Name: 2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 300 g semi-sweet chocolate (~50% cocoa, or use a mixture of milk and dark); 1 cup (240 g) heavy cream; chilled; 1 ½ cup (360 g) heavy cream; chilled

There’s something magically simple about blending just two ingredients into a rich, velvety delight. This 2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Recipe delivers that luscious, creamy satisfaction without fuss or fancy steps — making dessert night a breeze and impressively indulgent.

Six clear glass cups filled with two layers of chocolate mousse; the bottom layer is a denser, darker brown while the top layer is a lighter, airy brown. Each cup is topped with a dollop of white whipped cream, sprinkled with small dark chocolate shavings. The cups are arranged close together on a round white plate that sits on a white marbled surface. Around the cups on the plate are sliced red strawberries and black blackberries scattered decoratively. A gold spoon lies on the plate with a blackberry resting on its bowl. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make 2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve 2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I honestly love this 2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Recipe because it feels fancy yet requires almost zero effort. It’s a game changer when you want something impressive but are short on time or ingredients.

Incredibly Simple: Only two ingredients but the richness will fool anyone into thinking it took hours.
Flexible Chocolate Choice: You can pick your favorite semi-sweet or mix milk and dark chocolate to tailor the flavor.
From Pantry to Plate Quickly: With minimal prep, it’s perfect for last-minute guests or a cozy treat for yourself.
Light, Yet Decadent: The whipped cream whips up the texture just right so it’s airy but indulgent, never heavy.

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic of this 2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Recipe lies in the simple marriage of top-quality chocolate and fresh heavy cream. Each plays a vital role in texture and flavor, so picking good ingredients makes all the difference.

Flat lay of broken chunks of semi-sweet chocolate, a small white ceramic bowl filled with chilled heavy cream, a larger white ceramic bowl with thick whipped cream showing soft peaks, all arranged in perfect symmetry, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Semi-sweet Chocolate: I recommend chocolate around 50% cocoa for balance—not too bitter, not too sweet; breaking it into small pieces helps it melt evenly.
Heavy Cream: Make sure it’s cold and fresh, since it whips best that way, giving you the light, fluffy feel mousse is famous for.

📝

Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

While I stick to this simple combo most times, I love experimenting with small tweaks that let you make it your own. Feel free to make it sweeter, richer, or even dairy-free depending on your mood and pantry!

Variation: Once, I tried folding in a teaspoon of espresso powder to deepen the chocolate flavor—it made a fabulous adult version of this mousse!
Dairy-Free Version: Swap the heavy cream for canned coconut milk's solid cream part—though the texture is different, the mousse still delights.
Sweetness Adjustment: If you prefer milk chocolate, be aware it’s sweeter, so you might want to balance with less added sugar elsewhere or garnish with a sprinkle of sea salt.

Step-by-Step: How I Make 2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Recipe

The image shows a close-up of four clear glass cups each filled with smooth, creamy chocolate mousse. The top layer is light brown and soft, with one cup having a scoop removed, revealing a thick, rich inner mousse layer of a slightly darker brown. Each mousse cup is topped with a dollop of white whipped cream sprinkled with small dark chocolate shavings. The cups sit on a white marbled surface, scattered with loose chocolate shavings, a fresh blackberry, and halved strawberries adding pops of red and black color around them. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Melting the Chocolate with Cream to Make Ganache

Start by breaking your chocolate into a heat-safe bowl. Heat one cup of heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat until it’s just simmering—watch for tiny bubbles forming around the edges, not a full boil. Pour that hot cream over the chocolate pieces, then cover it tightly to let the chocolate soften for 2 to 3 minutes. This resting time helps the chocolate melt perfectly without needing too much stirring. When you come back, gently stir it until silky smooth. If stubborn chunks remain, a quick zap in the microwave for 10-15 seconds will finish it off. Set the ganache aside to cool for about 5 minutes; it shouldn’t be hot when you fold in the whipped cream.

Step 2: Whipping the Cream to Soft Peaks

Next, pour the remaining 1½ cups of chilled heavy cream into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric hand mixer, whip the cream just until it thickens and forms soft to medium peaks. You’ll know you’ve hit the mark when ribbons trail behind your beaters, and if you lift them, the cream peaks gently fall back down rather than holding stiff shapes. Be careful not to overwhip—stop immediately at this stage to keep it airy and easy to fold.

Step 3: Folding Ganache into Whipped Cream

Now for the delicate part—folding to keep the mousse fluffy. Start by adding about a third of your whipped cream into the cooled ganache. Use a rubber spatula to fold them together gently: scoop along the edge, then fold over, turning the bowl as you go. Don’t stir or beat, or you’ll deflate the cream. Once mostly combined, add this mixture back into the remaining whipped cream and fold it all together slowly until smooth and lump-free. The result should be light, billowy chocolate bliss.

Step 4: Chill and Serve

Divide your mousse evenly between serving dishes or cups, giving each guest or your family their own little decadence. Pop them into the fridge for at least 3 hours to firm up. This wait builds the perfect texture. Right before serving, I like to add a dollop of whipped cream and a dusting of grated chocolate or cocoa powder for the extra wow factor.

Top Tip

After making this mousse several times, I learned these tips really help you get it perfect every time:

Chill Everything: Keep your heavy cream cold until whipping—it whips faster and holds air better.
Don’t Overwhip Cream: The mousse depends on that soft peak stage, so it stays light but still stable.
Gentle Folding: Folding slowly preserves the mousse’s airy texture instead of turning it dense.
Patience with Ganache: Letting the hot cream melt the chocolate covered avoids burning and results in the smoothest base possible.

How to Serve 2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Recipe

Garnishes

I usually finish this mousse with a swirl of freshly whipped cream and some grated chocolate curls or a light dusting of cocoa powder. Sometimes a few fresh raspberries or a sprig of mint add a fresh contrast that works like a charm. These little touches make it feel extra special without fuss.

Side Dishes

Since this mousse is rich, I love pairing it with a simple fresh fruit salad, or even a crunchy biscotti or nutty shortbread cookie on the side for textural contrast. It’s all about balancing that creamy chocolate with something light or crisp.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I’ve served this mousse layered in clear glasses alternating with crushed chocolate wafers and whipped cream—everyone loved the look and texture mix. You can also pipe it into mini tart shells or use small mason jars for adorable individual servings perfect for gifting or celebrations.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep your mousse covered in the fridge, ideally with plastic wrap touching the surface to prevent a skin from forming. It stays delicious for about 3 days, but I prefer eating it sooner to keep that fresh whipped texture.

Freezing

I haven’t had great luck freezing this mousse—it tends to separate a bit when thawed. I’d recommend preparing only what you plan to enjoy fresh or storing leftovers in the fridge instead.

Reheating

This mousse is best served cold, so rather than reheating, I suggest letting refrigerated leftovers sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before digging in. That softens the texture and releases the chocolate aroma nicely.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use milk chocolate for this 2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Recipe?

Absolutely! Using milk chocolate will make your mousse sweeter and creamier. Just remember it melts faster, so keep an eye on the ganache and adjust chilling time accordingly.

How do I know when the whipped cream has reached soft peaks?

Soft peaks form when the cream thickens and, when you lift the beaters, the peaks gently hold shape but flop back down softly. It’s easier to fold into ganache and keeps the mousse fluffy rather than dense.

Can I prepare the mousse a day ahead?

Definitely! In fact, chilling overnight helps the flavors meld and results in a smoother, firmer mousse. Just cover it well with plastic wrap while chilling to avoid any fridge odors seeping in.

What’s the best way to fold to keep the mousse light?

Use a gentle scooping and folding motion: scrape along the edge of the bowl, scoop under the mixture and fold over on top, turning the bowl as you go. Avoid stirring or beating as that will deflate the whipped cream.

Final Thoughts

I always recommend this 2 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Recipe to friends because it feels both decadent and effortless—a real crowd-pleaser whether you’re making a quick snack or a special dessert. Give it a try, and you’ll see how a couple of quality ingredients whipped together with care can turn into something truly special. Trust me, you’ll want to keep this one in your go-to recipe collection.