Chocolate Mousse Cups

Makes 8 to 10 individual desserts

Makes about 3 cups

Ingredients

  • White Chocolate Mousse:
    • 8 oz chopped white chocolate
    • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
    • 1 ¼ cups milk
    • 3 large egg yolks
    • 3 Tbsp sugar
    • 2 Tbsp cornstarch
    • 2 tsp gelatin powder, softened in 3 Tbsp cold water
    • 1 cup whipping cream
  • Chocolate Cups:
    • 8-10 mini balloons
    • 4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
    • 1 recipe white chocolate mousse, chilled
    • raspberries or chocolate shavings, for garnis

Method

  1. For the white chocolate mousse, place the white chocolate and butter in a medium bowl, with a strainer placed over it. Heat the milk to just below a simmer. In a separate bowl, whisk the yolks, sugar and cornstarch together. Whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture gradually, whisking while adding. Return this to the pot and continue to whisk over medium heat until glossy and thickened, about 4 minutes then stir in the softened gelatin. Pour this through the strainer and stir until the chocolate and butter has melted. Cool the chocolate mixture to room temperature.
  2. Whip the cream until it holds a soft peak and fold this into the chocolate mixture. Chill the mousse until set slightly but still soft, about 90 minutes.
  3. For the chocolate cups, inflate and tie the mini balloons. Give them a little wipe with a damp cloth and allow them to dry. Have ready a parchment-lined baking tray.
  4. Melt the chocolate in a metal bowl, placed over a pot of barely simmering water, stirring gently until melted. Remove the chocolate from the heat.
  5. Dip the balloons halfway into the chocolate on a angle, and lift and rotate as dipping repeatedly, creating a tulip shape. Shake off excess chocolate and place each balloon onto the parchment-lined tray. Chill the balloons until the chocolate has set.
  6. Use a pin to gently pop the balloon and let the air out slowly. Lift the balloon out of the cup and discard. Pipe the white chocolate mousse into the cups and top with raspberries or chocolate shavings. Chill until ready to serve.a