Julia Child’s Mousse au Chocolat

Posted on November 30, 2012
Hi, Everyone! So, a couple days ago, I got an unexpected package in the mail! I opened it up and it was the From Julia Child’s Kitchen cookbook, first edition, from my father-in-law. If you know me, you know I’m a big Julia Child fan, so you can imagine how excited I was to get the cookbook! That night, I flipped through the book sitting by our beautiful Christmas tree and just couldn’t resist trying one of the recipes!  As soon as I saw Julia’s description of her Chocolate Mousse, I knew I had to make it! “It’s a sin, wickedly rich and fattening, but every spoonful is glory.” Need I say more?! And filled with butter, sugar, coffee and chocolate, it really is all those things. Sinful, fattening, and yes, glorious! It had been a pretty rough week, and so the cookbook, and the chocolate mousse, couldn’t have come at a better time! Nothing like butter, lots of butter, and chocolate to make life feel good again!
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MOUSSE AU CHOCOLAT
(Recipe from Julia Child)
*Serves 8 – 10*
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YOU WILL NEED:
4 large eggs
1 1/2 tbs instant coffee dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup strong coffee
6oz semi-sweet baking chocolate
6oz (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, diced
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
Pinch of salt
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DIRECTIONS

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1. First, separate your egg yolks and egg whites into two different bowls. Set the egg whites aside (they need to remain at room temperature) and pour the egg yolks into your electric mixer bowl, and beat them for about three minutes, until you get a nice, creamy, yellow mixture. Set aside.
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2. Next, in a small pan, make the sugar syrup by combining the instant coffee with 1/4 cup water and the granulated sugar. Swirl them together in the pan, let the mixture come to a boil for a couple seconds (when it starts to bubble up too much, swirl it around), making sure that all the sugar has dissolved and the liquid is clear. Remove the pan from heat, and with the mixer running, begin adding the hot mixture to the creamed egg yolks. (Do this very slowly and carefully, so you don’t accidentally get coffee flavored scrambled eggs!) Set aside.
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3. Now it’s time to melt the chocolate (my favorite part of the process!) Begin by boiling a large pot of water, then combining the chocolate, strong coffee and diced butter in a small pan and setting that pan over the pot of boiling water (remove from heat) and let the chocolate and butter melt into the coffee together. Once melted, set aside.
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4. Next, transfer the egg yolk mixture into a small pan, and set it over a pot of water at just below a simmer. Using a whisk, beat the egg yolk mixture for 5 – 10 minutes, until it doubles in size and becomes thick and creamy. Once that’s done, place it back in your electric mixer bowl, and beat at medium speed for 5 minutes, until it’s cool.
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5. Using a whisk or a wooden spoon, combine the egg yolk mixture with the melted chocolate, by pouring the chocolate into the egg yolks little by little, until you get a smooth, creamy mixture.
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6. Next, in a clean electric mixer bowl, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt and the cream of tartar, until you get glistening stiff peaks. Then, using a rubber spatula, fold the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture, fold slowly and gently, so the egg whites don’t lose their volume. To finish the mousse off, cover it, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight if you can!
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And that’s it! It may require a lot of steps, a lot of time, and most of your kitchen equipment to make Julia’s mousse, but it is so worth it! It is THE best mousse I’ve ever made, it’s deliciously thick and creamy, with a wonderful depth of flavor that comes from the addition of the coffee, which brings out the sweetness in the chocolate. So, if you are looking for something decadent and elegant to add to your Christmas dessert menu this year, try this mousse! You won’t be disappointed, because like Julia said, this dessert is just glorious!
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Happy Cooking, Everyone!

Bon Apetit!

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  • Tani@Tagana Rose November 30, 2012 at 10:01 pm

    Sorry to hear you’ve had a rough week, but how nice of your father-in-law to send you such a wonderful gift!! I’ll definitely be trying out this mousse recipe – it looks so delicious in your photos!
    Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Tani

    • Maria December 1, 2012 at 2:08 pm

      Thanks so much, Tani! Hope you have a wonderful weekend too and enjoy all the holiday festivities in December!

  • Mariel December 2, 2012 at 11:11 pm

    So delicious! I’d love for you to share this or any of your great ideas at the link party going on now (and every Saturday – Tuesday) at ‘Or so she says …’ Hope to see you there! http://www.oneshetwoshe.com

    • Maria December 3, 2012 at 11:12 pm

      Thanks, Mariel! I’ll check it out!

  • Jennifer Hicks December 4, 2012 at 1:10 am

    this looks uh-mazing!

    • Maria December 4, 2012 at 8:30 am

      Thank you!

  • Jamie December 6, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    this looks sooooooo good! one of my favorite desserts, but it’s been so long since I’ve had it. I’m pinning this!

    • Maria December 6, 2012 at 10:02 pm

      Thanks, Jamie! It’s definitely worth the work to make the mousse! Delicious! Thanks for stopping by! :o) Have a great weekend!

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