A box of chocolates might be traditional, but if you really want to express how much you care this Valentine’s Day, make this chocolate-covered strawberry mousse. Light and creamy strawberry mousse is topped with a rich chocolate ganache and adorned with whipped cream, chocolate-covered Oreo crunchies, and fresh strawberries for light but decadent dessert that will say “I love you” to anyone lucky enough to eat it.
Mastering the layers:
These mousse cups might appear complicated, but they’re actually not difficult to make. Like many French baking recipes (looking at you, opera cake!), they’re simply a series of small steps that are fairly easy to master, strung together to create something that looks impressive. They might take a bit of time and patience, but they’re not that challenging.
Temperature is key:
As you work through the layers, make sure you’re paying attention to the temperature of each element when you’re folding it into or layering it on top of another. For example, the thickened strawberry base should be completely cool when the whipped cream is folded in; if it’s warm, it may melt the cream. And while it’s okay if the chocolate ganache is slightly warm when it goes onto the mousse, you definitely don’t want it too hot. We want chocolate-covered mousse, not a chocolate melty mousse mess.
Maximize the make-ahead potential:
The biggest perk of a layered dessert like this is that you can spread the process out over a few days. The chocolate Oreo crunchies can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The mousse can be made and layered with the Oreo pieces in the glasses the day before you want to serve, and you can add the ganache that same day, or wait until the next day. Then, just before serving, you can whip up the cream and do the final topping.
Made this treat? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
