Decadent Valentine’s Strawberry Chocolate Mousse Hearts
A romantic and easy-to-make dessert featuring silky dark chocolate mousse layered with fresh strawberry puree, shaped into charming hearts perfect for Valentine’s Day or special occasions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: French-inspired
Ingredients
- 6 oz (170 g) dark chocolate (70% cocoa), chopped
- 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) heavy cream, chilled
- 2 tbsp (25 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 large egg whites, room temperature
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup (150 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar (optional)
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Fresh strawberry slices (for garnish)
- Chocolate shavings or curls (for garnish)
- Mint leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Melt the chopped dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over simmering water (double boiler), stirring occasionally until smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly without hardening.
- In a small bowl, mash the chopped strawberries with powdered sugar and lemon juice until chunky puree forms. Set aside.
- In a chilled mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream and vanilla extract on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 3-4 minutes. Avoid overwhipping.
- In a separate clean bowl, whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff peaks form. Chill bowl and beaters beforehand if kitchen is humid.
- Gently fold one-third of the whipped cream into the melted chocolate to lighten it, then fold in the remaining whipped cream carefully to maintain airiness.
- Fold in the beaten egg whites gently but thoroughly using a spatula to keep the mousse airy and smooth.
- Spoon a layer of chocolate mousse into heart-shaped molds or ramekins, filling halfway. Add a spoonful of strawberry puree in the center, then cover with more chocolate mousse until molds are full. Tap gently to remove air bubbles.
- Refrigerate the mousse hearts for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to set and meld flavors.
- Carefully unmold the mousse hearts and garnish with fresh strawberry slices, chocolate shavings, and mint leaves if desired.
Notes
Use pasteurized egg whites if concerned about raw eggs. For dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and use dairy-free dark chocolate. Frozen strawberries can be used if thawed and drained. Avoid overwhipping cream and folding too aggressively to keep mousse airy. Chill overnight for best texture and flavor. Warm mold edges slightly before unmolding for a clean release.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 100 g per mous
- Calories: 220
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Protein: 3
Keywords: Valentine's Day dessert, chocolate mousse, strawberry mousse, romantic dessert, easy mousse recipe, heart-shaped dessert, gluten-free dessert, dairy-free option