A make-ahead dessert that you will love! It’s one of my Sunday favorites with Cindy and Mary Ann this week. Because isn’t this something you need to make your life a little easier during the holiday season? I may have shared this recipe before, but we decided a video was in order to show how easy it is to make! I’ve been making this exact recipe for years. It was originally in Gourmet magazine and I had it tucked into my binder of recipes that I’ve been saving for at least 30 years.
I have a love/hate relationship with this recipe. I love chocolate mousse and I really love a recipe that I can make ahead. The last thing I want to think about when prepping for a dinner party is dessert. Sure, I could go out and buy a dessert, but even that can be risky, because what if they are sold out of what I want? Reserve it, yes, yes, but I’m rarely that organized.
So why do I hate it? It is a fairly straightforward recipe, but the number of pans and equipment needed, that’s another story. Let’s just say, you will need to run your dishwasher twice the day you make classic chocolate mousse for a make-ahead dessert! But after all that, I can say, it’s worth it!
The Equipment you’ll need for a make-ahead dessert that you will love!
- 3 heatproof small to medium glass mixing bowls
- 2 small to medium pans to make a hot water bath
- whisk
- 2-3 silicone spatulas
- stand mixer or hand mixer
- liquid and dry measuring cups
- clear glass cups 6-8 depending on size
The Ingredients you’ll need to make classic chocolate mousse
- bittersweet chocolate
- butter
- eggs
- sugar
- heavy cream
- vanilla
Classic chocolate mousse for a make-ahead dessert
I’ve been using this recipe for classic chocolate mousse for years. It was originally from Gourmet Magazine.
Ingredients
- 10 ounces bittersweet chocolate
- 5 egg yolks
- 5 egg whites
- 4 tablespoon sugar (divided in half)
- 1-ounce water
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 8 ounces heavy cream (whipped)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla
Instructions
- In a heat-proof bowl over a pot with a few inches of water brought to a simmer, add the chocolate and butter and melt. Off the heat, add in the vanilla.
- In another hot water bath, add the egg whites and 1/2 the sugar and whisk for 15 seconds on the stove. Then remove from the heat and beat until full volume with hand or stand mixer.
- In another hot water bath, add the egg yolks the water, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and whisk for 15 seconds, then remove from heat and take the bowl off of the pan and whisk until cool.
- Fold in the egg whites into the egg yolks, then gently fold in the chocolate/butter mixture, and finally fold in the whipped heavy cream.
- Spoon into small cups and cover with plastic wrap, Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Can be made several days ahead and can be frozen too!
- When serving, add a sprinkle of Maldon Sea Salt or a few chocolate shavings.
2. 2021 is going to be a good year Calendar from Nancy Sharpe
Cider House Studio
My friend Nancy is the loveliest person you could meet! She is an abstract artist that loves color. Being around Nancy just makes you happy! This year Nancy has calendars on her website and I promise, you will love them. I was lucky enough to receive one of her “test” calendars last year, and each month I can not wait to see what painting is next! I love an old-school calendar, don’t you? Order yours here!
3. Thieves Sleeves by Insieme Goods
It’s no secret how much I love Thieves and use it to clean everything. I keep a bottle of it by my sink and so when Insieme Goods created a Thieves Sleeve I could not have been more excited!
Insieme Goods is a mother/daughter project by Caitlin of @thepicketfenceprojects and her mom Patti. Insieme means together in Italian. They make hand-crafted leather products like vase sleeves, napkin rings, catch-alls, and now Thieves Sleeves! Send them a DM to order yours and if you don’t yet have Thieves, order a bottle using my number (18171093) and I will send you an amber glass bottle and a recipe card showing all the ways you can use Thieves! Then you can order your Thieves Sleeve! Read this post to learn more about how I use Thieves at home!
4. Bucket Hats
I have been seeing bucket hats all over New York lately. What I love about them is that they don’t cause “hat head” as a beanie does. I think the style is fairly ageless because they are just so practical. But I had second thoughts on the ageless aspect when I recently watched “Emily in Paris”– What do you think of a bucket hat for a winter hat option? Y/N/Maybe?
Here are a few that caught my eye!
1. Reversible quilted bucket hat from Lululemon // 2. sherpa bucket hat from the Banana Republic // 3. Reversible quilted and sherpa bucket hat from Rag & Bone
5. Giant [giant] paper bag snowflakes
Remember when I made these? Well, it was just a matter of time before we made giant [giant] paper bag snowflakes using grocery bags instead of lunch bags! It was Brent that came up with the idea, but I was 100 percent on board with trying it. We used eight paper bags without handles (you don’t want to have to cut through any extra layers) and we made them the same as using lunch bags.
The only difference in using the grocery bags over lunch size or smaller bags is that it’s that much more difficult to cut through the layers. I was only able to make straight cuts over curves. I found it was just easier. You’ll need a good pair of scissors that you don’t mind using for this type of craft. I have a pair that I use just for projects like this.
Thank you so much for reading at this busy time of year! Let’s go see what Cindy and Mary Ann found this week!
Cindy Hattersley Design
Classic Casual Home
cindy says
Annie!
This post was fabulous. Your chocolate mousse recipe is the exact recipe I use. Why do I forget to make it? It is a great classic recipe that is so easy to pull off. Thank you for reminding me. I think mine came from the Old Joy of Cooking (that dates me). I have a winter bucket hat that I purchased in Santa Fe one Christmas out of desperation. It was one of their coldest in history. I still have it and love it. Love those giant giant snowflakes. You should patent those! That calender is wonderful. So many wonderful goodies you shared this week!
annie diamond says
You must bring back the bucket hat cindy! You will rock it!!
Francesca B. says
So much fun to read thank you Annie! Just love those paper decorations maybe l can persuade my lot to help me make them !! Happy week 🙂
annie diamond says
Francesca! I hope you tried making them! They are just so much fun to make and hang up in the house! xx
classic casual home says
That chocolate mousse makes me think how much my mom would have loved it! I need to have a crowd here or else I would eat it all myself!!! I want a bucket hat. It would be especially good for when it is windy here.
Your “snowflakes” are amazing and so fun.
Mary Ann
annie diamond says
I wonder if a bucket hat would blow away in the wind? hmmmm….maybe one of those hats with the ear flaps and ties! hahah just kidding!! xx
debra @ 5th and state says
hi Annie, this looks great, the mousse that is. this will be the company desert at our party. one big question, and sorry if I missed it. how many does the recipe make?
cheers
Debra
annie diamond says
Hi Debra,
The recipe makes 6 or 7 large cups or you could stretch it to 10 if you used smaller cups. It’s very rich. I’ve noticed in the past that when I serve small servings with a little cookie or two, everyone licks the cup clean. However, the larger ones…usually half is left! I think a little is best!
Merry Christmas Debra!
xx
debra @ 5th and state says
THANK YOU!
my Maldon salt flakes arrived today, cannot wait
merry Christmas Annie!