Lakeside Table

  • Home
  • Shop
  • Recipe Index
  • Julia Child Picture Project
  • About Me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Recipe Index
  • Julia Child Picture Project
  • About Me
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Recipe Index
  • Julia Child Picture Project
  • About Me
ร—
Home ยป Dessert Recipes

French Chocolate Mousse Recipe

Published: Oct 10, 2017 ยท Modified: May 20, 2020 by Madalaine ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท

โ†“ Jump to Recipe
โ†“ Jump to Video
If there is any dessert that under appreciated, it's the beautifully velvet French Chocolate Mousse recipe. ย It has got to be one of the best desserts because it is so versatile as well as being smooth, deeply chocolate-y, and rich. ย  Real Chocolate Mousse inspired by Julia Child's recipe. Rich, Creamy, Chocolate-y Easy! | www.lakesidetable.com Before we go any further, let's just be really clear. ย Chocolate Mousse, you are perfect just the way you are. ย You don't need to be dressed up and adorned, but you do wear red raspberries oh so well!

French Chocolate Mousse Recipe

Chocolate Mousse is a lotย like your favorite comfy jeans that are also super sexy. ย You just canโ€™t help but think ofย all sorts of excuses to wear it... I mean, use it. Likeโ€ฆ Chocolate mousse รฉclairs, filling for chocolate layer cake, cookie mousse cups, chocolate mousse cupcakes, chocolate mousse in chocolate cups, chocolate mousse parfaits with raspberry coulis and fresh fruit, chocolate mousse Cheriosโ€ฆ Ok, maybe not that last one. Yeah. But you get the idea. You can do almost anything with Chocolate Mousse. And itโ€™s not hard! ย The key is to start with the best ingredients. ย The basic recipe calls for 6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate. ย Personally, I like to use 2 or 3 kinds if I have them on hand. ย 
Real Chocolate Mousse inspired by Julia Child's recipe. Rich, Creamy, Chocolate-y Easy! | www.lakesidetable.com
Shhh... go ahead and take a little nibble. I won't tell. ๐Ÿ˜‰
My favorite blend is 4 ounces semi-sweet, 2 ounces bitter sweet, and a big heaping tablespoon of Special Dark cocoa powder. Real Chocolate Mousse inspired by Julia Child's recipe. Rich, Creamy, Chocolate-y Easy! | www.lakesidetable.com Mmmmโ€ฆ This is so rich and decadent. I really like it with the Grand Marnier. The orange flavor really makes the chocolate come alive. And itโ€™s so smooth! You know if you are worried about raw eggs, you can alwaysย eggs whites in a carton. ย They work just fine. Real Chocolate Mousse inspired by Julia Child's recipe. Rich, Creamy, Chocolate-y Easy! | www.lakesidetable.com Deb and I recently had a cooking class and demonstrated how to make Grand Marnier Chocolate Mousse Parfaits. ย They were a big hit! ย 
Real Chocolate Mousse inspired by Julia Child's recipe. Rich, Creamy, Chocolate-y Easy! | www.lakesidetable.com
Layer the parfait: I started with a bourbon caramel on the bottom, then the chocolate mouse & whip cream
Real Chocolate Mousse inspired by Julia Child's recipe. Rich, Creamy, Chocolate-y Easy! | www.lakesidetable.com
Another layer of chocolate mousse
Below is a recipe inspired from Julia Childโ€™s Mastering the Art of French Cooking page 604 Mousseline au Chocolat. Apparently it was also known as Mayonnaise au Chocolat. Hmmmmโ€ฆ somehow I donโ€™t think that would go over real well here in the States.; "mayonnaise" brings to mind an entirely different flavor profile. ย However, if you start with this basic recipe you can jazz it up as you like. ย Just... don't call it Chocolate Mayonnaise.ย  Real Chocolate Mousse inspired by Julia Child's recipe. Rich, Creamy, Chocolate-y Easy! | www.lakesidetable.com
Real Chocolate Mousse inspired by Julia Child's recipe. Rich, Creamy, Chocolate-y Easy! | www.lakesidetable.com
5 from 3 votes
Print

Chocolate Mousse

This basic recipe for chocolate mousse is a knock out!  Jazz it up with fresh raspberries or caramel or just eat it out of the bowl.  In any variation, you can't go wrong. *For best results, allow 2 hours at the end to refrigerate to let it set up. | lakesidetable.com

Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Prep Time 21 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 413.49 kcal
Author Madalaine

Ingredients

  • 4 egg yolks
  • ยพ cup ultra fine sugar
  • ยผ cup Grand Marnier
  • 6 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate
  • 4 tablespoons strong coffee
  • 6 ounces unsalted butter
  • 4 egg whites
  • 1 pinch salt fine
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

Equipment

  • wire whisk
  • metal non reactive bowl (medium)
  • sauce pot
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • electric stand or hand mixer
  • large bowl

Instructions

  1. Fill the sauce pot with 2 inches of water and heat on medium low.  Let the water come up to steaming while you prepare the yolk mixture.
  2. Beat the yolks and ยพ cup of fine sugar in the metal bowl.  Whisk briskly, or use a electric hand mixer.  If you use a whisk, prepare yourself for a workout. Beat until the sugar and yolk mixture forms a thick, pale yellow ribbon when it falls back on itself. 
    Real Chocolate Mousse inspired by Julia Child's recipe. Rich, Creamy, Chocolate-y Easy! | www.lakesidetable.com
  3. Beat in the Grand Marnier.
  4. Place the yolk mixture bowl over the steaming water to create a double boiler. You do not want the bowl to touch the water.  Continue beating for 3-4 more minutes until the mixture is too hot for your finger.  It will loosen up and loose it ribbon like quality. 
    Real Chocolate Mousse inspired by Julia Child's recipe. Rich, Creamy, Chocolate-y Easy! | www.lakesidetable.com
  5. Fill your large bowl with ice and remove the yolk mixture from the steam.  Place the smaller bowl in the larger one, and bet the yolk mixture until it's cooled off and starts to form ribbons again.
  6. Melt the chocolate with the coffee.  You can do this using the double boiler method like above.  Or you can microwave it at 8-10 second intervals, stirring in-between.  Or if you have a Super Low Simmer setting on your stove, you can melt it on that setting in a pot.
  7. Once the chocolate is melted, whisk in the butter a little at a time, to make a smooth cream.  Beat the chocolate into the yolk mixture.  Set aside.
    Real Chocolate Mousse inspired by Julia Child's recipe. Rich, Creamy, Chocolate-y Easy! | www.lakesidetable.com
  8. Egg whites:  In the stand mixture (or electric hand mixer), beat the egg whites and salt until soft peaks are formed.  Add sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
    Real Chocolate Mousse inspired by Julia Child's recipe. Rich, Creamy, Chocolate-y Easy! | www.lakesidetable.com
  9. Stir ยผ of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture and mix vigorously.  Then gently fold the rest of the whites into the chocolate.
    Real Chocolate Mousse inspired by Julia Child's recipe. Rich, Creamy, Chocolate-y Easy! | www.lakesidetable.com
  10. Pour into serving bowls or refrigerate as is for at least 2 hours or overnight.
    Real Chocolate Mousse inspired by Julia Child's recipe. Rich, Creamy, Chocolate-y Easy! | www.lakesidetable.com

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Thank you Julia Child for inspiring so many of us to fearless venture into the kitchen to learn, play, and eat good food! ย Cheers!

Uses for chocolate mousse: parfaits, eclairs, cupcake "frosting", layer cake filling, partnered with fresh fruit, whip cream, or creme anglaise. ย You can even put it in an Oreo pie shell, top it with whipping cream for an amazing chocolate pie.

Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Mousse
Amount Per Serving
Calories 413.49 Calories from Fat 250
% Daily Value*
Fat 27.83g43%
Saturated Fat 16.47g103%
Cholesterol 144.64mg48%
Sodium 39.47mg2%
Potassium 159.92mg5%
Carbohydrates 34.21g11%
Fiber 1.7g7%
Sugar 30.56g34%
Protein 4.56g9%
Vitamin A 671.75IU13%
Calcium 29.89mg3%
Iron 1.59mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
 
chocolate mousse in a crystal glass with whip cream and chocolate shavings

More Dessert Recipes

  • chantilly cream over berries in a glass bowl
    How to Make Chantilly Cream Recipe (Crรจme Chantilly)
  • Large slice of coffee cake with strudel topping and white icing dripping down the sides
    Gluten Free Starbucks Coffee Cake Recipe
  • gluten-free white cake iced with white frosting
    How to Make a Moist White Cake Recipe
  • A spoonful of creamy creme brulee made with a Thermomix
    Tempting Thermomix Crรจme Brรปlรฉe: How to Create Bliss

Comments

  1. Ashley Dow says

    October 12, 2018 at 4:23 pm

    5 stars
    Yummmmmm!

  2. Surya says

    June 28, 2020 at 9:31 pm

    5 stars
    Looks delightful!

  3. Amia says

    January 15, 2025 at 1:38 pm

    Mouthwatering! Thanks for sharing!

    • Madalaine says

      February 23, 2025 at 9:30 pm

      You are so welcome!

5 from 3 votes
Woman with short curly red hair in blue collared shirt smiling in a kitchen.

Welcome!

Hi Iโ€™m Madalaine and I love helping people have FUN in their kitchen. You'll find lots of easy-to-follow gluten-free recipes and tons of tips I learned in culinary school.ย  Most of my recipes are French-inspired butย allย of my recipes are family favorites.

Be sure to check out my cookbook Lakeside Table SAUCES ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿผ. 

More about me

Popular

  • serving platter with meatloaf surrounded by beans, potatoes, and carrots
    Make Ahead Meatloaf | Easy Recipe for Happy Dinners
  • No Carb Pancake Recipe - This will keep you in ketosis but it feels like a pure indulgence. I love this easy recipe! | www.lakesidetable.com
    How to Use a Whipped Cream Dispenser Recipe
  • golden yellow classic hollandaise sauce over poached egg and english muffin
    Classic Hollandaise Sauce for One in 1 Easy Minute
  • Foolproof Poached Egg in 5 Easy Steps

Seasonal

  • white bowl full of red cabbage soup with green parsley on top with lemon, parsley and a red lid in background
    Detox Cabbage Soup for a New Year
  • Magic leek soup with book French women don't get fat
    Emily in Paris Magic Leek Soup So Good!
  • Date Night Dinners: 3 full meals inspired by 3 romantic cities. 3 Step by Step menus you can make ahead of time so you can have FUN in your kitchen!
    How to Make a Flourless Chocolate Torte (Recipe)
  • close up of thick slice of corned beef oven baked on a white plate
    How to Make Winning Corned Beef Recipe | Results are in!

Check Out My Cookbook!

cookbook shown as a hardback and on a tablet

This is the PERFECT GIFT for your favorite foodie.  I gift-wrap each one before I ship them out. SAUCES is a 300-page hardback coffee table centerpiece with beautiful photos of each recipe.

This cookbook is packed with both sauce recipes AND dishes that complement them.

sample cookbook pages with chicken in pan and piccata sauce

Footer

โ†‘ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Services
  • FAQ

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright ยฉ 2025 Lakeside Table

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.