Individual Chocolate Mousse Recipes

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, whisk together egg yolks, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 3/4 cup heavy cream. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until mixture coats back of spoon, 3 to 4 minutes (do not boil). Remove from heat; whisk in melted chocolate and vanilla. Strain into a bowl; chill until cool.
• With an electric mixer, beat remaining 1 1/4 cups heavy cream with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar until stiff peaks form. Stir 1/3 of whipped cream into cooled custard mixture, then gently fold in the rest with a rubber spatula.
• Spoon into serving dishes; chill, covered, at least 30 minutes and up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Put 1 2/3 cups cream into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 3 1/2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; refrigerate 1 hour.
• Put 4 egg yolks into the clean bowl of the mixer fitted with the clean whisk attachment; beat on high speed until pale and frothy, 4 to 5 minutes. Meanwhile, bring 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons corn syrup, and 2 tablespoons water to a rolling boil in a small, heavy saucepan over high heat. Cook until clear, large bubbles form, about 1 minute. Reduce mixer speed to medium-low. Carefully pour hot syrup down side of bowl. Raise speed to medium-high. Mix until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in bittersweet chocolate, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and a pinch of salt with a rubber spatula.
• Add one-third of bittersweet-chocolate mixture to whipped cream; whisk to combine. Add remaining bittersweet-chocolate mixture, whisking until completely combined. Press through a large-mesh sieve into a large bowl; discard any solids. Repeat entire recipe, substituting milk chocolate for the bittersweet.

INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE

Steps:

• In a large heatproof bowl or the top pan of a double boiler, combine the chocolate, butter, coffee, and rum. Set over (not touching) barely simmering water and stir constantly until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and let cool for 15 minutes.
• Fold one-third of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Then fold in the remaining whipped cream just until combined. It's better to have some streaks of cream in your mousse then to stir the mixture until it loses its airiness. Cover the mousse and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 3 days.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment, combine 1 1/2 cups of the cream and the vanilla and whip on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. (Or, use a large bowl and a handheld mixer or a whisk.).
• Line six half-pint jars with the crumb crust as directed in the recipe.
• To line jars with the crust, spoon about 4 tablespoons of the crumb mixture into each jar. Take the jar in your nondominant hand (left hand if you are right-handed, for example) and start pressing the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the jar with your other hand. Now work some of the crumb mixture along the sides of the jar, pressing firmly. The crust should be about 1/4 inches thick and cover three-fourths of the jar. Fill the crusts immediately.
• Whip the remaining 1/2 cup cream until soft peaks form. Spoon about 1/2 cup mousse into each crust-lined jar. Top with about 1 1/2 tablespoon of the ganache, then top the ganache with a dollop of the whipped cream. Alternatively, top the mousse with a dollop of the cream and grate or shave a little chocolate on top or dust with cocoa powder.
• Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. These pies can also be frozen for up to 1 month without the cream topping. Bring to room temperature and add the cream topping just before serving.
• Chocolate Crumb Crust: In a bowl, combine the crumbs and butter and stir until the mixture is evenly moist.
• Ganache Filling: Coarsely chop the chocolate by hand or in a food processor and place in a bowl.
• In a small saucepan, heat the cream over medium heat just until bubbles form around the edges of the pan. Remove from the heat and pour over the chocolate. Let stand for 5 minutes, then stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Stir in the butter until melted.
• Let cool and use immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour twelve 3/4-cup custard cups. Stir chocolate in bowl set over simmering water until smooth. Remove from over water. Cool to lukewarm, about 10 minutes.
• Using electric mixer, beat cream and cinnamon in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Add liqueur; beat until still peaks form. Beat eggs and brown sugar in large bowl until very light, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat chocolate into egg mixture, then fold in cream mixture.
• Divide batter among prepared cups. Set cups in large roasting pan. Add enough hot water to pan to come halfway up sides of cups. Bake until tops of cakes look dry and tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 18 minutes. Transfer cups to racks; cool cakes completely.
• Cut around cakes to loosen. Turn cakes out onto plates.