If you love coffee, well, this recipe is for you. Coffee mousse… need I say more? Ok, how about I add that it’s creamy, sweet, and full of coffee flavor. It’s pretty easy to make compared to most other chocolaty coffee desserts. Not to mention it’s super delicious!
What is Coffee Mousse?
Coffee mousse is a sweet, slightly bitter, and creamy dessert made with coffee. Many flavor variations are possible, but most include chocolate because of its natural affinity with coffee.
Mousse recipes often begin with custard or ganache, which gets folded into stiffly beaten cream or whipped egg whites.
Making Coffee Mousse
Ingredients
For Chocolate Coffee Ganache:
- 8 ounces chopped chocolate. You can either go for dark chocolate, white chocolate, or semi-sweet chocolate.
- 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
- 8 ounces heavy cream
For Whipped Cream and Topping:
- 8 punches of heavy cream, chilled
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Chocolate shavings to garnish (optional)
- Cocoa powder to garnish (optional)
Instructions
For Chocolate Coffee Ganache:
- Put the chocolate in a large bowl.
- Heat the heavy cream and instant espresso powder in a small saucepan over medium heat until small bubbles form around the edges, about 7 minutes.
- Pour the mixture of coffee and hot cream over the chocolate.
- Let the mixture sit for 3 minutes until the hot cream melts the chocolate.
- Stir the ganache with a whisk or wooden spoon until the chocolate melts completely and the mixture is smooth.
- Let the ganache cool to room temperature for about 10 minutes.
For Whipped Cream and Assembling the Mousse:
- In a stand mixer bowl or another large bowl, whisk together heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.
- Whip the heavy cream until it becomes stiff, about 5 minutes.
- Divide the ganache into 3 batches. In each batch, fold some whipped cream with a rubber spatula until no white streaks remain.
- Portion the mousse into serving cups, or leave it in a bowl for everyone to share.
- Chill the mousse until it is firm, at least 4 hours.
- Garnish the coffee chocolate mousse with chocolate shavings or cocoa powder for a decorative finish.
Tips for Making Coffee Mousse
To make the coffee mousse, there are a few different methods to choose from. Some recipes call for whipped cream or egg whites alone, while others incorporate gelatin for stability. If you’re using any of the following tips in your coffee mousse recipe, note that they are all interchangeable:
1. Use Instant Coffee or Espresso Powder
To avoid adding too much liquid to a coffee mousse recipe, use instant coffee or coffee granules instead of brewed coffee. Dissolve the granules in a hot cream mixture, or mix them with other ingredients and allow them to dissolve slowly.
2. Don’t Forget to Keep the Heavy Cream Cold Before Whipping
If your heavy cream is cold, it will whip up better than room-temperature cream. Refrigerate the mixing bowl and whisk for easier whipping, and whip until you have stiff peaks. This means the whipped cream will hold its shape without flopping over when you invert the whisk.
3. Add Gelatin for Stability
Use unflavored gelatin to make a firm mousse. Only use the amount the recipe calls for because too much gelatin results in a rubbery mousse, and not enough can cause your mousse to be runny. Bloom the gelatin by soaking it in cold water until it is firm, then dissolve it before adding it to the mousse.
FAQs
1. How Long will the Coffee Mousse Last?
The mousse can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days, but it tastes best if eaten within 24 hours.
2. Can I Freeze it?
No, you cannot freeze this dessert.
3. Can I Make it Sweeter?
This mousse has a strong coffee flavor that’s naturally bitter. If you like your coffee sweeter, increase the sugar quantity.
I would also recommend omitting the cacao/coffee powder topping, which will make the mousse even more bitter. I would top it with icing sugar instead.
Conclusion
Don’t be put off by the list of ingredients; just allow yourself enough time to go shopping and prepare everything. In the end, you’ll have a delicious dessert you can show off to your friends or family at your next dinner party or gathering.
As long as you’ve read through the directions and are prepared, it’s relatively simple to make the mousse, but it might take you around two to three hours in total, including 15-20 minutes of prep time, 5 to 10 minutes of cook time, and 2 hours of rest time. Enjoy!
