These Chocolate Mousse Cups are sophisticated, decadent, and delicious.
Chocolate mousse is the kind of thing you might think of as a fancy restaurant dessert: rich, elegant, and served in a small crystal dish. However, while it definitely deserves its highbrow reputation, it’s actually an easy dessert to make at home. Add a touch of class to your next celebration or after-dinner sweet bite with these simple-to-make and easy-to-serve chocolate mousse cups.
The term mousse is French in origin, meaning “foam.” It can be a food you eat, or a hair product (I’m looking at you, 1980s hair!). In the kitchen, mousse is either sweet or savory; popular sweet flavors include not only chocolate, but caramel and coffee. Savory mousses come in all kinds of flavors, like salmon, vegetable, and even foie gras. Both sweet and savory mousses are light, air-filled, and usually served chilled (but not always).
This recipe for chocolate mousse cups takes this classic French dessert, simplifies the recipe a bit, and serves it up in adorable chocolate cups or dessert glasses for a fun presentation. You get twelve servings out of this one recipe, so it’s great for entertaining. You will love making and enjoying chocolate mousse cups, especially if you are a chocolate lover. The rich chocolate flavor of the pudding, the creaminess of the heavy whipping cream, and the light, foamy texture of the finished dish all make for a memorable, rich dessert.
Why a chilled bowl?
In Step 1 below, you will see that this recipe begins with a chilled bowl. Using a chilled bowl (and chilled beaters, if possible) helps the whipping cream stabilize and develop the right texture faster. By keeping all the surfaces chilled, the fat in the cream stays solid and traps air bubbles, so you get those soft peaks you need for the right mousse texture. Place your bowl and beaters in the freezer for 15 minutes, or up to 30 minutes in the refrigerator, to get them cold enough.
How do I store leftovers?
Chocolate mousse cups hold up well in the fridge. You can make them up to 1 day ahead of time and store any leftovers for up to 5 days in the fridge. Either wrap each cup tightly in plastic wrap or place all the cups into an airtight container before refrigerating. Freezing is not recommended.
Serving suggestions
Chocolate mousse cups are delicious any time but are especially lovely on a dessert tray or table when entertaining. They go well with other rich desserts that come in small servings. Good candidates include Crème Brûlée, Tiramisu Cups, and even Red Velvet Cake Pops. In addition to their portable presentation, it’s fun to enjoy several kinds of dessert in these smaller portions.
Chocolate Mousse Cups
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 4 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup cold milk
- 1 box instant chocolate pudding mix (3.4 ounces)
- 12 chocolate cups or dessert glasses
- Chocolate shavings or sprinkles for garnish
Instructions
- In a chilled bowl, beat heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Slowly drizzle in the cold milk and whip until combined.
- Add the instant chocolate pudding mix and continue beating until the mixture is thick and smooth.
- Fill each chocolate cup or dessert glass with the mousse using a spoon or piping bag. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with chocolate shavings or sprinkles.
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