Vegan Chocolate Mousse

When a chocolate craving strikes, give this vegan chocolate mousse a try. It’s light enough to enjoy as a mid-afternoon sweet treat, and also impressive enough to serve when company’s coming.

What is mousse exactly? Lighter than pudding, the texture of mousse is airy, with ample volume. As this recipe is vegan, and therefore made without eggs or heavy cream, the addition of cream of tartar yields a texture that’s delightfully fluffy.

The prep time is a cinch, with this vegan chocolate mousse recipe coming together in less than an hour (plus chilling time). You have the option to chill it for two hours or even overnight, making it a flexible option for a quick fix or a plan-ahead dessert.

Ingredients for Vegan Chocolate Mousse

• Boiling water: Boiling water helps soften the figs, which makes them easier to pulse in the food processor. While it may be tempting to skip this step, don’t. The softened figs help give this vegan chocolate mousse its texture.
• Dried mission figs: They aren’t just for figgy pudding in winter. Figs lend a chewy sweetness to this mousse.
• Dairy-free dark chocolate chips: The star of this dairy-free show, the vegan dark chocolate chips make this a chocolate mousse.
• Avocados: The addition of avocados gives this vegan chocolate mousse a dreamy texture, blending with the figs for a sweet and creamy base.
• Baking cocoa: This gives the mousse its distinct chocolate flavor and hue.
• Unsweetened almond milk: This vegan-friendly milk brings everything together (except the aquafaba, which is made separately and added after). It yields a consistency that’s light and airy.
• Maple syrup and vanilla extract: Maple syrup combines with vanilla extract to enhance the natural sweetness of the figs. It also blends with the cocoa powder to yield a distinctly chocolatey taste.
• Sea salt: Sea salt as a flavor balancer ensures that the mousse is just sweet enough.
• Garbanzo beans or chickpeas: This is how you will prepare the aquafaba. The liquid from the garbanzo beans has water soluble proteins that contribute to the fluffy texture of this mousse. (You can save the beans for another use.)
• Cream of tartar: This is the magic ingredient that gives the aquafaba (the water from cooked beans, often used as a substitute for egg products in vegan recipes) its structure. Cream of tartar lowers the pH in this recipe, which helps this vegan chocolate mousse achieve its light, fluffy and airy consistency.
• Raspberries (optional): A nice-to-have, a topping of fresh raspberries will add a little zip and tang to the creaminess of the mousse.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the figs

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Set water on the stove to boil. While the water is heating, place the figs in a small, heat-safe bowl. Carefully pour the boiling water over the figs, then let it stand, uncovered, for 45 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the fig mixture and mousse base

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In a microwave-safe dish, melt the chocolate chips and stir them until they’re completely smooth. Set the bowl aside, and allow the chocolate to cool to room temperature. Place the figs and remaining liquid in a food processor, pulsing them together until a paste forms. Next, add the avocados, cooled chocolate, cocoa, almond milk, syrup, vanilla and sea salt, and pulse the mixture until it’s pureed. Transfer this mousse base to a large bowl.

Step 3: Make the aquafaba

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To make aquafaba, drain the garbanzo beans, reserving the liquid (save the beans for another use). Add the drained liquid and cream of tartar to the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form, two or three minutes. Gently fold the aquafaba into the fig mixture.

Step 4: Chill the mousse

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Spoon the mousse into dessert dishes or a larger serving dish, then refrigerate at least two hours or overnight before serving. Top with fresh raspberries, if desired.

Vegan Chocolate Mousse Variations

• Make it a parfait: Layer this fluffy mousse between alternating layers of fresh fruit, nuts, coconut chips, cacao nibs or vegan chocolate shavings.
• Create a cookie sandwich: For an extra decadent (but still vegan-friendly) treat, whip up a batch of our vegan chocolate chip cookies and sandwich them with a layer of mousse.
• Try other toppings: In addition to fresh raspberries, toasted nuts also pair well with this dessert. For a chewy texture, toss a handful of unsweetened coconut chips on top of the mousse.

How to Store Vegan Chocolate Mousse

This recipe for vegan chocolate mousse is best stored in the refrigerator. Make sure you use an airtight lid to keep it fully covered. Freezing is not advisable, as it will adversely alter the mousse texture.

How long does vegan chocolate mousse last?

Due to its vegan ingredient list and the absence of dairy products like heavy cream, this recipe can be kept a bit longer than traditional mousse. Enjoy it for up to three days.

Vegan Chocolate Mousse Tips

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What is vegan mousse made of?

In lieu of eggs or milk, vegan chocolate mousse is typically made by combining a vegan-friendly filling (think tofu, or as per above, a combination of avocado and fig, along with aquafaba), a natural sweetener like maple syrup and a dairy-free flavor enhancer (like the cocoa powder in this recipe). Alternate variations can include coconut cream. For a sharper and more complex taste, espresso powder can also be used.

What can I add to mousse to make it thicker?

Whereas traditional mousse includes gelatin as a thickener, vegan mousse benefits from the use of cream of tartar. This stabilizer gives the mousse its foam-like texture and volume, and helps keep it from deflating.

What’s the difference between chocolate mousse and pudding?

Chocolate pudding includes cooked milk, whereas chocolate mousse is not cooked. The resulting difference is primarily in texture, which is why pudding is thicker and less airy than mousse.

What kinds of chocolate are vegan and dairy-free?

Nowadays, you can find milk chocolate that’s made with rice, almond or soy milk so it’s still vegan. In general, the darker the chocolate, the less likely it is to contain dairy. The best thing to do if you’re looking for a vegan or dairy-free chocolate is to check the ingredients and allergen warnings on the wrapper.

What are some topping ideas for vegan chocolate mousse?

With this particular recipe, because it includes dried figs, we’re betting that you’ll have some leftovers, so slice some of those up and lay them on top. They’ll have a beautiful design and pale color that accents the dark mousse. You can also top with toasted nuts of any kind, dried fruits, shredded coconut and fresh berries.