Top-Secret Chocolate Mousse, a delicious bittersweet chocolate concoction that will dazzle your guests. It’s make-ahead simple. Serve it in individual portions or, as the French do, in a big bowl.
I almost think of this as a James Bond-moment. Are you on the edge of your seat?
The FFWD recipe this week is Top-Secret Chocolate Mousse. Truthfully, it was scheduled last week but I mistakenly baked Goat Cheese Mini-Puffs. (Loved them.) Luckily I went all bittersweet this week, anxious to be clued in on this hush-hush, don’t tell, mousse secrecy. We’ve uncoded the recipe for you also because Dorie already shared it in Bon Appetit. That means you won’t be a spy who didn’t come in from the cold. (Yeah, a stretch, I know.)
Don’t compromise on the quality of your bittersweet chocolate. Purchase a well-regarded brand.
As Dorie puts it, “There was a moment in time when I was convinced that all Parisian dinner-party givers either had the same magic touch with chocolate mousse or bought their great mousse from the same place and passed it off as their own.”
Coarsely chop 3 1/2 ounces of bittersweet chocolate before melting it carefully using the double boiler-process or in a microwave.
To Dorie’s delight, she was finally clued in by a Parisienne friend that French women follow the recipe on the back of a bar of Nestlé Dessert Chocolate to create mousse perfection.
BUSTED.
The melted chocolate, after the egg yolks have been added, followed with the whipped egg whites being folded into the mixture.
Its ingredients are too simple: bittersweet chocolate, 3 eggs, a salt pinch and a teaspoon or two of sugar. Voilà, chocolate mousse fantastique. If you care to add Kahlua, Cuarenta Y Tres (Licor 43) or Cointreau, for example, pour in a tablespoon of the liquor when you whisk the egg yolks into the melted chocolate. I added Cointreau for flavoring. Serve as is or add whipped cream/cème fraîche, if you like.
As you can see, this recipe makes four small portions of mousse. I had hoped to have enough to fill two Christmas teacups also but no such luck. Double the recipe if you are serving more than 4 portions.
As you can see in my photographs, I served my mousse in Christmas goblets. Tomorrow my neighbors extraordinaire, Dom and Ray, are taking me to buy my Christmas tree and will carry it into my house, putting it exactly where I wish. A little early, perhaps, but I am looking forward to the holidays this year and need a head start. I love everything about this Season of the year. As always, these guys to the rescue.
In keeping with “the theme”, tonight they shall enjoy Top-Secret Chocolate Mousse for dessert —- in Christmas tree goblets!
This is a lovely and tasty dessert for the holidays, special occasion, dinner party or just because you love your family!
The other Doristas are baking Goat Cheese Mini-Puffs this week. These are delicious little morsels that every cook should have in their arsenal during the holiday season. Drop by French Fridays with Dorie to see their mini-puffs.
Well, that is just beautiful and sounds amazing. Um, I live around the corner… I know it produced a small amount, I am just kidding, sort of. Thanks for the lovely article you left in my mailbox today. Wonderful picture of Michael.
I am such a big fan of mousse and this looks like the simplest recipe I’ve seen for it. Just getting my life back to normal after the hurricane… will get to this recipe soon. Your’s looks delicious.
My family would love a remake of this for their Christmas dessert! Mousse is always a hit here, and I love your billowing topping of whipped cream…so beautiful!! Enjoy the start of your holiday celebrations, my friend!!! xo
Your mousse looks fabulous served in a style fit for a Christmas dessert, which reminds me, maybe I want to make this again for the holidays? This is such a treat for chocolate lovers;-)
CHER –
Christmas tree already – it’s too soon, I can’t deal 🙂
Love the holiday wine glasses!
Yeah, obnoxiously early. The tree, decorated by Thanksgiving. Even have the Christmas china unpacked. But, since my Christmas holidays have been a bit sad and challenging the past several years, I’m trying to play catch-up. My new motto is: Celebrate Early and Often!
Ho. Ho. Ho.
I like that motto!! I wholeheartedly agree! Go for it!!
Oh, your mousse looks terrific! And I love the presentation. Very festive. 😉 Nice job!
Love the presentation… I missed this one, but can’t wait for a ‘rewind’ so I can have a taste! 🙂
Cute post, Mom! Love that I am now in on the mousse secret, but don’t understand how I missed out on the Christmas genes! As the “happiest time of the year” approaches, I am already starting my December mantra: “I will not be a grinch this year. I will not be a grinch this year.” LOL!
You have a chocolate mousse festival going on in that tray! Gorgeous Mary, I bet your neighbours are always looking up excuses to help in exchange for food! Have a great weekend!
So pretty Mary, there’s always room for another a yummy chocolate recipe! Especially a top secret one!
Mary, Are you a Sagittarius? Every Sagittarian I know loves Christmas! Btw…I have the same Christmas china and I love the holidays! Enjoy your month long holiday!!
Your mousse looks so decadent and luscious! Absolutely delicious!!
How festive! The first Christmassy post I’ve seen yet this year. Guess that means I should start mentally preparing. For Thanksgiving at least.
if at all possible I would like the larger goblet! Yum, but it sort of reminds me of Dakota Sandstone with a layer of Mancos Shale. Guess you can tell where my head is at.
Oh how I MISS you, Donna. They broke the mold! I just stacked all my geology books relating to Death Valley in a traveling box, ready to roll for our Thanksgiving trip. The Racetrack Playa, featured in your book,”101 American Geo-sites ya gotta see” is in DV. The rocks move mysteriously and Clara (9) and I are aiming to solve the mystery! Stay tuned and Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for reading and commenting on my Blog.
I adore your Christmas goblets. What a great way to serve this festive treat! Have fun setting up your tree. You’ll have to include a picture in next week’s post! Have a happy Thanksgiving, Mary.
Your mousse turned out perfect! I really like your presentation.
Your neighbours sound wonderful.
A real xmas tree! Wow!
So pretty – love the holiday glasses ! And concur about the amount of mousse produced – that was the one little thing that disappointed me- I expected more. But no worries- I will plan ahead for next time 🙂 I am falling so behind in posting comments and reading other’s blogs (have gotten the recipes done and posted by the skin of me teeth 🙂 but I wanted to tell you how inspiring I find your posts. I truly enjoy your words of wisdom. It is clear you have amazing strength and between the organizational skills and humor- you are a rock star !!! Be well and safe travels. I will be checking out that Atticus book soon…….
Well, Tricia, that’s a lovely way to begin my day. Thank you very, very much.
Mary, what a fun and festive presentation of the not so secret chocolate mousse – it does look decadent in your wonderful Christmas Champagne Flutes or as you call them “goblets” – I actually dusted off my Christmas china yesterday, and baked my first two batches of Christmas cookies (trying out old-fashioned recipes that I never baked before) and it felt wonderful, so do enjoy your “early Christmas tree” and do not forget to post some pictures too!
Thank you also for all your lovely comments!!! Have a great weekend!
Glad to see you posting! Your mousse looks delectable!
Hi Mary!! I love you motto and I am warning you that I am going to steal it and try to implement it as well!!! and those Xmas goblets…they are so cute!!! I’m going to be is such a big trouble when the stores here in Athens put up their Xmas decorations…I would want to buy EVERYTHING!!!!!
I wish I could come to Athens and shop with you, Maria. I loved visiting that city as well as the entire country.