for food-safety), and then combining that mixture with melted dark chocolate and folding in whipped cream. Some recipes may further lighten the mix with meringue, or stabilize it with gelatin, depending on the application.

Eggless Chocolate Mousse Recipe (1)

It’s classic for a reason, with a rich custard flavor from the egg yolks, and I can’t say I have any complaints. So it was never my intent to develop an eggless chocolate mousse, but that’s exactly what I stumbled into while trying to develop a chocolate version of mysweetened condensed milk.

I'd only added a few spoonfuls of Dutch cocoa powder to the mixture, but instead of reducing into a light cocoa milk, the result was something far closer to pudding due to the natural starch in cocoa. The flavor was bold and complex, with notes of toffee from the cooked milk and the deep, earthy flavor that cocoa develops as it simmers.

On cooling, the chocolate condensed milk proved too thick and intense to eat as a pudding, so I folded in some whipped cream to lighten up the flavor and texture. And thus my eggless mousse was born!

Eggless Chocolate Mousse Recipe (2)

What took me by surprise was how clean and bold the chocolate tasted without egg yolks to mask its flavor, and how easy the recipe would be as a make-ahead dessert—the base could be made and refrigerated a week or more in advance, then lightened with cream a few hours before serving.

Making the Base

This technique starts out much like mysweetened condensed milk, with the addition of Cacao Barry Extra Brute to the milk, cream, and sugar (ortoasted sugar, as it were).

It's all whisked together until smooth, then cooked over medium heat for about 45 minutes. In that time, it will transform from a pale and foamy "cocoa" that nearly fills a5-quart Dutch ovento just over a pint of inky black "pudding" (check out the time lapse in the video below).

Folding in the Cream

To speed cooling, I transfer the mixture to a wide baking dish before refrigeration, but if you're not in a hurry, any sort of bowl will do. Once the mixture is cold, thick, and no warmer than 45°F (7°C), I fold in a small portion of stiffly whipped cream.

This loosens the consistency of the "pudding" so it folds into the rest of the whipped cream without crushing out all the air. The folding process can happen straight in the baking dish if it's large enough (as per the video), or the lightened pudding can be transferred to the bowl of whipped cream. In either case, what matters is that you fold the mousse as gently as you can to avoid deflating the cream.

Freshly made, the mousse will be fluffy, light, and a little soft—perfect for spreading between layers of chocolate cake or piping into serving dishes.

Eggless Chocolate Mousse Recipe (4)

While I highly recommend licking the bowl and spatula as soon as you can, the mousse itself should be chilled at least an hour before serving. That will give it time to set up and develop a bit more body. When soft and comparatively warm, the mousse has a foamy texture like whipped cream. Once cold, the mousse will still be creamy and soft, but with enough structure that you'll be able to feel the air cells pop. To me, that's what makes a mousse a mousse.

Eggless Chocolate Mousse Recipe (5)

The mousse has a deep, rich chocolate flavor that doesn't require any embellishments, but I had some crunchy pearls on hand, so I couldn't resist.

Eggless Chocolate Mousse Recipe (6)

Choosing the Right Cocoa Powder

In a recipe this simple, the mousse can only be as delicious as the cocoa powder involved. Since the acidity of natural cocoas will curdle the milk, alkalized Dutch cocoa is a must. My oft-mentioned favorite is Cacao Barry Extra Brute, but Droste is a common supermarket brand that I'm happy to use (though it's significantly cheaper to purchase online), or you can splurge on a high-end cocoa like Valrhona (which is indeed Dutched, despite the lack of labeling).

The crucial thing is to avoid cheap, lowfat cocoa powder, which will lack sufficient flavor to carry the mousse. If you're not sure whether a cocoa is lowfat, check the nutrition label and divide the grams of fat per serving by the total grams per serving; if the answer is less than 0.2, abandon ship.

Eggless Chocolate Mousse Recipe (7)

With a rich, full-flavored Dutch cocoa as the starring ingredient, this unusual mousse is certain to make a memorable finale to any meal.

December 2017

Recipe Details

Eggless Chocolate Mousse Recipe

Active50 mins

Total2 hrs 30 mins

Serves6 servings

Ingredients

For the Base:

  • 7 ounces plain ortoastedsugar (1 cup; 195g)

  • 2 ounces Dutch cocoa powder, such as Cacao Barry Extra Brute (about 2/3 cup, spooned; 55g)

  • 1/4teaspoon (1g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use about half as much by volume or the same weight

  • 32 ounces milk,any percentage will do(4 cups; 910g)

  • 6 ounces heavy cream(3/4 cup; 170g)

For the Mousse:

  • 10 ounces heavy cream (about 1 1/4 cups; 285g)

Directions

  1. For the Base: Combine sugar, Dutch cocoa, and salt in a 5-quart stainless steel or enameled Dutch oven. When the cocoa is distributed into the sugar, whisk in the milk and cream. If you have a scale, weigh the pot and ingredients together so you can digitally track the reduction. Place over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a heat-resistant spatula, until the milk begins to simmer, about 12 minutes.

  2. Continue simmering an additional 30 minutes, scraping continuously to prevent a milky buildup from forming around the sides, until the mixture is as thick and dark as chocolate pudding and reduced to about 2 1/3 cups or 24 ounces. If using a scale, the pot will weigh 23 ounces less than when you started. Transfer to a wide dish, such as a 7- by 11-inch casserole, cover with plastic, and refrigerate until thick and cold, about 1 hour.

    Eggless Chocolate Mousse Recipe (8)

  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip remaining cream to medium-stiff peaks. Meanwhile, stir the chilled cocoa base until smooth. Fold in about half of the whipped cream, and, when well combined, gently fold in the rest. Immediately divide between individual dishes, using a pastry bag fitted with a star tip, if you prefer, then cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving. If you like, garnish with shaved chocolate, Valrhona's Crunchy Pearls, fresh fruit, or dollops of unsweetened whipped cream.

    Eggless Chocolate Mousse Recipe (9)

Special Equipment

Dutch oven, heat-resistant spatula

Notes

This recipe works well with any good quality Dutch cocoa powder, but for the deepest chocolate flavor and color I use Cacao Barry Extra Brute.

Make-Ahead and Storage

The base for this mousse can be made and refrigerated a week or more in advance, then lightened with cream a few hours before serving.

Read More

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Eggless Chocolate Mousse Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a good egg substitute for mousse? ›

Silken tofu

You might be surprised to hear that silken tofu makes an excellent substitute for eggs in savoury or sweet dishes, such as vegan cheesecake or chocolate mousse. However you use it, you'll need to whip it until smooth, otherwise you'll be left with noticeable chunks of tofu in your mixture.

Why is my chocolate mousse not fluffy? ›

Not fluffy enough, not chocolatey enough, too sweet, grainy, etc etc. Many “easy” chocolate mousse recipes tend to use too much cream so the end result is more like custard, rather than aerated like real chocolate mousse should be.

What is the function of eggs in mousse? ›

The pate a bombe serves as the main body of our mousse; the proteins in the egg yolks are strong enough to hold all the air bubbles we'll incorporate, even after being mixed with melted chocolate and whipped cream.

What is the best way to thicken chocolate mousse? ›

Once it is thoroughly combined, pour it back into your heavy saucepan from before. Heat that over medium heat, again stirring constantly, until thickened. For an even thicker mousse, livestrong.com suggests adding in ½ tablespoon of cornstarch and ½ tablespoon of cold milk until reaching your desired consistency.

What can I use to bind if I don't have an egg? ›

Some common egg substitutes include:
  • Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  • Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  • Fruit puree. ...
  • Avocado. ...
  • Gelatin. ...
  • Xanthan gum. ...
  • Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  • Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

What can I use as a substitute if I don't have an egg? ›

See the list of 11 egg substitutes below to find the right one for the recipe you're whipping up.
  • MASHED BANANA. ...
  • APPLESAUCE. ...
  • SILKEN TOFU. ...
  • GROUND FLAXSEED OR CHIA SEEDS & WATER. ...
  • YOGURT. ...
  • BUTTERMILK. ...
  • SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK. ...
  • ARROWROOT POWDER OR CORNSTARCH.

What are common mistakes when making mousse? ›

8 Mistakes Everyone Makes With Mousse
  • Getting the temperatures wrong. Apomares/Getty Images. ...
  • Using a bowl that's not squeaky clean. Billnoll/Getty Images. ...
  • Overmixing your mousse batter. ...
  • Burning the chocolate. ...
  • Flubbing the folding. ...
  • Not straining the custard. ...
  • Skipping the chill. ...
  • Forgetting that mousse can be sweet and savory.
Apr 22, 2024

What is the thickening agent for mousse? ›

The thickener:

Traditionally, mousse is made with gelatin. The gelatin should be bloomed in cool water or 5 minutes, then melted before adding to the base. The amount of gelatin can be altered depending on the desired texture.

What makes a good mousse? ›

The whipped cream and egg whites also provide fat and protein, which give the mousse its rich and smooth mouthfeel. Additionally, the use of high-quality chocolate can contribute to the creaminess of the mousse, as the cocoa butter in the chocolate can help to create a smooth and silky texture.

Is it safe to use raw eggs in chocolate mousse? ›

Mousse recipes that use raw eggs should be modified by heating the milk, eggs and sugar to 160 degrees F. Hillers recommends any recipe calling for raw eggs should be modified to either heat the eggs or to substitute a modified egg product. If your recipe can't be modified, Hillers advises finding a substitute recipe.

How to create chocolate mousse? ›

Heat 1 cup whipping cream in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat until hot. Gradually stir at least half of the hot whipping cream into egg yolk mixture; stir back into hot cream in saucepan. Cook over low heat about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens (do not boil). Stir in chocolate until melted.

Why is my chocolate mousse so dense? ›

Chocolate with more cocoa butter in it will render the chocolate mousse heavy and thick. How to choose the right fluidity? Too much fat in the recipe creates a texture that is too thick and heavy. Cream with a 35% fat content in combination with a three-drop chocolate yields the perfect texture.

Why won't my chocolate mousse set? ›

A runny mousse that won't set is caused by the opposite of the reason for grainy mousse. If your mousse won't set, it is most likely because you have under-whipped the heavy cream. Perfectly whipped cream will stabilize the mousse as it sets in the refrigerator.

Can you over whip mousse? ›

If you over-whip the cream, you'll end up with a grainy mousse (although you can try to remedy it by whisking in a few extra tablespoons of cream). An electric hand mixer and a nice big bowl are my tools of choice, but a big balloon whisk and a chilled mixing bowl work well, too.

What is the stabilizer in chocolate mousse? ›

Silky, rich chocolate mousse that is light yet sooo creamy. Stabilized by gelatin, this can be used to fill a pie or cake but is equally as delicious eaten all on its own. Rich enough for a winter date night yet light enough for summer, there's no wrong time to try this beloved, easy chocolate mousse!

What can I use instead of egg to bind patties? ›

My favorite is Baking powder & Oil - for each egg use 2 TBS water, 1 TBS oil & 1/2 tsp baking powder (works well for replacing 1-2 eggs). How do you get hamburger patties to not fall apart at home?

What can I use instead of egg to bind pastry? ›

OIL, WATER + BAKING POWDER

For one egg, whisk 1½ tbsp oil, 1½ tbsp water and 1 tsp baking powder together. Use to create an egg-free binding agent in recipes.

What can I use instead of egg as emulsifier? ›

Egg emulsifiers are perhaps the easiest to replace. Plant-derived lecithins such as soya lecithin make good substitutes. Flax or chia seeds, bananas or mustard can also be used to stabilise emulsion droplets.

What has the same texture as eggs? ›

Ground Chia or Flaxseed

This will replace one egg in your recipe. Chia and flax seeds will each lend a nutty flavor and dense, heavy texture to baked goods, so opt for this egg replacement with non-delicate quick breads and desserts, like waffles, pancakes, muffins, and cookies.

References

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