Easy Gluten-free Chocolate Mousse

This gluten-free chocolate mousse recipe uses only simple ingredients to make a light and decadent dessert any chocolate lover would enjoy!

I give you the easiest chocolate mousse recipe there is to make. It's the perfect gluten-free chocolate dessert for all your special occasions when cookies and cakes just won't cut it. This classic "fancy pants" dessert uses very simple ingredients, but it can yield endless delicious possibilities to enjoy with only a few tweaks.

Jump to:

• What is chocolate mousse?
• Is chocolate mousse gluten-free?
• Ingredients and notes.
• Steps.
• How to fold in the whipped cream.
• Tips and tricks.
• Troubleshooting chocolate mousse.
• Serving suggestions.
• Topping chocolate mousse.
• Make-ahead, storing, and leftovers.
• More gluten-free desserts to love.
• 📖 Recipe

What is chocolate mousse?

For the purpose of this recipe, we will stick to the basics. A mousse consists of a few essential components, which are something to make it fluffy and a base flavor. While these can get more technical, we are sticking with the classic chocolate and heavy whipping cream.

If we were doing the french pastry version that involves egg whites and yolks, it would be a whole different level, but trust me, you don't need to make that complicated version.

Even though we are keeping it simple, this chocolate mousse recipe yields a light and airy texture that everyone will think was harder to make than it actually is.

Is chocolate mousse gluten-free?

Typically yes, most mousses are made gluten-free. Sometimes flour can be used as a thickener when making mousse or puddings, so it's always a good rule to check before consuming. Chocolate can also sometimes contain gluten, so it's important you use gluten-free chocolate if you want your mousse to be gluten-free.

Ingredients and notes.

• Heavy Cream - Keep the heavy whipping cream cold as long as possible before whipping it. The cold helps the fats in the cream hold their shape and adds more air to the final whipped cream. The warmer the cream, the less it will hold its shape.
• Vanilla Extract
• Powdered Sugar - You can leave this out, but I prefer the added sweetness since I like to use darker chocolate.
• Chocolate - You can use what you like milk, dark or semi-sweet. Just make sure you are using a gluten-free chocolate.

You can see this gluten-free chocolate mousse recipe uses very simple ingredients, and while it is not a dairy-free mousse, it is an egg-free mousse.

Steps.

When it comes to making this easy chocolate mousse, there are really only a few steps to do.

1. Melt the chocolate with some of the cream and vanilla.
2. Stir the melted chocolate into the warm cream until a soft ganache is formed.
3. Combine the powdered sugar and remaining cream in another bowl.
4. Whip the remaining heavy cream and powdered sugar until medium peaks form.
5. Carefully fold the whipped cream into the ganache.
6. Portion the chocolate mousse into serving dishes and chill until you are ready to eat it.

How to fold in the whipped cream.

Folding the whipped cream into the smooth ganache is an important step for making chocolate mousse with the best texture. This process of folding in the whipped cream only means mixing the ingredients without actually stirring.

1. Place about a third of the whipped cream on top of the chocolate ganache.
2. Using a spatula, cut through the center of the whipped cream and down into ganache.
3. Slide the spatula down and around the outside of the bowl and back down again.
4. Turn the bowl a quarter turn and repeat.
5. Repeat the process for the remaining whipped cream.

Tips and tricks.

This recipe is super simple, but there are a few things to keep in mind while making it to ensure you get the best possible results the first time.

• Don't use "pre-whipped cream" to make chocolate mousse. You want to make sure you are using heavy whipping cream and bringing it to medium peaks to use in this mousse recipe for the best results.

Troubleshooting chocolate mousse.

Keep an eye on temperatures.

• The chocolate - Do not overheat the cream and chocolate. You want it warm enough to melt the chocolate but not scalding. Let the chocolate cool to room temperature before adding in the whipped cream.
• The whipped cream - Cream whips best when cold (not freezing). Keep the cream in the fridge as long as possible. I tend to wait for my ganache to cool before I start whipping the cream to make sure everything is at the temperatures I want.

Texture issues.

• Does your mousse have a sandy texture? The likely causes of sandy mousse are one of two things. Either your chocolate was not heated enough to be incorporated into the cream fully, or you whipped your cream too much. To avoid this, make sure that your chocolate ganache mixture is completely smooth before folding in the whipped cream. For the whipped cream, make sure that you are only whipping it until the medium peaks; you do not want to overwhip the cream.

Chocolate mousse won't set up?

• If your chocolate mousse is soft and not set up, it is likely you did not whip your heavy cream enough, or you overmixed the chocolate into the cream and deflated it. The easiest fix is to let the mousse chill, whip up another batch of whipped cream, and gently fold it in again.

Serving suggestions.

Portion the chocolate mousse into small ramekins or bowls and let it chill for at least an hour before serving. If you want a firmer mousse, let it chill for at least four hours.

Topping chocolate mousse.

If you want to make it a little extra special, serve this chocolate mousse with a dollop of more whipped cream, shaved chocolate, crushed toffee, or even some crushed nuts like pistachios. hazelnuts.

Make-ahead, storing, and leftovers.

Chocolate mousse is the perfect make-ahead dessert.

• This gluten-free mousse can be kept in the fridge for up to three days.
• If you wish to keep it longer, it can be frozen for up to two months. If you freeze it, let it defrost in the fridge. You might need to gently fold it again before eating to bring the texture back to life.

More gluten-free desserts to love.

I love this chocolate mousse recipe on its own, but it's also delicious when used to turn it into a gluten-free chocolate mousse cake! Trust me, do it! I am pretty fond of all things chocolate but these other gluten-free desserts are delicious too!

📖 Recipe