I’ve pretty much had my fill of baked sweets with the many cookies, brownies, fudge, biscotti, etc I either made this holiday season or indulged in at parties or made by friends. For dessert this Christmas I wanted something lighter but still rich. The first thing that came to mind was chocolate mousse.
It was the perfect dessert to end our Christmas meal. I used organic coffee infused chocolate, compliments of my friend Aisha of eSutras. (Check out her site as she offers quite a bit of organic products!) Another special touch I added to the original recipe was the raspberry sauce I used as a garnish. It complimented the chocolate well and added a nice burst of color!
4 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 tablespoons (1 ounce) unsalted butter, diced
2 tablespoons espresso or very strong coffee
1 cup cold heavy cream
3 large eggs, separated
1 tablespoon sugar
(Optional) Raspberries or Raspberry sauce and extra whipped cream
Whip the cream to soft peaks, then refrigerate.
Combine the chocolate, butter, and espresso in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not simmering, water, stirring frequently until smooth. Remove from the heat and let cool until the chocolate is just slightly warmer than body temperature. To test, dab some chocolate on your bottom lip. It should feel warm. If it is too cool, the mixture will seize when the other ingredients are added.
Once the melted chocolate has cooled slightly, whip the egg whites in a medium bowl until they are foamy and beginning to hold a shape. Sprinkle in the sugar and beat until soft peaks form.
When the chocolate has reached the proper temperature, stir in the yolks. Gently stir in about one-third of the whipped cream. Fold in half the whites just until incorporated, then fold in the remaining whites, and finally the remaining whipped cream.
Spoon or pipe the mousse into a serving bowl or individual dishes (I used martini glasses.) If you wish, layer in fresh raspberries or raspberry sauce and top with whipped cream.
Refrigerate for at least 8 hours. (The mousse can be refrigerated for up to a day.)
Serves 5-8, depending on the size of the servings.
This is one of my favorite flavor combinations… and your mousee looks SO good! I’ll definitely have to try it out!