Simple, elegant and classic! Mousse au chocolat is the quintessential French dessert. When you travel to France, no matter where you eat in any region, you will most likely be offered this divine “foamy chocolate” (mousse means “foam” in French). Rich, creamy, dark and dreamy, chocolate mousse is not only a perfect gourmet treat, it is also one of the simplest to make. The exact date or year that chocolate mousse debuted in France is unknown, but its popularity has certainly soared in the US over the years—April 3 is officially National Chocolate Mousse Day. Remember to celebrate your chocolate!
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1/4 cup baker’s sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream separated & chilled
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 7 oz. high-quality dark chocolate chopped, plus extra for garnish
- Place egg yolks and sugar in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Place 1 C of cream in a small, heavy saucepan over medium heat until bubbles just begin to show around edges. Slowly pour cream into yolk mixture, whisking until completely combined. Return mixture to saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until mixture registers 160°F (71°C) on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl. Stir in vanilla.
- Place chocolate in a large microwave-safe bowl and heat on high in microwave at 30-second intervals until melted. Stir until chocolate is smooth. Spoon yolk mixture into chocolate, whisking until smooth. Place remaining cream in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Spoon a cup of cream into chocolate mixture and stir to combine. Add remaining cream, folding in gently with a rubber spatula just to combine. Spoon or pipe into dessert glasses and chill for at least 2 hours or up to overnight. Garnish with a bit of chopped chocolate and serve cold.
Source: Viking River Cruises