My Chocolate Mousse Tastes Fancy, But It’s So Easy

Enjoy your coffee and dessert at the same time.

By
Danielle Campbell
Danielle Campbell
Danielle Campbell
Danielle Campbell is a Food stylist, chef, and recipe developer in Los Angeles. After working as a private chef and caterer for about 7 years, Danielle pivoted into food styling and has since worked in the field for 8 years. Danielle developed recipes multiple cookbooks, companies, and food publications. Her recipe development landed her a cover of the Los Angeles Times, food section. She's featured on Simply Recipes.
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Published September 28, 2025
Danielle Campbell
Mocha mousse in a bowl with whipped topping, a portion scooped out

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Why Make This

  • Just four ingredients deliver fancy-dessert vibes in about 15 minutes.
  • The mousse is perfect when you want the rich, bold flavor of chocolate and coffee together.
  • You can whip up the dessert ahead and it keeps 3 to 5 days.

This easy and delicious 4-ingredient chocolate mousse has a delightful caffeine kick. It’s the dessert I “whip up” (ha!) when company is coming over and I want to make something quick and satisfying. I usually have all of the ingredients for this recipe on hand in my pantry and fridge, so there’s no special trip to the store needed for a dessert that still feels fancy.

This recipe is very versatile because you can use almost any chocolate you have available. However sweet you like your chocolate desserts determines what kind of chocolate you should use. I prefer a slightly less sweet chocolate with more of a bitter note, so semisweet and bittersweet chocolates are my faves. Milk chocolate is also great and usually something everyone around the table will enjoy.

If you don’t want any extra caffeine, you can omit the espresso—a splash of vanilla extract would work well in its place. For serving, you can divide the mousse into portions in ramekins or use one large serving dish so people can serve themselves.  

Three ramekins with chocolate mousse and whipped topping

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Topping Ideas

The options for topping this mousse are endless. Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Chopped pistachios
  • Crushed freeze-dried fruit
  • Fresh berries
  • Shaved chocolate
  • Flaky sea salt

More Minimal Ingredient Desserts

Mocha Mousse

Prep Time 7 mins
Cook Time 8 mins
Chilling 60 mins
Total Time 75 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (6 ounces) chocolate chips, chocolate disks, or chopped chocolate (bittersweet, semi-sweet, or milk chocolate)

  • 2 cups heavy cream, divided

  • 1/4 cup brewed espresso or strong coffee

  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

  • Toppings of your choice

Method

  1. Melt the chocolate, cream, and espresso:

    Add the chocolate, 1/2 cup of the heavy cream, and the espresso or coffee to a large heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Make sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl. Stir frequently until the chocolate is melted, smooth, and completely incorporated into the cream, 6 to 8 minutes.  Remove from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes.

  2. Whip the cream:

    While the chocolate is cooling, add the remaining heavy cream and powdered sugar to a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, whip until soft peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the whipped cream for garnish and refrigerate.

  3. Fold the cream into the chocolate, and chill:

    Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the remaining whipped cream into the chocolate mixture in 3 to 4 additions. Make sure the cream is fully mixed in and there are no white streaks showing. Divide the mousse into 4 to 6 ramekins or transfer to a large serving bowl. Let the mousse chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

  4. Serve:

    Once chilled, remove the mousse and top each serving with a spoonful of the reserved whipped cream. Store leftovers in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. 

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
416 Calories
37g Fat
23g Carbs
3g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 416
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 37g 48%
Saturated Fat 23g 117%
Cholesterol 90mg 30%
Sodium 26mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 62mg 5%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 190mg 4%
*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.