Mousse: The History And Variations Of The French Classic
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At the end of a buffet, you get these cute little glasses that are filled with some airy, sweet, and colourful desserts. That velvety, mouth-melting spoonful of goodness is - the mousse. It is a French word that is pronounced as “moos”, which means “foam.” Thus aptly describing the light and creamy texture and taste.

You would be fascinated to know that mousse is not a modern-day dessert that’s served as a delectable entree at weddings, buffets, or gatherings; its origins date back to the 18th century. Coming in several colours, flavours, and fillings, mousse is now one of the comfort desserts of people of all ages. Why don’t you read ahead to know everything about this dessert?

A Brief History Of Mousse

The origins of mousse can be traced back to 18th-century France, a country that is well-known for its delightful desserts. The earlier versions of mousse were simple whipped cream infused with different flavours through a range of ingredients that were just used as a topping for other desserts. However, soon enough, the chefs realised the potential mousse held and started to experiment with its recipes to make it a standalone dessert.

In the 19th century, the recipe for mousse was transformed to include gelatin to give it a stabilised consistency and eggs to ensure that they were airy and lightweight. The reformed recipe won the hearts of people, which made it a delectable choice that travelled through the 20th century as well. As of now, the classic chocolate mousse has also been experimented with with many fruits and flavours so that people can have the mousse with their favourite fillings.

The Variations Of Mousse

Chocolate Mousse: Chocolate mousse is the traditional French mousse that has withstood the test of time and is enjoyed by adults and children alike. With dark chocolate folded into whipped cream, each spoonful of the classic chocolate mousse melts in your mouth.

Fruit Mousse: Another popular variant of mousse is fruit mousse, which has the goodness of seasonal fruits and the richness of whipped cream. Some of the most popular fruit mousses are mango mousse, strawberry mousse, kiwi mousse, mixed fruit mousse, and so on.

Coffee Mousse: Coffee lovers have their own way of adding the bold flavours of expresso or coffee liqueur wherever they can. Coffee mousse is a great choice for them as the creamy dessert works well when infused with the beans.

After talking in-depth about mousse, it’s only natural that you have an easy-to-follow recipe to make your own mousse at home.

Ingredients:

  1. Dark chocolate - 200 grams
  2. Heavy cream - 1 cup
  3. Sugar - 1/4 cup
  4. Vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon

Instructions:

  1. Take a double boiler and melt the dark chocolate.
  2. In a separate pan, heat the heavy cream till it simmers. 
  3. Stir the melted chocolate and cream together with sugar and let the mixture cool down.
  4. After it is set, add vanilla extract and stir it.
  5. Refrigerate for about two hours till it gets thickened and is completely set.
  6. Garnish with your favourite toppings like chocolate sauce, whipped cream, berries, etc.