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Craving chocolate? I’ve got you covered!
This easy chocolate mousse recipe is dreamy decadence in just minutes. Rich chocolate flavor in a whipped dessert in minutes.
This is perfect for a last-minute dessert or an impressive (yet effortless) treat.
Easy Chocolate Mousse in Minutes
This is an easy shortcut to making chocolate mousse. It’s deliciously decadent and more light and airy than chocolate pudding.
- You’ll need just three ingredients, no fiddling with gelatin, no beating eggs required.
- Whip this dessert up in just a minute or two – no cooking required.
- The secret to the richness is unsweetened cocoa powder to boost dark chocolate flavor!
- Serve it as you like, top it with whipped cream or fresh berries.
Ingredients for Chocolate Mousse
- Chocolate pudding mix: The base of this easy mousse recipe is a box of pudding mix. Ensure you use instant pudding (not the kind that requires cooking).
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: This deepens the chocolate flavor and elevates the dessert.
- Heavy cream: The secret to the light and fluffy texture in this mousse recipe is the heavy whipping cream. Milk won’t create the richness needed in this recipe.
Bonus Tip: For an extra decadent experience, use half dark chocolate pudding mix and half milk chocolate pudding mix!
How to Make Chocolate Mousse
- Mix all ingredients (according to the recipe below) with an electric mixer for 1 minute.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate.
Top it Off!
Get fancy and have fun with toppings or fold in some cookie crumbs or chocolate chips.
- A dollop of whipped cream
- Fresh fruit or berries
- Grated white or dark chocolate
- Crumbled cookies, festive sprinkles, or a drizzle of homemade strawberry or caramel sauce for an extra touch of indulgence
Prep Ahead and Storage
- This chocolate mousse recipe will last about 4 days in the fridge, so it’s perfect for prepping ahead.
- If making ahead, add the toppings (like whipped cream) just before serving.
- Freeze chocolate mousse for up to 2 months and let it thaw in the refrigerator, or freeze it into popsicle molds and enjoy it as a frozen treat!
More Chocolate Recipes
Did you make this easy Chocolate Mousse recipe? Leave us a rating and a comment below!
Easy Chocolate Mousse
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3.4 ounces instant chocolate pudding mix 1 box, 4 serving size
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 ½ cups heavy whipping cream 30-35% mf
- 1 cup whipped topping optional
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine cocoa powder and instant pudding powder.
- Add the heavy whipping cream and mix with an electric mixer on medium-high for 1 minute.
- Spoon or pipe the chocolate mixture into serving dishes or small glasses immediately and serve or refrigerate.
- Garnish with whipped topping, fresh berries, mint, or whipped cream.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dessert
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I loved this recipe! I used the mousse recipe to make my favorite dessert, a Dirt Cup. Wanted to use something different than pudding that was a little lighter (texture wise) and this mousse recipe was just right. Thank you for sharing it!
I made this with sugar free pudding mix and it was delicious and supper easy. Great low carb desert!
Can I be assisted with this video before the day ends on how to make this chocolate mousse.. I’ll like to make it for my friends coming over tomorrow
This recipe does not have a video but you can find the full recipe here.
I look to spend with pennies often for recipes. I tried this mousse recipe with Godiva chocolate pudding and 2.5 cups of whipped cream with whipped cream & berries on top. I was disappointed. My husband ate a ramekin full but… it just had little flavor. I also added 2 TB of Cocoa and well… maybe if you’ve never had real mousse you would like it more. Maybe it was the Godiva pudding. Still love spend with pennies.
Oh no, I am sorry to hear that Jane. I have never tried it with Godiva pudding so I can’t say for sure. If you do try it with regular instant pudding we would love to hear how it compares!
Hello, i’ve been using this recipe for a couple of years and it has become my most requested holiday desert :) How many ounces should each serving be? I tend to end up with too much or too little depending on the size of the cups I purchase, and would like to make this easier if possible. Thanks!
Each recipe will make approximately 5 cups of mousse, depending on how your whipping cream whips up. With 4 servings as listed, they’re approximately 1 1/4 cups. You can make them however big you’d like though Mandy. Hope that helps!
Your recipe didn’t say what size instant choc pudding. I used 5.9oz box. I double the recipe. Two boxes of instant choc pudding to 5 cups of cream. It was SO BEYOND mixing, like no cream at all had been added. So thick I couldn’t start the beater blades on! And no I didn’t leave it setting. Please PLEASE TELL me where I went wrong. Im ASSuming instant pudding only comes in one size.
Patty
Hi Patty, Instant pudding does come in different sizes. As specified in our recipe, we used the 4 serving size (4ozs). So the ratio of milk to pudding mix would make it easier to stir. Hopefully, that helps.
Could this be made with the same result using SUGAR-FREE Jello Chocolate pudding?
As a diabetic, I’m trying so hard to be sugar free.
I can’t see any reason that wouldn’t work. Enjoy!
I mixed the pudding & cocoa first but once I added the whipping cream for one minute, it turned out lumpy. It tastes fine – I then added a shredded chocolate bar to mask the lumps. Suggestions for next time?
Hmm, that is strange Cheryl, we have never had that happen. It sounds like it may have needed a little longer to fully incorporate the pudding mix and cocoa powder, just be careful not to over whip it.
Just made this, but only had 2 cups of cream (16 oz carton). The taste was delicious. I added a touch of cinnamon to help contrast with the chocolate. I think I overly whipped my mousse, but overall I really enjoyed this recipe.
This is my first time trying this recipe (I hope it turns out well but if I need to quickly redo it later tonight I will) and I didn’t have the sufficient amount of cream on hand. I tried winging it and substituting the remainder of cream with 3.25% (milk fat) milk and butter, and so far the mousse turned out with some buttery chunks in it. I know substitutes shouldn’t be used if possible to avoid but I hope it works out. My bad but it looks wonderful when done right.
It sounds like you over whipped the cream. It will separate into buttermilk and butter if mixed too much.
Horrible. Don’t try to cheat a mousse. Or a moose.
Sorry this didn’t work out for you Brent, it’s one of our favorite easy desserts.
We’ve had amazing success with this recipe (as have many readers), which brand of pudding mix did you use?
Can you make this the night before and it will still taste good? I am making lunch for my boyfriends family and thought this might be something they would enjoy.
I think they will love it Lucy! As long as you cover the jars, it should last 3-4 days in the fridge. I would leave the whipped topping off until you are ready to serve it though.
I made this for a baby shower in 3 ounce square plastic cups from Amazon that came with tiny spoons. Piped it in and put a dab of whipped cream on top. It was fabulous. Glad I made extra because some people had seconds
So glad it was a hit at the shower!
Easy and delish!
I am thrilled that you enjoyed the mousse Alisa!
Could you substitute the chocolate pudding for a jello mix? Thanks.
Hi Sarah, we have only made this recipe as listed but let us know how it goes if you try it!
How much does this make ? I need to make 50 – 3 ounce cups of mousse. Double it? Triple?
Each recipe will make approximately 5 cups of mousse, depending on how your whipping cream whips up. That’s approximately 4 times the recipe. Hope that helps!
Great info!! I was looking for this as I am making 125 2 ounce servings!!
Sounds like a party :)
Its look so yummy, definitely I gonna try this what kind of jello should i use for small kids ?
You should use 1 box instant chocolate pudding mix 4 serving size. Enjoy Judith!
Update from yesterday, I went back to the store to get the right amount of ingredients again instead of substituting heavy cream for butter and milk and it turned out wonderful. I added a small twist with a melted-then-frozen chocolate base to the crust and a small chocolate circle on the top of the mousse. Great recipe you have here. Thanks Holly.
So glad it worked out for you, thank you for the update!! The chocolate circle is a perfect topper for this recipe!
Going to make this for my grandson, he will live it. An easy dessert. Thanks.
Enjoy Virginia!
Silly question, maybe, but — should it be Jello Instant *Chocolate* Pudding??
Oh yes, sorry about that! I’ve updated the recipe. :) Enjoy!
This is instant Jello right?
Yes it is.
Hi, do you whip the whip cream separate then add it to the pudding mix
I noticed you didnt snswer Corinne’s question. I actually have the same question. My other recipes using heavy whipping cream has me whip it first and then fold it in.
The cream is not whipped first, it is poured into the bowl with the mix and cocoa and then whipped.