Give me a spoon and get out of the way. As a chocoholic who has no intentions of recovering, Chocolate Mousse used to top my list of decadent desserts. With no eggs and no cream, what's a vegan "mousseketeer" to do? Get creative! You can actually find a variety of vegan chocolate mousse recipes online. Some are better than others, and some are healthier than others. This recipe uses heart-healthy avocado, vegan dark chocolate and coconut cream as the main ingredients, but you can try our other version and see which one you like best.
By layering the mousse with coconut whipped cream, you can create a dessert that is gorgeous to look at and even better to eat. Dig deep into the dish and take a bite of sweet, light cream along with luscious, rich chocolate mousse. I really don't think it gets better than this. These parfaits can be made a day in advance, covered and stored in the fridge, then removed 1/2 hour before serving.
Make the coconut whipped cream. Scoop out the coconut cream into a blender, reserving any of the coconut water from the can. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. With the lid on, blend until smooth. Add a little bit of reserved coconut water, if necessary. Empty into a bowl and place in the freezer to chill. If you are making the coconut whipped cream more than a few minutes in advance, store it in the fridge, not freezer, until you need it.
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler* or in the microwave. In a double boiler, it may take about 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat when there are still a few chunks of chocolate visible and stir to melt. If using a microwave, place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds on high. Remove and stir. If it needs more time, continue to microwave in 10-second intervals. Over-cooking chocolate will cause it to seize up, and there is no fix for that, which is why the double boiler method works best in my opinion. (*You can make a double boiler by placing a small glass or metal bowl over a small pot of simmering water, not touching the water.) Let the chocolate cool slightly before using.
Into the bowl of a food processor, scoop out the flesh of the avocados. Add the syrup, espresso, salt, vinegar and lemon juice. Pulse to combine. Add the slightly cooled melted chocolate and blend until smooth. Add about 1 to 1-1/2 cups of the whipped cream, (reserving the rest for layering the parfaits) to the food processor and pulse to combine; the mixture will lighten in color and thickness.
To serve, choose a clear glass and create alternating layers of mousse and whipped cream. In season, accent with a fresh strawberry or raspberry.
Make the coconut whipped cream. Scoop out the coconut cream into a blender, reserving any of the coconut water from the can. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. With the lid on, blend until smooth. Add a little bit of reserved coconut water, if necessary. Empty into a bowl and place in the freezer to chill. If you are making the coconut whipped cream more than a few minutes in advance, store it in the fridge, not freezer, until you need it.
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler* or in the microwave. In a double boiler, it may take about 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat when there are still a few chunks of chocolate visible and stir to melt. If using a microwave, place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds on high. Remove and stir. If it needs more time, continue to microwave in 10-second intervals. Over-cooking chocolate will cause it to seize up, and there is no fix for that, which is why the double boiler method works best in my opinion. (*You can make a double boiler by placing a small glass or metal bowl over a small pot of simmering water, not touching the water.) Let the chocolate cool slightly before using.
Into the bowl of a food processor, scoop out the flesh of the avocados. Add the syrup, espresso, salt, vinegar and lemon juice. Pulse to combine. Add the slightly cooled melted chocolate and blend until smooth. Add about 1 to 1-1/2 cups of the whipped cream, (reserving the rest for layering the parfaits) to the food processor and pulse to combine; the mixture will lighten in color and thickness.
To serve, choose a clear glass and create alternating layers of mousse and whipped cream. In season, accent with a fresh strawberry or raspberry.
