Vegan Chocolate Mousse

This creamy, rich, decadent Vegan Chocolate Mousse recipe will satisfy your dessert cravings, guilt-free! Made with four wholesome ingredients and 100% fruit-sweetened, this healthier dessert is the perfect indulgent treat. 

This recipe was written on May 7, 2021. It was updated with additional recipe information on May 31, 2024.

Prepare to be amazed by this impossibly smooth, creamy, chocolatey vegan mousse. You won’t believe how far four simple ingredients can go to create the ultimate dessert! Ripe avocados provide a luxurious base without needing dairy. Naturally sweet Medjool dates beautifully complement rich raw cacao powder, and cacao nibs add a touch of tasty texture. The combination will delight your tastebuds and make you think differently about dessert! 

This easy vegan chocolate mousse takes five minutes to prep in a food processor, making it ideal for busy days or to whip up a last-minute dessert. Enjoy avocado chocolate mousse as an anytime treat, or elevate your dessert table by pairing it with the optional simple nut crust recipe provided! 

For more no-bake vegan chocolate desserts, try my fig walnut bars with chocolate,  raw chocolate matcha cupcakes, or citrus chocolate truffles.

Ingredients

Avocado: Choose ripe avocados for the best dairy-free mousse body and creamy texture. When gently squeezed, they should be soft but not mushy. Hass avocados are a great choice for their rich flavor. 

Medjool Dates: Add natural sweetness and act as a binder for the healthy chocolate mousse. They are also used in the optional nut crust recipe as a binder.  Buy pitted dates for easier prep, or remove pits before adding to the recipe. You can also swap for Deglet Noor dates for a similar texture and slightly less sweet flavor. 

Raw Cacao Powder: Provides the mousse with a deep, rich chocolate flavor without added sugars. Substitute unsweetened cocoa powder if needed, but it may alter the overall taste. 

Cacao Nibs: Add a crunchy texture and extra chocolate treat to the top of the dairy-free chocolate mousse. Look for them in the baking or health food aisle. Alternatively, swap for vegan chocolate chips or grated dark chocolate on top. 

Almonds (Optional): Serve as the base of the optional nut crust recipe, giving the vegan mousse recipe an extra nutty crunch. Alternatively, swap for whole walnuts, pecans, or seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds for variations. 

Unsweetened Shredded Coconut (Optional): Adds a subtle sweetness to the optional crust and helps bind the base together. Choose unsweetened coconut to better control the crust’s sweetness. For a sweeter crust, use unsweetened coconut flakes.

How to Make Vegan Chocolate Mousses

• Prepare Mousse Base. Place the pitted avocado, dates, and cacao powder in a food processor. Blend for a few minutes, or until very smooth and creamy.

• Adjust Sweetness. If desired, blend in more dates or a sweetener of choice like maple syrup to sweeten to taste.

• Serve. Dish the mousse in a glass jar or spoon into nut crusts (instructions below), and top with cacao nibs. Enjoy immediately, or cool in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours to firm the texture.

Optional: Make a Nut Crust

• Blend the Nut Crust Ingredients. Add the almonds, coconut, and dates to the clean bowl of a food processor. Blend until the pieces are crumbled and the texture is like coarse sand.

• Form Dough Balls. Scoop out two tablespoons of the nut crust mixture and form it into a ball. If it sticks together without crumbling apart, the crust is ready. If it crumbles, place it back into the processor to blend again. Add another date if more stickiness is needed.

• Flatten Crust. Press the dough ball into a greased or lined tart pan, mini tart pan, ramekins, or muffin tins.

• Add Mousse. Fill the crust or crusts with the chocolate mousse. Chill in the refrigerator until set and serve.

Recipe Pro-Tips

• Choose ripe avocados. The quality of the avocados will make or break the vegan avocado chocolate mousse! Overripe or underripe avocados can affect the texture and flavor, so use perfectly ripe avocados. 
• Soften dates. If desired, soak pitted dates in hot water for 10-15 minutes to make them easier to blend and ensure a smooth mousse texture. Drain the water before adding to the food processor.
• Adjust sweetness to taste. After blending the avocado chocolate mousse recipe in the food processor, taste it and adjust the sweetness as needed. If you prefer a sweeter taste, add more dates or a bit of maple syrup. 
• Chill for the best texture. You can enjoy this chocolate mousse vegan recipe immediately, but chilling it in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours will improve the texture and make it more mousse-like! 
• Thoroughly blend the nut crust. If you make the nut crust, blend the ingredients well so they easily stick together when pressed with your hands. This will make the best base for the mousse.

Recipe Mix-Ins

Make this recipe your own! Below are ways to customize this recipe with different flavor enhancers as desired: 

• Mint: For a refreshing minty twist, add 1-2 teaspoons of peppermint extract or a small handful of fresh mint leaves to the mousse. 
• Mocha: Dissolve 1 tablespoon of instant coffee or espresso powder in 1-2 tablespoons of hot water, then add it to the mousse mixture for a taste of chocolate coffee heaven.
• Orange: For a tangy citrus note, add 1-2 teaspoons of freshly grated orange zest and/or 1 tablespoon of fresh orange juice to the mousse mixture. 
• Berry: After blending the mousse, fold in ½ cup of fresh berries of choice, such as raspberries, strawberries, or blueberries, for extra texture and flavor. 
• Mexican chocolate: For a spicy kick, add ½ teaspoons of ground cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper to the mouse mixture.

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy this healthy chocolate mousse recipe for dessert served in the nut crust and topped with fresh fruit or whipped cream for extra flair. It is extra delicious paired with hot coffee or tea or even a glass of red wine for fancy dinner parties. Or serve with some of our favorite recipes below for a full-spread dessert table:

• Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Biscoff Crumble Chocolate Bark
• Berry Vegan Crumble

Storage Directions

• Refrigeration: Transfer the prepared mousse into airtight containers or glass jars with tight-fitting lids and refrigerate for 3-5 days. 
• Freezing: Place the mousse in freezer-safe containers leaving a small space at the top for expansion as it freezes. Freeze it for up to 2 months. 
• Thawing: Allow frozen mousse to thaw in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight before stirring and enjoying.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Healthy Vegan Dessert Recipes

• Chocolate Sweet Potato Muffins
• Dreamy Oatmilk Chocolate Tart
• Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Matcha Chocolate Sticky Buns

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