Cherry Mousse for Two
Cherry Mousse for Two
When it comes to date night dinner at home, neither my husband nor myself have much of a sweet tooth and prefer to focus our efforts on the main meal. But for Valentine’s Day, dessert feels like a must. So I’ve written the kind of Valentine’s dessert recipe that I’d like to make: super simple, yields only 2 servings, is appropriately pink, and features arguably the most romantic of fruits - cherries. With only about 15 minutes of active time, this recipe is easy to (literally) whip up the day before and store in the fridge so that all you need to do on the big night is garnish and serve. After all, maybe Valentine’s dessert should be a little bit like love itself - simple and sweet.
Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients
1 cup cherries (pitted, fresh or frozen)
2 TBSP granulated sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
Gel food coloring (optional)
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ cup heavy whipping cream
2 TBSP powdered sugar
½ tsp unflavored gelatin
1 TBSP cold water
Preparation:
Make the Cherry Puree
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the cherries, granulated sugar, and lemon juice. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, until the cherries soften and release their juices.
Blend the mixture until smooth (I used an immersion blender, but a regular blender or a small food processor would work, too). Strain through a fine mesh sieve. Add gel food coloring here, if using, a drop at a time, until you reach your desired color. Allow puree to cool completely.
Prepare the Gelatin
Sprinkle gelatin over 1 TBSP cold water in a small bowl and let it bloom for 5 minutes.
Microwave for 5-10 seconds until fully dissolved, then stir into cooled cherry puree.
Whip the Cream
In a chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.
Fold Together
Gently fold the cherry puree into the whipped cream in batches until fully incorporated. Be careful not to overwork or deflate the mixture.
Chill and Serve
Divide the mousse into 2 flat coupe glasses or small ramekins. Smooth the tops and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set.
Garnish with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and a fresh (or Luxardo) cherry before serving.
