Classic Vanilla Mousse Recipe
Classic Vanilla Mousse is a smooth, airy dessert made by combining a vanilla-infused custard with whipped cream and gelatin for a light, creamy texture. This elegant mousse is perfect for impressing guests or enjoying a delicate sweet treat, featuring a rich vanilla flavor balanced by a soft, fluffy consistency.
- Author: Amaya
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Cream and Gelatin
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) heavy whipping cream (divided)
- 1 ½ teaspoons gelatin powder (1 pouch)
Custard Mixture
- 4 large egg yolks
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
- Bloom gelatin: Pour 2 tablespoons of the heavy whipping cream into a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin powder evenly over the cream, and let it sit to bloom and soften.
- Prepare egg yolk mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, granulated sugar, and salt until combined and slightly thickened. Set aside.
- Heat milk and vanilla: In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the whole milk and vanilla bean paste. Heat, whisking constantly, until tiny bubbles form around the edges and the mixture is hot, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from heat and reduce heat to medium-low.
- Temper eggs: Slowly drizzle ½ cup of the hot milk into the egg yolk mixture while whisking constantly to raise the temperature of the eggs without scrambling them.
- Cook custard mixture: Pour the tempered egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until the custard thickens and begins to boil, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat immediately.
- Heat bloomed gelatin: Microwave the gelatin and cream mixture in short 10-second bursts, stirring as needed, until the gelatin is hot to the touch and fully dissolved.
- Add gelatin to custard: Stir the hot gelatin thoroughly into the warm custard until fully combined.
- Chill custard: Transfer the custard to a large bowl, cover the surface directly with plastic wrap to prevent skin from forming, and refrigerate for at least 2 to 3 hours until fully cooled and set.
- Whip the cream: Whip the remaining heavy cream in a chilled bowl until soft to medium peaks form, ensuring it is light and airy.
- Fold whipped cream into custard: Remove the chilled custard from the refrigerator. Gently fold the whipped cream into the custard in three batches using a rubber spatula, folding carefully to maintain airiness and avoid deflating the whipped cream.
- Chill individual servings: Spoon or pipe the mousse into individual serving bowls or glasses. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the mousse to set firmly.
- Serve: Serve the vanilla mousse chilled, optionally garnished with whipped cream, fresh fruit, or chocolate sauce as desired.
Notes
- Do not rush the tempering process to prevent scrambled eggs in the custard.
- Blooming the gelatin ensures smooth incorporation without lumps.
- Pressing plastic wrap onto the custard surface prevents a skin from forming during chilling.
- Folding whipped cream gently maintains the mousse’s light, fluffy texture.
- Use vanilla bean paste for the most intense vanilla flavor; vanilla extract can be substituted but with slightly less depth.
- The mousse can be made a day ahead and kept refrigerated, making it a convenient dessert option.
Keywords: vanilla mousse, classic dessert, mousse recipe, creamy mousse, French dessert, egg yolk custard, gelatin mousse, whipped cream dessert