My Creamy, Tangy 4-Ingredient Dessert Couldn’t Be Easier

It’s ready in just 10 minutes.

By
Molly Allen
Molly Allen
Molly Allen
Molly Allen is a writer and editor with a focus on food, beverage, travel, adventure, and lifestyle content, A former bakery owner, her work spans kitchen guides, food and beverage round-ups, recipe development, etc. She's featured in Taste of Home, Good Housekeeping, Insider, Brides, Simply Recipes, and more.
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Published September 22, 2025
Molly Allen
Overhead view of small white bowls of lemon mousse next to a spoon and plate of lemon slices all on an orange surface

Simply Recipes / Molly Allen

Why Make This

  • With just four ingredients and 10 minutes, Easy Lemon Mousse delivers a fancy-feeling dessert fast. 
  • Serve the creamy, tangy, light mousse just as it is, change it up with toppings, or use it as part of other desserts.
  • Enjoy the mousse right away or make it ahead.

As a former bakery owner, I love to spend time in the kitchen prepping a batch of intricate soft pretzels or baking an elaborate layer cake for a friend’s birthday. Other times, though, I’m all about low-lift no-bake desserts. This four-ingredient lemon mousse is one of those treats.

Anytime I'm craving something light, vibrant, and chilled, this easy egg-free mousse delivers with a creamy texture, balanced sweetness, and a pop of tangy lemon flavor.  

A Great Make-Ahead Dessert

You can prepare this mousse in minutes and enjoy it right away. However, the texture improves with chilling time in the fridge. That means this is also an excellent dessert for gatherings because you can prepare it days ahead of time. Make a batch when you’re doing menu prep and store it covered in the fridge for up to three days. That way, all you’ll have to do is pull out the dessert, grab some spoons, and everyone can dig in.

If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the freezer. Keep the mousse in the freezer for up to two months and allow it to thaw in the fridge before serving.

Angled view of a small white bowl of lemon mousse with a spoon on an orange surface

Simply Recipes / Molly Allen

Ways to Garnish and Serve This Easy Lemon Mousse

This easy mousse provides a blank canvas for a variety of garnishes and serving options. Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Add a dollop of whipped cream or lemon curd on top of each serving (or both!). 
  • Garnish the top of the lemon mousse with crushed graham crackers or shortbread cookies.
  • Add fresh blueberries or raspberries, or drizzle with a berry sauce.
  • To really impress your guests, use fresh lemons as your serving dishes. Slice the lemons in half and scrape out the flesh with a spoon. Fill each lemon half with mousse and let the mousse chill and set before serving.
Overhead view of several small white bowls of lemon mousse next to a spoon and plate of lemon slices all on an orange surface

Simply Recipes / Molly Allen

Other Ways To Use Lemon Mousse

  • This lemon mousse can be served on its own for a delicious dessert. However, you can also put it to work in other ways. Here are some ideas if you want to get creative with it:
  • Use it as the filling for a layered lemon trifle.
  • Make mini no-bake cheesecake-inspired desserts by layering in jars with a graham cracker crumb crust.
  • Serve a dollop on top of angel food cake or pound cake and pair it with fresh berries for a more elaborate treat.

Easy Lemon Mousse

Prep Time 10 mins
Chilling 60 mins
Total Time 70 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 2 lemons

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream

  • 8 ounces mascarpone cheese

  • 1 cup powdered sugar

Method

  1. Grate and juice the lemons:

    Finely grate the zest of both lemons, then juice 1 to 2 lemon halves until you have 4 teaspoons of lemon juice.

  2. Whip the cream and mascarpone:

    In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the cream and mascarpone cheese at medium speed until smooth and soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Add the powdered sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice and continue whipping until the mixture thickens, not quite to stiff peaks, about 2 minutes.

  3. Chill and serve:

    Spoon the mousse into a large serving bowl or individual bowls, cups, or ramekins. For the best texture, cover and chill the mousse in the fridge for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days before serving. 

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
531 Calories
42g Fat
40g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 531
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 42g 54%
Saturated Fat 27g 134%
Cholesterol 131mg 44%
Sodium 35mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 40g 15%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Total Sugars 30g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 84mg 422%
Calcium 115mg 9%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 388mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.