2 Note Chocolate Mousse Recipes

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Place the butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Break the chocolate into small pieces directly into the bowl. Microwave it in 20-second intervals, stirring between each bout of heat, until the chocolate is about 75% melted. Stir, allowing the residual heat in the bowl to melt the chocolate completely. (Alternatively, place the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan containing about 1 inch of barely simmering water. Stir with a wooden spoon until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.) Let the mixture cool for a few minutes, then whisk in the egg yolks one at a time, mixing until smooth after each addition. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer or electric hand mixer, beat the egg whites on medium-high speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form (the peaks should be just starting to hold, and will melt back into themselves after a second). Gradually beat in ¼ cup of the sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form (the peaks will stand straight up when the beaters are lifted from the mixture). Using a large rubber spatula, fold the egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture until uniform. Set aside.
• In another bowl, beat the heavy cream on medium-high speed until it begins to thicken up. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and the vanilla and continue beating until the cream holds medium peaks (when you lift the beaters or whisk out of the bowl, the peaks will slightly droop down, but they won't lose their shape entirely). Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Be sure it is fully incorporated but don't mix any more than necessary. Divide the mousse between 6 individual glasses, cover, and chill until set, at least 2 hours.
• Up to a few hours before serving, whip the cream until it begins to thicken up. Add the sugar and whip to medium peaks. Dollop the whipped cream over the mousse and top with chocolate shavings.
• Make-Ahead Instructions: Mousse can be made up to 1 day ahead of time. Cover with plastic wrap and keep chilled in the refrigerator. Add whipped cream topping and chocolate shavings up to a few hours before serving.
• Note: Chocolate mousse is made with raw eggs. If that is a concern, try to find pasteurized eggs. Pasteurized eggs have been briefly exposed to heat to destroy any potential bacteria. Whole Foods usually carries them but call your local store to be sure before making a special trip. (Note: eating raw eggs is not advisable for pregnant women, babies, the elderly, or anyone with a compromised immune system.)

TWO INGREDIENT CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, heat 1/2 cup of the heavy cream for 50 seconds (depending on microwave strength).
• Add the chocolate chips to the cream and stir until the chocolate has melted. This will take 1-2 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Pour the remaining 1 cup of heavy cream into a medium bowl. Using a hand-held or stand mixer, beat until soft peaks form. (Optional: Store half the soft whipped cream into a small bowl and refrigerate it to use as a topping for the mousse.) Continue whipping the cream until stiff peaks form.
• Slowly fold in half the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture with a large spatula. Gently fold in the rest of the whipped cream.
• Divide the mixture between 4 ramekins or cocktail glasses (I used lowball glasses). Refrigerate for at least one hour, (up to overnight), before serving. Top with the reserved whip cream or cool whip and chocolate shavings.

2 NOTE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Fold a kitchen towel into quarters and place in the bottom of a straight-sided, 11-inch sauté pan and fill said pan with an inch or so of water. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a bare simmerYou should see steam and tiny bubbles, especially around the edge of the pan., about 190°F.
• Place the chocolate in a heat-safe bowl - either metal or heavy glass will do - and park right on top of the towel. Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir the chocolate with a rubber or silicone spatula off and on until it's almost melted - 3 to 5 minutes. Then move the bowl to a dry towel on the counter and stir the chocolate until completely melted.
• Whisk the yolks into the chocolate one at a time, followed by the whole egg and the salt. The mixture will look gnarly after the first two yolks, but it will smooth out once everything is in. Allow to cool to room temperature, then...
• Beat the egg whites using the whisk attachment(s) on your stand or electric hand mixer on medium-low speed until foamy -1 minute. Increase the speed to medium-high and keep beating until the whites form stiff peaks - about 1 minute more. (You'll know you're there when you pull a whisk straight out of the foam, hold it facing up and the points or "peaks" of the egg whites don't fall over.) If the whites start to look dry or chunky, you've gone too far and will need some new egg whites.
• Using the whisk, stir a third of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture. Then, switch to a large rubber spatula and gently fold the remaining whites into the chocolate in two doses, rotating the bowl as you go. Stop while your mousse still has tiny streaks of chocolate and white throughout.
• Chill the mousse until it begins to stiffen, about 45 minutes, then divide between four Champagne coupes or small bowls. Allow to warm on the counter 5 minutes prior to serving.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Bring an inch of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Combine the cream and chocolate in a large heatproof bowl. When the water boils, turn the heat to low so the water is barely simmering or just steaming. Set the bowl over the saucepan and melt the chocolate, gently stirring with a whisk now and then.
• While the chocolate melts, whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer on medium speed. When the whites are foamy, add the sugar in a slow stream while whisking. Continue whisking until stiff peaks form. The whites should look glossy but not dry, and, when you lift the whisk from the mixture, a peak should form in the bowl and hold.
• Once the chocolate has melted completely, turn off the heat but leave the bowl over the saucepan. Holding the bowl with a kitchen towel, add the egg yolks one at a time, whisking after each addition. If the mixture looks broken, remove the bowl from the saucepan, cool for a minute, then add 1 tablespoon cream and whisk just until shiny and smooth. Whisk in the vanilla. (Don't worry if it still doesn't look completely smooth. It will come together in the next step.)
• Add a quarter of the beaten whites to the chocolate mixture and stir gently with a flexible rubber spatula until incorporated but still a little streaky. This will make it easier to fold in the remaining whites to create an airy mousse by gradually lowering the temperature of the chocolate (tempering) and making the mixture loose.
• Add the rest of the whites and fold them in by running the spatula from 12 o'clock on the bowl to 6 o'clock, then scooping up the chocolate on the bottom and gently folding it over the whites as you move toward 9 o'clock. Rotate the bowl 90 degrees and repeat. Continue folding just until the last streak of white disappears. It's OK if there are a few lumps of whites left. It's better to not deflate the batter by folding too much.
• Scoop into a pretty bowl or into individual cups or bowls for serving if you'd like. Otherwise, keep it in the mixing bowl. Refrigerate the mousse uncovered until cool, then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 more hours and preferably 24. The covered mousse can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.
• If you'd like to serve the mousse with whipped cream, whisk heavy cream until soft peaks form. A cup or two of heavy cream is plenty for this amount of mousse. Serve the mousse cold, straight from the refrigerator, with the whipped cream.

2-INGREDIENT DAIRY-FREE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE RECIPE

Steps:

• Break up or chop the chocolate and place it in a heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water and allow the chocolate to melt, stirring occasionally. Once the chocolate has melted, remove it from the heat and let cool until tepid.
• In the meantime, put the egg yolks in a large bowl. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a large bowl, using a handheld mixer, whip the egg whites to very firm peaks, about 5 minutes.
• When the chocolate has cooled, pour it into the bowl with the egg yolks and whisk well. Using a rubber spatula, stir in about one-third of the egg whites to lighten the mixture. Carefully spoon another third of the egg whites on top of the chocolate mixture and gently fold them in (do not stir). Add the remaining whites, folding just until the egg whites are incorporated.
• Spoon the mixture into ten 4- or 5-oz. (120- or 150-ml) ramekins or small coffee cups. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight, until set.
• Serve the chocolate mousse cold, decorated with chocolate shavings, if desired.