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    Home » Recipes » Small Batch Recipes

    Fresh Strawberry Mousse

    Published: Apr 5, 2023 by Megan Weimer · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This fresh strawberry mousse is a delightful, refreshing dessert that is perfect for any occasion, from dinner parties to special celebrations. It's airy and light, made with fresh strawberries, sugar, and whipped cream (no gelatin!), which are blended together to create a smooth and creamy texture.

    A cup of strawberry mousse on a sheet pan.

    Personally, I feel like mousse is an underrated dessert. It's about time we give it the love it deserves.

    This strawberry mousse is one of my favorite treats! It's super refreshing for Spring and Summer and easy to make with only 3 ingredients, all of which are pantry staples. What could be better than that?

    A cup of strawberry mousse with a spoon on top of it.

    The combination of sweet, tangy ripe strawberries in a velvety mousse is just chef's kiss. It's the perfect way to end any meal! Whether you want to savor it on its own or pair it with sliced fruit, whipped cream, or chocolate shavings, I guarantee this mousse will have you licking the jar and wanting more!

    This recipe makes just enough mousse for 3-4 servings. For more small batch recipes, check out my mini carrot cake, small batch vanilla cupcakes, small batch brownies, and small vanilla cake.

    Jump to:
    • What is Mousse?
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Substitutions
    • Helpful Equipment & Tools
    • How to Make Strawberry Mousse
    • Expert Tips
    • Additions & Variations
    • Storage & Freezing
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Small Batch Recipes to Try
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    What is Mousse?

    Mousse is a light and airy dish with a smooth, velvety texture. It can be prepared as a dessert or as a savory dish. The word "mousse" comes from the French word for "foam", referring to its texture. In the case of dessert mousse, it's usually made by blending ingredients like whipped cream, egg whites, sugar, and a flavoring (like chocolate, fruit, or coffee) to create a frothy, fluffy texture.

    Savory mousse, on the other hand, can be made with a variety of ingredients like seafood, poultry, or vegetables, and is typically set with gelatin or another stabilizing agent. It's often served as an appetizer or as part of a main course.

    Mousse can be served on its own or used as a base for other desserts, such as cakes or pastries. For example, this fresh strawberry mousse recipe is perfect served on its own, in a trifle, or in strawberry mousse cake!

    Ingredient Notes

    Here are some notes about the ingredients used. For quantities and full instructions, see the recipe card below.

    Ingredients to make strawberry mousse on a red surface.
    • Chopped fresh strawberries- Make sure your strawberries are rinsed, hulled, and roughly chopped before putting them in the blender. This insures that no dirt or leaves will end up in your mousse! Use ripe strawberries that are bright red and still quite firm.
    • Granulated sugar- White sugar helps enhance the natural sweetness of the strawberries. You can substitute caster sugar or organic cane sugar if you need to. I don't recommend brown sugar or coconut sugar since they'll drastically change the flavor and not compliment the strawberries well.
    • Heavy whipping cream- Heavy cream makes this mousse super rich and creamy. Use full fat cream that is 36-40% fat. Also make sure your cream is cold before whipping it. If the heavy cream is cold, the fat globules emulsify faster and stay emulsified longer. In simpler terms, your whipped cream will set up faster if the cream is chilled.

    Substitutions

    • Fresh strawberries: If you don't have any fresh strawberries on hand, you can use frozen ones. They'll take 6 hours to thaw in the refrigerator. Another way to thaw them is by placing them in an airtight container and then placing the container in a large bowl of cold water. The strawberries should be thawed after 15-30 minutes. Pat the thawed strawberries with a paper towel before blending them to remove as much excess moisture as possible.
    • Heavy cream: Substitute coconut cream to make the mousse vegan! While sour cream, Greek yogurt, and mascarpone are common substitutes, I don't recommend them since I can't guarantee any would be thick enough.

    Helpful Equipment & Tools

    • You will need a high powered blender or food processor to puree the strawberries. Either works just fine.
    • Use an electric hand mixer to whip the cream. A stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment works too.
    • You'll need some containers to serve the mousse in. I used a few of these tulip jelly jars, but you can use mason jars, Pyrex containers, small bowls, or whatever else you have.

    How to Make Strawberry Mousse

    Here are the step by step instructions to make homemade mousse. Before you start, wash and dry your fresh strawberries, roughly chop them, and set them aside.

    STEP 1: First, puree the chopped strawberries and granulated sugar in a blender or food processor until smooth.

    STEP 2: If you want, pour the strawberry puree through a mesh strainer into a bowl for ultra smooth mousse. This will get rid of any seeds. Remove ½ cup from the puree and set aside.

    Strawberry puree in a bowl.

    STEP 3: Add the heavy cream to a large mixing bowl. Beat the cream on medium-high speed with your electric mixer. Medium-high is perfect since high speed can over-whip the cream easily and low speed under-whips it.

    After 3-4 minutes, soft peaks form (peaks that barely hold their shape) and quickly turn to medium peaks (peaks that hold their shape well but curl at the ends when the mixer is lifted up). Medium peaks are what we want!

    Whipped heavy cream in a bowl.

    STEP 3: Gently fold the strawberry puree (reserving ½ cup!) into the whipped cream with a rubber spatula, being careful to not deflate the air we just whipped into it.

    Strawberry puree being folded into whipped cream.
    Mousse and jam layered in a jar.

    STEP 4: Add 2 tablespoons of the reserved strawberry mixture to the bottom of each of your 3-4 serving cups. Spoon the strawberry mousse on top. Place the mousse cups in the refrigerator for 1 hour to set. Once they're set, top with sliced strawberries, chocolate sauce, or whipped cream and enjoy.

    A jar of mousse topped with whipped cream and a strawberry.

    Expert Tips

    • Use cold utensils. For the best results, I recommend using a cold bowl, cold whisks, and cold heavy cream for this recipe. Place everything in the refrigerator 15 to 30 minutes beforehand. Plastic bowls will not stay as cold as glass or stainless steel.
    • Don't over whip. Keep a watchful eye on the mixer as the mixture can easily transition from soft peaks to stiff peaks to being overwhipped in no time. Once over-whipped, the cream will become dense and clumpy.
    • Fold gently. Fold the strawberry puree into the whipped cream gently so that the cream doesn't deflate and ruin the fluffy, airy texture.

    Additions & Variations

    • Chocolate: Add a layer of melted chocolate or chocolate chips to the bottom of the jar before adding the strawberry mousse for a delicious chocolate covered strawberry flavor.
    • Lemon: Add some fresh lemon juice or zest to the mousse for a tart, citrusy flavor.
    • Mint: Mix in some finely chopped fresh mint leaves or peppermint extract to give the mousse a cool and refreshing taste.
    • Vanilla: Add a splash of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste to the mixture for a subtle and sweet flavor.
    • Coconut: Mix in some shredded coconut for a tropical twist.
    • Raspberry: Replace some or all of the strawberries with fresh raspberries for a delicious raspberry mousse.
    • Almond: Add some almond extract or chopped almonds for a nutty flavor and crunchy texture.
    • Spices: Add some cinnamon, cardamom, or other spices to the mousse for warm and cozy vibes.
    • Layering: Create a layered dessert by alternating the mousse with layers of crushed Oreos, graham crackers, cream cheese, cake, or fruit. My small vanilla cake, strawberry vanilla cake, or strawberry crumb cake would be so good for this!
    A close up of a mousse cup garnished with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

    Storage & Freezing

    Leftover mousse stays fresh in an airtight container stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Freezing

    Mousse can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Be aware that the texture might change and not be as light and fluffy! Let the mousse thaw in the refrigerator for a couple hours before enjoying.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do I make mousse thicker?

    To make no bake mousse thicker for a cake filling or another dessert, I recommend adding 1 teaspoon of gelatin or cornstarch mixed with one tablespoon of water. Whip the cream until soft peaks form, add water to a small pot on low heat and sprinkle the gelatin on top. Let it bloom for one minute and then whisk until the gelatin dissolves (don't let it boil). Let the mixture cool for a bit and pour it into the cream. Continue to whip it until firm peaks form and continue on with the recipe. Another tip is to let the mousse set up in the refrigerator longer, about 3-4 hours.

    Can I save over-whipped mousse?

    Whipped cream will deflate and look curdled if it's over whipped, but you can save it! Slowly pour cold heavy cream into the bowl as the mixer runs on low until the whipped cream is fluffy again. The amount of additional heavy cream you'll need varies from 2 tablespoons to ½ cup.

    Can I make this in advance?

    Yes! If you're prepping mousse for a party or other occasion, it can be made 1 day in advance. Make sure the containers you store it in are airtight or cover them tightly with plastic wrap.

    More Small Batch Recipes to Try

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    📖 Recipe

    A cup of fresh strawberry mousse garnished with a strawberry slice.

    Fresh Strawberry Mousse

    Megan Weimer
    This fresh strawberry mousse is a delightful, refreshing dessert that is perfect for any occasion, from dinner parties to special celebrations. It's airy and light, made with fresh strawberries, sugar, and whipped cream (no gelatin!), which are blended together to create a smooth and creamy texture.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Chill Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 jars
    Calories 291.1 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 blender
    • 1 Electric hand mixer

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 300 g chopped strawberries
    • 67 g granulated sugar
    • 237 ml heavy whipping cream cold

    Instructions
     

    • Wash, dry, hull, and roughly chop your strawberries if needed. Add them and the granulated sugar to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
      300 g chopped strawberries, 67 g granulated sugar
    • Beat the heavy whipping cream on medium-high speed with your electric mixer for 3-4 minutes until medium peaks form.
      237 ml heavy whipping cream
    • Remove ½ cup of strawberry puree from the blender and set aside. Pour the remaining puree into the whipped cream and fold it in gently with a rubber spatula.
    • Add 2 tablespoons of reserved strawberry puree to the bottom of 3-4 small serving cups. Layer the mousse on top.
    • Let the mousse cups set in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight. Top with fresh fruit, whipped cream, or chocolate shavings and enjoy.

    Video

    Notes

    If you don't have fresh strawberries, use thawed frozen ones. Make sure to pat them with a towel to remove excess moisture before using.
    Keep an eye on the heavy cream as you whip it since it can get over-whipped and curdled in the blink of an eye.
    Storage: Leftover strawberry mousse stays fresh in an airtight container stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
    Freezing: Freeze the mousse in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Keep in mind that the texture might change and not be as fluffy. Let thaw in the refrigerator for a couple hours before enjoying.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1jarCalories: 291.1kcalCarbohydrates: 24.1gProtein: 2.2gFat: 21.8gSaturated Fat: 13.7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5.5gCholesterol: 67.4mgSodium: 17mgPotassium: 171.7mgFiber: 1.5gSugar: 22.1gVitamin A: 885.2IUVitamin C: 44.5mgCalcium: 51.5mgIron: 0.4mg
    Keyword mousse, strawberry mousse
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    About Megan Weimer

    Megan Weimer is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Dollop of Dough. Since 2020, she's been inspiring home bakers to create low-key, yet elevated desserts that range from traditional to allergy-friendly.

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    Welcome to Dollop of Dough! Here you will find dessert and drink recipes that are easy to prepare for everyday occasions.

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