National Chocolate Mousse Day
Rich, creamy, fluffy, chocolatey…make your own chocolate mousse and add coffee, vanilla, or even rum, and treat yourself to the decadent dessert. Guilt-free.
There is a dish that the world loves that speaks of deep richness – a thick creamy substance composed of that most decadent of flavors, chocolate. This is the day dedicated to this most delicious of desserts. This isn’t a day for delicacy though, this is the day to completely immerse oneself in this dedication to culinary debauchery with a smooth, creamy texture.
Julia Child is famously known as having created the perfect chocolate mousse, including unique flavors such as dark-brewed coffee, butter, bittersweet chocolate, eggs, dark rum, and vanilla extract. This National Chocolate Mousse day, let that delicious and delightful creativity shine!
History of National Chocolate Mousse Day
In French, the word mousse means ‘foam’, and this is an apt description of this decadent dessert, whether it is made so that it is light and frothy or creamy and thick, it all depends on how the chef prepares this scrumptious treat. Though the origins of this delicacy are largely unknown, it is known that it was a popular dish in the 18th century in Europe, starting in the country of France and expanding from there.
One of the first written records of the appearance of chocolate mousse in the United States is actually from an exposition in New York City in 1892. Later on, the recipe for chocolate mousse started appearing in a “Housekeepers Column” in the 1897 edition of the Boston globe. The recipe actually produced a dish with far more in common with chocolate pudding, instead of the more familiar foamy treat of the modern day.
It wasn’t until egg whites were introduced to the recipe, separated from the yellow yolks, that the light creaminess entered into the equation. It was an art form to create the mousse, as it was necessary to hand whip it at a consistent pace for a long period of time. Of course, it wasn’t until the electric mixer was involved that it became common to produce the proper consistency more commonly.
National Chocolate Mousse Day Timeline
1700s
Mousses are invented
Originating in France, Chocolate Mousse can be either savory or sweet, but are most often eaten as a dessert.[1]
1750
Chocolate Mousse recipe is first published
French writer, Menon, publishes La science du maître d’hôtel confiseur, which is translated into English means “The Science of a Master Confectioner”.[2]
1892
New York Food Exposition takes place
One of the first ways that Americans are exposed to the deliciousness of Chocolate Mousse is through the Food Exposition held at Madison Square Garden.[3]
Late 1800s
French artist makes Chocolate Mousse recipe
Famous French post-Impressionist painter, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec is credited as creating a chocolate mousse recipe and calling it “mayonnaise de chocolat”.[4]
1977
First White Chocolate Mousse recipe is created
Michel Fitoussi, a New York City chef, creates a white chocolate mousse, though the dark chocolate continues to be the most popular.[5]
How to Celebrate National Chocolate Mousse Day
Observing and celebrating National Chocolate Mousse Day can be loads of delicious fun! Try out some of these fun ideas for enjoying this day, or come up with some creative ideas of your own:
Eat Chocolate Mousse
There are many ways to celebrate this day, among them being serving chocolate mousse to the family after dinner, or ordering it in a restaurant. Whether serving it in casual bowls to the kids at home or savoring it delightfully at a dinner for two, National Chocolate Mousse Day is a delectable day to enjoy this tasty treat.
Throw a National Chocolate Mousse Day Event
Bring family members, friends or neighbors together to have a gathering to celebrate National Chocolate Mousse Day. Of course, it would be necessary to serve chocolate mousse as the featured dish. But other ways to enjoy this party would be to pay attention to the French background of the chocolate mousse dish.
Have guests dress up in French costumes, like wearing a beret. Decorate with French flags or poodles. And don’t forget to give a nod to the Eiffel Tower, which was built around the same time that chocolate mousse first came to the United States.
Learn Fun Facts About Chocolate Mousse
Delight in the fun and frenzy of National Chocolate Mousse Day with friends, family and coworkers by learning and sharing various fun facts about this delicious dessert. Try these bits of trivia out for starters:
- Mousse may have first been created as a savory dish in France and may not have been turned into sweet desserts until many years later.
- A variety of flavors can be added to chocolate mousse to make it more creative, such as peppermint, rum, orange or coffee extract.
- The word “mousse” is French for “foam” or “froth” and is pronounced “moose”, the same as the animal, even though it is spelled differently.
- Chocolate mousse gained in popularity in the US in the 1930s, along with the more common version of the food, chocolate pudding.
Bring National Chocolate Mousse Day to the Office
Celebrate National Chocolate Mousse Day by enjoying an observance of the day at work and bringing the recipe into the office. A challenge can be laid out to those co-workers to bring in their favorite chocolate mousse, whether it’s an old family recipe, or one from their favorite confectionery shop. Make a big deal out of the day by hosting a cook-off to see who can make the best chocolate mousse, making sure there are spoons available for everyone so they can get a taste of the winner!
Try Making Chocolate Mousse at Home
There are many recipes for a chocolate mousse, all of them introducing different combinations of flavorings and toppings, all in the attempt to produce the perfect mousse flavor and consistency.
The first step of creating the perfect chocolate mousse is of course utilizing the best possible chocolate available to you. The other ingredients needed for chocolate mousse include heavy whipping cream, eggs and vanilla extract.
There are those who claim that the perfect rendition of a chocolate mousse is based on its simplicity. The very basis of most French Cuisine is to create a panoply of flavors using only the most basic of flavors and techniques. As mentioned above, the most basic of chocolate mousse recipes has just five ingredients, and is presented below.
French Chocolate Mousse recipe
- 11 oz of chocolate (dark is the preferred method)
- 6 large eggs
- 2 oz of butter, plus a bit.
- 1.6 oz of sugar
- Pinch of salt
The recipe is remarkably simple on the surface, but the importance lay in processing it exactly. It is first necessary to melt the chocolate with butter in a double boiler, waiting until the top presents with a silky shine. While this is going on, it is best to whip the egg whites with the salt, then add the egg yolks with the sugar, and finally complete the mix with the chocolate, whipping all the while. After this the mousse should be placed in the fridge for six hours.This is the most basic recipe for chocolate mousse, and from here on out, it takes little more than a bit of innovation to produce a special blend all your own. There are so many directions that can be taken, though the cook should be careful to maintain a proper balance of ingredients to keep the consistency. Vanilla extract is a popular additive, as are various rich dark alcohols such as rum, coffee and more.
National Chocolate Mousse Day FAQs
When is National Chocolate Mousse Day?
National Chocolate Mousse Day takes place in the spring of each year, on the 3rd of April.[1]
What is National Chocolate Mousse Day?
National Chocolate Mousse Day was created in celebration of the delicious dessert of French origins, chocolate mousse.[2]
How to make Chocolate Mousse?
Chocolate Mousse is made using heaving whipping cream, eggs, sugar and chocolate. It is cooked, chilled and then beaten.[3]
Is Chocolate Mousse gluten free?
Yes! Chocolate Mousse is a dessert that is made from only a few ingredients, none of which contain gluten.[4]
Can Chocolate Mousse be made the day before?
Sure! In fact, this dessert can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 or 5 days.[5]
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