A few years ago, I happened upon a recipe for 5-minute chocolate mousse with only two ingredients: chocolate and water. If you’ve worked with chocolate at all, this sounds completely counterintuitive, yet the method works! This mousse absolutely melts in your mouth, and makes for one incredible dessert, especially when spiked with Baileys (use your favorite liqueur).
This is the occasion for your highest quality chocolate, and you’ll want to use a wire whisk to achieve the right consistency. Once the chocolate has melted, you’ll need to work quickly, so stage all of the elements ahead of time. You’re only three ingredients (four if you count the whipped cream topping) and 15 minutes away from an easy and decadent St. Patrick’s Day dessert!
Baileys Irish Cream Mousse
Adapted from Cafe Fernando
8 ounces chocolate, chopped (I used 4 oz bittersweet and 4 oz semisweet)
3/4 cup water
3 Tbsp Baileys Irish Cream* (here’s a homemade version!)
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
Optional: unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting
Set a large metal or glass mixing bowl over a slightly smaller mixing bowl filled with water and ice (the bottom of the larger bowl should touch the ice; I placed a metal bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes before placing it over the ice bath). Arrange six small cups or ramekins in a baking dish.
Place chocolate and water in a double boiler or in a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Slowly melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally until glossy and smooth. Remove chocolate mixture from heat and stir in Baileys.
Pour chocolate mixture into the large mixing bowl set over ice and whisk with a large wire whisk for about 4 minutes, just until mixture is slightly thickened (be careful not to over-whisk, or the texture can become grainy). When mixture is thick, divide evenly among cups (about 1/3-cup mousse per cup).
Cover cups with plastic wrap and let chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving (or up to 4 days). When ready to serve, beat heavy whipping cream in a mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Spoon a dollop into each cup and dust with cocoa.
*If you prefer to make a nonalcoholic version, replace the Baileys with 3 tablespoons water. You can also flavor the mousse with cinnamon, instant espresso, etc.
Yield – 6 servings
Calories – 230
Carbs – 22
What a fun, beautiful and very adaptable recipe! I’m already thinking of a zillion variations. Thanks Laura!
Yummy, Laura! It’s always good to have a great quick recipe in hand. Beautiful photos as always.
I swear if I had all of these ingredients on hand I’d already be making it. Sounds SOOO good.
I’ve never tried chocolate mousse without the egg. These sound perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or my afternoon snack (oh how I wish). Hope you week is going good.
-Gina-
It does sound incredible. And addition of Baileys – yummy :)
ooo this looks so good! i bet it’s so smooth and has the best chocolate consistency! love the addition of the irish cream ;)
Laura these cups of mousse are just beautiful looking! I bet the flavor is so intense and chocolaty! Mmmm, so good!
Thanks for linking up to my homemade Baileys Irish cream recipe! :)
Fifteen minutes to chocolate heaven? What a delightful recipe! The rich chocolate is so irresistible!
I’ve been meaning to make this for years! It will be my next chocolate mousse…and I love that you added Bailey’s!!!
I love this mousse recipe! It’s incredibly rich and chocolatey! :) Love your addition of Baileys!
I love how simple, quick and light this recipe is!
Wow that sounds ridiculously easy and looks sooo good!
I’ve never heard of such a thing, can’t wait to test it out! GREAT St. Patty’s dessert, Laura!
Pass me over a spoon please! These are beautiful and I want to dig right in!
this looks amazing! I must try very soon!! Thank you !!
You had me at Baileys. *SWOON*
Chocolate and water? :o
You’re right – it’s against everything that people always say… it doesn’t cause the chocolate to seize? I’m very curious, I shall have to try it.
The final result looks great Laura – and while it might not be considered very “manly”, I’ve a big fan of Baileys :D
Wow, really? I’ll have to try this. Plus, it looks wonderful! :)
Laura, these look so creamy, chocolatey and delicious! I would love one right now! Of course, I can go to my kitchen and whip them up in 15 minutes! Love that!
Who knew mousse could be so sublimely simple!? I’d give anything for a serving right now! :D
Oh yum Laura! Your baileys Irish cream mousse recipe is such a keeper and so lovely in the glasses ;-)
How simple is that dessert! As long as you have chocolate in the cupboard, you can eat it anytime. Great idea!
Incredible. I would never have thought to do that. And I can only imagine how good it must taste.
So interesting! And it looks too good not to give it a try…good thing I trust you with my best quality chocolate :)
Wow, this is incredible. I cannot excuse of not being able to make delicious dessert in front of this chocolate mousse! :D Thank you for making dessert for me! ;)
Laura, I trust you! but chocolate and water..I’d have to close my eyes while making this in case it seized. This seems like a winner :)
Oh my goodness – this looks like heaven! I’m sure I could make a meal out of this.
What a delightful mousse! Baileys is one of my favorite boozy drinks…
Cheers,
Rosa
I tried this technique for making a mousse just recently. It’s so simple and the result is amazing. The addition of Baileys and cream is a very decadent and lovely touch!
Wow, what a delicious looking mousse. I love instant gratification…especially when it comes to food. Yum!
How beautiful!! I love desserts that come together quickly… Then they get to my face even quicker!!
Oh my word…… dying over here!
This is such a great dessert! Perfect for St. Patty’s Day!
Chocolate and water??? If someone had told me this before seeing your gorgeous mousse I had raised my eyebrow to the sky and laughed to their face to their face: that’s not possible. Now I’m intrigued. yes, MUST TRY!
Holy yum, these look super delicious!! :)
Chocolate and water?! I’m both intrigued and drooling over here :D
When I first heard of chocolate and water mousse I thought the same thing. That it was against everything that we’ve been told! But good to know that the result is so delicious! :)
Every time I see this technique I think I must try it asap – love the baileys twist!
amazing and simple !
Heaven help me! I need one of these ASAP!
Chocolate and water? Oh my goodness, this is my kind of recipe!! This looks out of this world, Laura. Truly. Have a great St Patty’s Day!
Love it! I can’t believe it’s just 3 ingredients. I will have to try this one.
Perfect recipe for St. Patrick’s day weekend, and your right using water in chocolate mouse sounds like it wouldn’t work right at all, but from the looks of it, it did!
My best friend makes a similar mousse, and it does sound so strange mixing water and chocolate, but it really is divine! Gorgeous photo too!
you could feed me anytime.. these look fantastic
Wow…does that look decadently delicious.
Love this dessert! Can’t believe it is as simple as you explain. Smile. I bet the addition of the St. Patty’s spirits makes it even more delicious! Lovely photos.
That sounds pretty amazing and is stunning!
Oh yum, your baileys mousse looks and sounds heavenly!
Love how quick this is! And chocolate and water. I read about that somewhere else and was like, “Huh…?” and now again! There must be something to it. It does sound pretty weird. But just look at it! Beautiful result.
I had no idea and now I’m so intrigued by this recipe and method. Plus anything with Baileys is good with me.:)
Happy St. Patty’s Day, Laura! How apt – to make a chocolatey Irish Cream mousse! Let’s celebrate…please send some over! I’m craving for dessert.
What a lovely dessert!
Yummy and so super easy! Chocolate and Bailey’s are a perfect match ;-)
I love gorgeous recipes that are so easy to make! I made a mousse with egg whites, chocolate and tofu, it was amazing:-). You know I love baking with booze, so this recipe sounds awesome!!! Hugs, Terra
This looks just too good, Laura. I love Baileys so I am definitely making these at the first opportunity! Thanks so much for sharing :)
So easy and so wonderful? Yes! Yes, I love this mousse idea, Laura.