Sometimes dessert seems excessive after a hearty meal. But then again, who would think of skipping dessert on a special occasion like Thanksgiving and all those end of the year festivities? If you face such gastronomic conundrum, I am here to help you out. These cute little morsels of mousse are about 2 tablespoons each. Topped with a single cranberry, they are easy to make, festive, and as far as dessert is concerned, pretty light. That is if you don’t inhale four of them…
WHITE CHOCOLATE MINI-MOUSSE WITH SUGARED CRANBERRIES
(inspired by several sources)
makes about 10 small portions, served in ramekins like these
4 oz white chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup whole milk
1 T light corn syrup
1/2 cup heavy cream
fresh cranberries (about 1/2 cup)
1 cup sugar, divided
1/2 cup water
The day before, prepare the cranberries. Mix 1/2 cup water with 1/2 cup granulated sugar, boil for a couple of minutes until sugar is fully dissolved. Reserve at room temperature, let it cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Add the syrup to a bowl and dump the fresh cranberries into it, mix to coat the surface with the syrup. Place in the fridge overnight. Next day, drain the syrup, and add to the cranberries 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Coat them well, then place over kitchen paper to dry for 2 hours. They will be ready to decorate the dessert then.
Make the mousse. Melt the chocolate with the milk in the microwave or in a double boiler over gently simmering water. Add the corn syrup and mix well. Let it cool slightly while you prepare the cream. Whip the heavy cream until it reaches the consistency of melted ice cream. Add to the chocolate base in three portions, mixing well but gently, you don’t want to deflate the mousse.
Add small portions to very small ramekins and cool for 6 hours in the fridge. Top with the sugared cranberry, and sprinkles of your choice. Serve straight from the fridge.
ENJOY!
to print the recipe, click here
Comments: These adorable baby-mousses deliver the perfect amount of sweetness when a slice of pie, cake, or even a piece of brownie might seem like overkill. Of course, you could make a regular portion if you prefer. Instead of 10 individual tiny amounts, make 4 portions for indulging with abandon. What I love about this recipe, apart from its simplicity, is that it uses exactly one bar of Lindt white chocolate. Open it, dice it, you are done. No need to get your scale or anything.
Now, if you want to serve bigger portions, it might be a good idea to add a bit of gelatin. White chocolate does not hold as well as dark. In a very small ramekin it wont’ be a problem, but when scaling up, it’s probably better to ensure some additional structure by incorporating gelatin. I suggest 1/2 tsp for the 4 oz of chocolate, blooming it in some of the milk, then heating it very very gently before adding to the melted chocolate. Proceed with the recipe as described.
I used two kinds of sprinkles with a Christmas feel that went well with the cranberries. Different toppings and sprinkles would be a lot of fun to try to. A dark chocolate mousse with toasted hazelnuts and golden sprinkles? White mousse with silver sparkling sugar, a fresh blueberry surrounded by purple nonpareils? Or how about getting your hands on some Ruby chocolate? I need that in my life. I really do. If you haven’t heard about it, google Caillebaut Ruby. And dream, my friend, dream…
Ruby, dark, white… it does not matter to me. I want them all…
ONE YEAR AGO: You Say Ebelskiver, I say Falafel
TWO YEARS AGO: Happy Thanksgiving!
THREE YEARS AGO: Two Takes on Raspberries
FOUR YEARS AGO: Spice Cake with Blackberry Puree & The Global Pastry Review
FIVE YEARS AGO: Own Your Kitchen with Cappuccino Panna Cotta
SIX YEARS AGO: Chicken Parmigiana, the Thriller
SEVEN YEARS AGO: Wild Mushroom Risotto
EIGHT YEARS AGO: Tartine Bread: Basic Country Loaf
NINE YEARS AGO: Pugliese Bread
Tempting the poor dog, are you? I can see in his eyes how much he would love to dig in!
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I have this mean side… 😉 but trust me, that boy gets PLENTY of treats (just not with chocolate…)
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God, I remember back in the…mid-80’s?…when white chocolate mousse, usually with raspberry coulis, was THE dessert to have. I think it hit just after the kiwi fruit epidemic (I still haven’t gotten over that one) and just before the vertical food nuttiness. However, unlike other idiotic food trends, I absolutely wallowed in this one. I loooove white chocolate mousse, and still make it (usually over my wife’s feeble “not again…”).
I have to say however: your recipe sucks. Who the hell would be so cruel as to offer a mere tablespoon of one of the greatest desserts of our time to anyone they even remotely care about? That much mousse wouldn’t be enough to satisfy my goldfinch – and I don’t even have a goldfinch. That’s how ridiculously small those portions are! It’s cruel! It’s like offering someone sex but stopping after taking one sho off. Cruel, I say!
On the other hand: Lindt. Yes! Gelatin. Yes!
Cranberries. Cool! I never would have thought of that, but now that I see it in print it makes sense. Brilliant, you are! I absolutely will turn my godlike talents to this version, thank you.
But, just like I cried when that girl offered me sex and only took off one shoe before realizing how much her standards were being lowered and yelled “stop!”, I will not inflict similar demoralizing humiliation on either myself or anyone I ostensibly care for. Shame on you.
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Nice to “see” you back! Maybe you can forgive me is I tell you the mini mousse was served alongside this? https://www.instagram.com/p/BqkUlfMgkX-/
(will be on the blog sometime)
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I FORGIVE YOU!!!
For a slice 🙂
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I don’t know what is more fun. Reading your post or the comment =) Love the technique for sugaring the cranberries!
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well, same here! Glad he is back, he is the life of the party! 😉
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These are so cute!! I love the perspective shot with Buck. Ruby chocolate is new to me! Just looked it up; love that the color comes from the ruby cocoa bean and not colorants – how cool is that? I see ruby adventures in your future ;d
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I caved and ordered some… coming from UK – not sure how long it will take to reach the Bewitching, but my engines are revving, my dear… revving, I tell ya!
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Looks super easy but a beautiful dessert, what’s not to love!!!
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sometimes easy is all we need!
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They are so cute! Such lovely little cups of joy x x
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