Elegant and luscious, this Vanilla Mousse will class up your dining table.
Ice cream is my favorite food, and I will stand by my highly-controversial argument that if you want to know if an ice cream parlor makes a good product, you have to try their vanilla flavor. The taste is so subtle, so delicate, so unassuming and yet so outrageously delicious, that if a creamery can get the complex flavor right, they can pretty much do anything.
Mousse, on the other hand, is more sophisticated than pudding and a rarer treat than ice cream. Thick, rich and impossibly smooth, chocolate mousse typically gets all the fanfare. Yes, chocolate mousse is delicious, but vanilla mousse has a delicious vanilla bean flavor with a light and fluffy texture. I spent two months in Tahiti, home to one of the world’s most famous types of vanilla, and the homegrown scent is quite intoxicating.
Is Vanilla Mousse Healthy?
This vanilla mousse recipe includes ingredients such as cream, which is high in fat, and has a significant amount of sugar, so this dessert is best enjoyed in moderation. However, this mousse has been described as “feathery” and “lighter than air”, so this won’t be a belt-buster. Pair it with fruit to pump up the healthy factors. Or, go full-tilt boogie into dessert land and enjoy with cookies and brownies!
Different Types of Vanilla
Madagascar produces “bourbon” vanilla beans (which have nothing to do with the liquor). Madagascar is the world’s biggest vanilla producer – and because of this and its creamy flavor, it’s the most popular type of vanilla.
Mexico is where vanilla originated before being exported to other climates. Mexican vanilla beans are similar to bourbon vanilla beans, but Mexican vanilla is mellower, with a slightly spicy, woody twist.
Tahiti is the home of the most expensive vanilla bean. Highly fragrant, this vanilla is commonly used in perfumes.
Uganda, where the rarest vanilla bean is found, notably produces vanilla that has hints of milk chocolate in its flavor profile. It’s similar in taste to Madagascar vanilla, but sweeter.
How to make ahead and store
Vanilla mousse can be made ahead of time. After preparing, refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours to ensure it is very cold. Storage overnight works, too. Store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, where it will keep fresh for up to 3 days.
Serving Suggestions
Mousse is an excellent standalone dessert, but it will taste delicious slathered on these Instant Pot Brownies or gluten-free Almond Flour Sugar Cookies. And in case you want to save yourself some pain at the scale, serve it atop a refreshing, healthy rainbow of Fruit Salad.
For more of the silkiest and sexiest of desserts, check out our luxurious Strawberry Mousse and the over-the-top rockstar, Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Parfait With Brownies.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- Pinch of kosher salt
- Seeds from 1 vanilla bean pod scraped
- 4-5 tablespoons powdered sugar
- Fresh fruit for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Chill the mixing bowl and beaters in the refrigerator.
- Bloom gelatin by sprinkling it over water in a small bowl and letting it sit to bloom.
- In the chilled bowl, beat heavy whipping cream, salt, sugar, and vanilla bean seeds until soft peaks form. Start with 4 tablespoons of sugar and add 1 tablespoon more if desired.
- Microwave the gelatin mixture for 10 seconds or until it turns liquid. Gradually add it to the whipped cream, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form.
- Transfer the mousse to a serving dish or individual cups and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
- Serve alone or with fresh fruit.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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