Dark Chocolate Mousse

I know this isn’t really a secret but I thought I should state, officially, for the record… I love dark chocolate! Yes. I. Do. Love it, love it, love it. I don’t even bother with milk chocolate. I mean… what’s the point? Milk chocolate is like diluted chocolate and don’t get me started on white chocolate. That’s not even chocolate at all so I have no idea why they call it white “chocolate.”

Another great thing about good quality dark chocolate is that you only need a taste to satisfy any chocolate or sweet-tooth cravings. A small taste truly is enough. And… dark chocolate does contain antioxidants

Small bites are perfect when you are trying to balance a healthy eating way of life with an occasional sweet treat. I love to make miniature versions of desserts so that you can have a taste without going overboard… or moving up a jean size! (FYI – One dark chocolate covered strawberry has only 40 calories and it is an awesome dessert for any occasion!)

Since Valentine’s Day is just a few days away, I decided to make a dessert platter filled with mini versions of some of my favorite chocolate treats (and one lemon treat for the sad little people who do not like or eat chocolate). Our youth praise band at church recently led Sunday Worship and I wanted to do something to thank them; to encourage them; and to show how much they are loved and appreciated. A dessert platter filled with tiny goodies seemed just the right thing!

If you would like to make a platter of goodies for a Valentine’s Day gathering, for the gang at work, to show appreciation for something someone has done, or to make someone feel extra special and loved, put together a display of your favorite bite-size goodies and arrange Valentine’s Day M&Ms on the platter. For added dimension, I filled a pink plastic cup with Valentine’s jelly beans and stood heart shaped lolipops in the cup. Use your imagination and have some fun!

Chocolate Shells

Below is my recipe for Dark Chocolate Mousse. I love this recipe because it is easy and because you don’t have to use eggs. You can serve the mousse in glass dishes, a wine glass, in a chocolate shell, or as filling for your favorite layer cake. I filled mini chocolate shells for the Valentine’s Day platter for our youth. I also filled larger heart-shaped chocolate shells with the mousse and garnished with whipped cream, raspberry sauce, and fresh raspberries for a beautiful, but easy, presentation. You can find the chocolate shells at various stores. I found them at World Market.

Dark Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips (I use Ghiradelli 60% cocoa chips)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Heat 1/2 cup of the heavy cream to the boiling point. Put chocolate chips in a large mixing bowl and pour the hot cream over the chips. Set aside for five minutes.

Pour remaining 1 1/2 cups heavy cream into a large bowl. Add vanilla and powdered sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

Stir the chocolate/cream mixture until you have a smooth and creamy mixture. Do your best not to eat the entire bowl with a spoon. It will be tempting but don’t do it. (Maybe just a little lick… just not the entire bowl.)

Gently fold one quarter of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Add another quarter of the whipped cream and fold into the chocolate. Add remaining whipped cream and fold until combined.

At this point you can put mixture into a piping bag and pipe into chocolate shells or spoon mixture into individual pudding cups or wine glasses. Cover and chill. Garnish with berries, whipped cream, chocolate curls, etc.

OK – now you can lick the bowl

Sweetest Blessings,
LeAnn