This 3-ingredient healthy mousse is made with only dark chocolate, water and orange zest. Healthy desserts don’t come easier than this! Whipped up in the blender for an airy, light, yet decadent texture. This one’s a must try!
I shared this 2-ingredient chocolate mousse a couple of months ago that went viral on my Instagram page. Why? My guesses are because it’s easy, contains chocolate and only one other ingredient, water. I don’t usually list water as an ingredient in any of my other recipes, so essentially it’s a 1 ingredient recipe!
A few of you left me comments and messages suggesting I whip up the chocolate & water mixture before refrigerating to set. Of course I had to try it and you were right! The results didn’t disappoint. The mousse was so much lighter, airier and more enjoyable.
The texture of mousse is a key factor in its enjoyment. Chocolate mousse has a light and airy consistency that melts in the mouth. The smooth and velvety texture creates a pleasurable eating experience.
Why I love this 3-ingredient healthy mousse:
Chocolate mousse is a creamy dessert that’s light and airy in texture. The main ingredients in traditional chocolate mousse include chocolate, eggs, sugar, and sometimes butter or cream. My version is vegan (since I’m not using eggs/cream), lower in fat (I used water instead of cream), and lower in sugar (I didn’t add any extra sugar). It’s also so easy – all you have to do is break up the chocolate in a bowl, add hot water, then blend until airy and smooth. Pour into serving dishes and leave to set in the fridge. That’s it!
You can also change the flavour of this 3-ingredient healthy chocolate mousse. Today I’m adding orange zest for an orange version. You can play around with the flavours and add things like mint, peanut butter or spices. Another option is to use different flavoured chocolate bars. The next flavour on my list is cardamom chocolate mousse using a cardamom dark chocolate bar. The flavour options are endless!
What you need to make this 3-ingredient healthy mousse:
Dark chocolate – High-quality chocolate is essential for a delicious chocolate mousse. I love using 70% dark chocolate or higher. On this occasion I used a plain dark chocolate, but feel free to use a flavoured dark chocolate. There are so many different ones out there, so the flavour choices are endless!
Water – traditionally cream is used to make chocolate mousse, but I’m using water for a lower calorie/lower fat option. You have the option of heating up some milk/dairy-free milk or canned coconut milk for a richer mousse.
Orange zest – I love orange flavoured chocolate. Orange zest is the best and healthiest way to add orange flavour into recipes. Simple zest 1 orange and add it to the blender when you whip up the chocolate and water mixture. You can play around with the flavours – if you don’t like orange, feel free to omit. Or you use other flavours.
How to make this 3-ingredient healthy mousse:
You’ll see that the method section for this recipe is so short. That’s because it’s literally so easy to make. All you need to do is:
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Break up the dark chocolate into a heat-proof bowl. Pour the boiling water on top and allow to sit for 2 minutes.
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Mix the chocolate has completely melted, then pour into a high-speed blender along with the orange zest.
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Blend on high for 1-2 minutes, then pour into 4 small dessert glasses/dishes.
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Set in the fridge for 2 hours.
This 3-ingredient healthy mousse is:
- Vegan
- Dairy-free
- Gluten-free
- Nut-free
- Lower in sugar
- Lower in fat
- Easy to make
- Healthier than your average mousse
- A great make-ahead-of-time dessert
- Super delicious!
How to store your 3-ingredient healthy chocolate mousse:
Chocolate mousse is a great dessert that you can make ahead of time. You can double the recipe if you have people over that you’re trying to impress, or half it if you’re making it for you/you and a loved one. Store your mousse in the fridge for up to 4 days.
3-ingredient healthy mousse
Ingredients
- 100g dark chocolate* 70% cocoa solids or above. Any lower the mousse may not set.
- 200ml boiling water
- Zest of 1 orange
Instructions
- Break up the dark chocolate into a heat-proof bowl. Pour the boiling water on top and allow to sit for 2 minutes.
- Mix until the chocolate has completely melted, then pour into a high-speed blender along with the orange zest.
- Blend on high for 1-2 minutes, then pour into 4 small dessert glasses/dishes.
- Set in the fridge for 2 hours. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Which brand of chocolate?
I’d like to know too
Any brand as long as it’s 70% or above x
This was amazing. Loved the texture!!!
So glad you liked it AJ 😀 xx
I was skeptical and didn’t think this would work, but I’m amazed and how well it turned out! I used an 85% dark chocolate, which was quite bitter for me so next time I’ll use a lower % chocolate or maybe add some sugar to make it sweeter. The texture though was on point!
I tried this and it tasted lovely but mine did separate so I had a mousse layer and a watery chocolate layer underneath. Would you have any thoughts on why… (I’ve just seen your note on using a wider shallow ramekin and wondering if this is why?)
What happened?
Not a huge orange fan so left the zest out but OMG…it’s absolutely gorgeous!!!!!! How could I have lived without it?
Can I use milk or milk alternative instead?
Hi Will 🙂 Milk will also work!
I used a 50% chocolate and worked fine. Great receipt for a light chocolate mousse!
Amazing! Thank you for your feedback Natalia 😀
Would this work if it was just hand whisked? I don’t have an blender…!
My main concern was that the mousse wouldn’t set. I used an 80% dark chocolate and it set beautifully! The texture was perfect, the taste a little intense so I put a small amount of cream on top before eating. I ‘d like to experiment next time by adding small pieces of fresh orange to the mixture for some sweetness unless this would affect it setting? I was actually amazed that such a good mousse could be made with water and chocolate!!
OMG, it worked! I used 100g of Lindt 100% unsweetened dark chocolate, zest from a navel orange, 42g of monkfruit sweetener (I am avoiding refined cane sugar) along with the 200 ml of boiling water. My small, multi-blade Ninja blender worked like a champ. I used it first to coarse chop my chocolate and blend in monkfruit. Then I added the boiling water and zest and blended in 20 second increments until satiny and smooth. Set up nicely in my refrigerator. A great finish for my husband’s and my seventh anniversary lunch. Wish I could share the photo!