3 Ingredients Are All You Need For A Light Chocolate Mousse

If you've got a sweet tooth and need to fix your hankering fast, you'll want to keep on reading, because you only need five minutes and just three ingredients to make a quick and easy dessert that'll put your cravings at ease. When you combine heavy cream (or perhaps one of its appropriate substitutes), powdered sugar, and cocoa powder you get a fluffy chocolate mousse that can be enjoyed on its own, with fresh berries, or as frosting on cupcakes.

The combination of cold heavy cream, bitter cocoa powder, and sweet powdered sugar creates an ultra-light dessert that just about anyone can make. Even better, it is largely customizable based on your preference. If you'd like a milk chocolate mousse, simply add more powdered sugar and less cocoa powder. Or, if you'd prefer something approaching a dark chocolate mousse, use a bit more cocoa powder and less powdered sugar for a more bitter flavor profile. Finding your ideal balance between sweet and bitter will take a bit of experimenting, but you'll likely have quite a lot of fun along the way.

While you don't need many ingredients to achieve this simple treat, there are a few things to keep in mind when preparing chocolate mousse. Keep both the heavy cream and the bowl you mix it in cold, as this is key to achieving the perfect texture. Once the cold heavy cream is in the bowl, mix until it's just slightly frothy. Sift your powdered sugar and cocoa powder for a uniform texture and taste, then add both to the bowl.

Making chocolate mousse is similar to homemade whipped cream, in that you'll want to whip this mixture until stiff peaks form (take care to learn the difference between soft, medium, and stiff peaks) — and not a minute more. Go any farther, and the cream will separate. 

When the chocolate mousse has reached stiff peaks, it will have a defined texture and will be able to hold its shape and form a peak when the beater or whisk is picked up from the bowl. This texture is perfect for filling a piping bag and decorating other treats or piping into a dish for immediate eating with a bit of visual flair. Of course, simply spooning it into a bowl is perfectly delightful, too.