Chocolate Peppermint Mousse

medinews November 21, 2022

72 3 minutes read

This light and fluffy Chocolate Peppermint Mousse is the perfect dessert during the holiday season. Creamy chocolate meets a hint of peppermint between layers of fluffy whipped cream.

Why you will love this recipe:

If you’re on a gluten and dairy free diet, you know that often means skipping a lot of ice creams, hot cocoa flavors, and the like. But I’m always looking for ways to incorporate those holiday flavors in a healthier way that works for us! If you’d asked me a few years ago if I thought dairy-free desserts could be delicious, I probably would have rolled my eyes and asked you to pass me the caramel sauce.

Instead of making multiple dishes to meet different dietary needs, I wanted a way to make delicious gluten-free and dairy-free desserts that EVERYONE will love. And this Chocolate Peppermint Mousse absolutely delivers. It’s got all the fluffy creaminess we love about mousse, with a strong chocolate flavor and just the right amount of mint. It completely satisfies our sweet tooth without being overly sweet or heavy.

Plus… it’s incredibly easy to make and just looks so visually appealing. It’s definitely one of our favorite Christmas desserts!

small glasses filled with peppermint mousse and whipped cream, topped with crushed peppermint

Ingredients for Chocolate Peppermint Mousse:

dark chocolate– To be truly dairy-free, make sure you use a dairy-free candy bar. We like Lily’s
milk chocolate– We prefer finely chopped candy bars, but chocolate chips work in a pinch. Just give them a rough hack.
coconut milk– Make sure you use full-fat coconut milk or canned unsweetened coconut cream. Otherwise it won’t thicken when you open it. You’ll end up with Chocolate Peppermint Soup. Probably still tasty but not what you are looking for here!
Peppermint Extract– If you’re looking for an all-chocolate mousse, you can omit this or top it off with vanilla extract. Or try orange extract or zest for a delicious chocolate and orange mousse.

Optional but not really:

whipped cream– For a non-dairy dessert, use non-dairy whipped cream or a similar alternative. Otherwise sweeten to taste and whip until stiff.
Peppermints– Crushed mints add a delicious crunch and extra mint. This is a great way to use up all those candy canes that are popping up this time of year!

Process shots of making chocolate peppermint mousse

How to Make Chocolate Peppermint Mousse:

chop chocolate You want a fine chop – you’ll be relying on the heat from the coconut milk to melt the chocolate.
Heat coconut milk. Heat until very hot and bubbles form around the edge of the pan. Not cook!
whisk. Pour the heated coconut milk over the chopped chocolate and stir until the chocolate has melted.
Relax. You want to make sure your mixture has completely cooled and thickened. At least 4-5 hours but it might take longer.
Hit. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat until thick and fluffy. This can take a lot longer than you might think! Do not give up. Just keep hitting, it will arrive eventually!

More Delicious Holiday Dessert Recipes:

Garnish chocolate and peppermint mousse in a clear glass with whipped cream and mints

1 Cup dark chocolate bar roughly chopped
1/2 Cup milk chocolate roughly chopped
1 14 ounces can coconut milk Full fat
1/4 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
1/2 Cup whipped cream
5 everyone Peppermints crushed

Finely chop the chocolate and place in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Heat the coconut milk in a small saucepan until very hot, but do not bring to a boil. It begins to steam and small bubbles form on the edge of the pot.
Pour the hot coconut milk over the chopped chocolate and beat until well combined and the chocolate has melted. Stir in peppermint extract. Chill in the fridge for 4-5 hours or until completely chilled and thickened.
Once the mixture has cooled and thickened, beat with a hand mixer (or in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment) until light, fluffy and fluffy. This can take up to 10 minutes to get the right texture. It doesn’t seem like it’s going to get fat. Just keep hitting. It will arrive!
Whip the whipped cream and sweeten to the desired sweetness with powdered sugar.
You can now either spoon the chocolate mousse into bowls or fill it into a piping bag and pipe it into fancy glasses. Alternate mousse and whipped cream. You can also add crushed mints to the layers or just sprinkle them on top as a garnish. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Enjoy!

Natalie Monson

I am a Registered Nutritionist, mother of 4, an avid food lover and a strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you’ll find lots of delicious fruit and veg-packed recipes, tips on how to get your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters, and plenty of resources to feed your family.

Learn more about Natalie

medinews November 21, 2022

72 3 minutes read