Chocolate mousse cups are a decadent, delicious dessert that adds a touch of elegance to any meal.
But although it looks and tastes like something truly special, this simple dessert is actually very easy with 4 pantry staples. To make this fantastic no bake chocolate mousse recipe simply combine the simple ingredients on the stovetop, chill, and pipe. That’s it!
Serve individual portions of cool and creamy chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream and your choice of goodies. Or set out an assortment of treats and let guests have fun adding their own.
This easy mousse recipe is sure to be a hit for all the chocolate dessert lovers out there!
4 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse
For this easy chocolate mousse recipe, you only need 4 simple ingredients.
- Heavy cream
- High-quality semi-sweet chocolate chips or baking chocolate
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs
Optional Add-Ins
Add a pinch of orange zest (preferably organic) for a bright pop of citrus and chocolate flavor.
Mix in a light splash (about 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon) of almond or hazelnut extract to add a bit of earthy, nutty flavor to balance the sweetness of the chocolate.
Or try mint extract for a delightful chocolate mint combo.
Make these mousse cups with a bit of berry extract – strawberry and raspberry are a couple of our favorites – for a yummy fruity taste.
And of course, a dash of good quality vanilla extract is always a welcome addition to a chocolate dessert.
How to Make No Bake Chocolate Mousse
- In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup of the heavy whipping cream with chocolate chips over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until chips have melted. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar with a hand mixer at medium-high speed for 3-minutes. You can also a stand mixer instead of the hand-held electric mixer.
- While mixing on the same setting as above, slowly add the melted chocolate mixture to the egg mixture. Stir in the orange zest or other add-ins, if using.
- Once combined, pour back into the pan used to melt the chocolate. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.
- Remove from heat and cool slightly before transferring to the refrigerator to chill for 2 hours.
- Once chilled, whip the remaining heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the chilled chocolate mousse mixture into the whipped cream until thoroughly combined. The cooled chocolate mixture should have a fluffy consistency.
Serving Suggestions
To serve, spoon chilled chocolate mousse into a piping bag and pipe into small dessert dishes. If you don’t have a piping bag, you can also use a resealable plastic bag. Just cut a small bit off the corner and you’ve got a homemade piping bag.
Top with whipped cream and your choice of other goodies, if you like. Here are a few of our favorite classic chocolate mousse cup toppings:
- Maraschino cherries
- Mandarin orange slices
- Fresh strawberries or raspberries
- Chocolate shavings
- Crushed freeze dried raspberries or strawberries
- Fresh mint leaves
- Mini chocolate chips
- Chopped white chocolate
- Crushed cookies
MIlk Chocolate Mousse Recipe
Make these desserts even richer by substituting semi-sweet chocolate chips 1:1 with milk chocolate chips.
Note that using entirely milk chocolate chips will make the mousse much sweeter. Get a nice balance by combining 50/50 semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips.
Dark Chocolate Mousse Recipe
If you prefer a more intense flavor, you can also try using dark chocolate in your recipe. Dark chocolate has a deep chocolate flavor that pairs beautifully with raspberry, orange, strawberry and mint flavors.
How Long Does Chocolate Mousse Last
This homemade chocolate mousse is best when enjoyed chilled. I recommend that you serve shortly after the mousse cups are prepared or removed from the refrigerator.
Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. For maximum freshness, store in an airtight container or tightly cover the top of individual portions with a layer of plastic wrap.
No-bake chocolate mousse is also fantastic to freeze. Transfer the mousse to a freezer-safe container with a lid; I also suggest you wrap the container in a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and serve cold within a day or so.
More Dessert Recipes For The Chocolate Lover
- Oreo Pie Crust Recipe (Bake or No Bake)
- Classic Fudgy Walnut Brownies with Chocolate Frosting
- Dark Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- The Best Chocolate Dipped Rice Krispie Treats
- Oreo S’mores Dip Recipe
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No Bake Chocolate Mousse Recipe
This delicious chocolate mousse recipe is made with just 4 simple ingredients!
Ingredients
- 2½ c. heavy cream, divided
- 8 oz. high-quality semi-sweet chocolate chips or baking chocolate
- ¼ c. granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- Optional: 1 t. orange zest, preferably organic
- Optional to serve: Whipped cream, maraschino cherries, and/or mandarin orange slices
Instructions
- Heat 1 cup of heavy cream with chocolate chips over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until chips have melted. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, beat eggs and sugar with a hand-held mixer at medium speed for 3-minutes.
- While mixing on the same setting as above, slowly add the melted chocolate mixture to the egg mixture. Stir in the orange zest, if using. Once combined, pour back into the pan used to melt the chocolate. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.
- Remove from heat and cool slightly before transferring to the refrigerator to chill for 2 hours.
- Once chilled, whip the remaining heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the chilled chocolate into the whipped cream until thoroughly combined. The mixture should have a fluffy consistency. .
- To serve, spoon chocolate mousse into a piping bag and pipe into small dessert dishes. Top with whipped cream and maraschino cherries or mandarin oranges, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. For maximum freshness, store in an airtight container or tightly cover the top of individual portions with a layer if plastic wrap.
No bake chocolate mousse is also fantastic to freeze! Transfer the mousse to a freezer-safe container with a lid; I also suggest you wrap the container in a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and serve cold within a day or so.
Micky Reed, a two-decade veteran in the food and baking industry, leverages her influential Three Snackateers food blog and Instagram presence to collaborate with industry giants like Ben & Jerry's and Crumbl Cookies. Her work has been featured on Delish, PopSugar and more. Her expertise as a product curator for one of the world's largest international snack subscription box companies solidifies her status as a key player in the field.