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Published: Feb 7, 2021 · Modified: Aug 19, 2021 by Carolyn

French-Style Keto Chocolate Mousse

Name: Keto Chocolate Mousse
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 tbsp butter; 3 oz unsweetened chocolate (chopped); 4 large eggs separated and at room temperature; 4 to 6 tbsp hot water; ½ cup powdered Swerve Sweetener (divided); 1/8 tsp salt; 1/8 tsp cream of tartar; ¾ cup heavy cream; ½ tsp vanilla extract

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This Keto Chocolate Mousse has an incredibly light and airy texture. Made in the classic French mousse style, it’s a decadent sugar-free dessert.

Titled image of two jars of keto chocolate mousse, one with a spoonful taken out

Real French chocolate mousse is a study in contrasts. It’s rich and creamy, but also impossibly light and airy. It’s a remarkable feat of dessert engineering that only the French could invent.

It’s been one of my favorite desserts since I was old enough to hold a spoon. And so it was one of the first desserts I ever made sugar-free, almost 10 years ago now.

It’s actually a perfect dessert recipe to make over. With the exception of the sugar itself, the ingredients are quite keto-friendly, so there aren’t a lot of adjustments and substitutions.

It is, however, something of a process. So we are taking a deep dive into making REAL keto chocolate mousse. Raw eggs and all!

A dollop of whipped cream being added to a jar of keto chocolate mousse

What is real chocolate mousse?

First, let’s discuss what chocolate mousse really is and what it’s not. We throw around the term mousse with abandon these days, and you see it applied to a great many creamy chocolate desserts.

I’m as guilty of that as anyone, to be honest. We all like easy recipes that whip up in minutes, so an “easy mousse” that relies on cream cheese or gelatin is certainly appealing.

And these desserts are delicious, too. But they don’t quite compare to the French style chocolate mousse, with its impossibly airy texture and rich, creamy mouthfeel.

This Keto Chocolate Mousse recipe definitely takes a bit more effort to make, and dirties a few more dishes. But oh my, is it ever worth it!

And yes, it really does take raw eggs, as is standard for French mousse. If that’s a barrier for you, then check out my Keto Sky High Mousse Pie to see how it can be made by heating the egg whites instead.

A jar of keto chocolate mousse with whipped cream on top beside an orange flower

How to make Keto Chocolate Mousse

It’s not hard to make this sugar free French mousse, but as stated above, it does take a bit more effort and time. And patience! Here are my best tips for getting it right:

Use unsweetened chocolate

This means chocolate with no sweetener whatsoever – no sugar, no erythritol, no stevia. I created my recipe long ago, when there really wasn’t any good keto friendly chocolate on the market. Since unsweetened chocolate has a higher fiber content, it helps provide structure and consistency.

Separate the eggs

One important tip: it’s always easiest to separate eggs when they are cold. So do this in advance and then let them come to room temperature for about half an hour.

Remember not to allow even a speck of yolk to get into the whites, or you will have trouble whipping them into peaks.

Seize the chocolate!

When adding the egg yolks to the melted chocolate, expect it to seize and get very thick and gloppy. This is completely normal. It will thin out again and become smooth as you whisk in the hot water.

Whip those egg whites

Whip them real good! Or until they hold stiff peaks. The cream of tartar and the salt help with this. If you don’t have cream of tartar, that’s okay too. But it does help stiffen the egg whites properly.

Dollop one big spoonful of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to help lighten it, before folding the chocolate into the beaten egg whites.

Beat that cream

Beat it real good! Or at least until it holds stiff peaks. Then fold it into the egg white/chocolate mixture. And that’s it!

Close up shot of keto chocolate mousse being spooned out of the jar.

Can you make keto chocolate mousse ahead?

You can make this classic French style mousse a day in advance. But be forewarned that because it’s made with raw eggs, it should be consumed within 3 days.

If 6 servings is too much for you, you can cut this whole recipe in half.

More delicious keto mousse recipes

Keto Chocolate Mousse

This Keto Chocolate Mousse has an incredibly light and airy texture. Made in the classic French mousse style, it's a decadent sugar-free dessert.

5 from 9 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French

Keyword: french chocolate mousse, keto chocolate mousse

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Chill Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 35 minutes

Servings: servings

Calories: 280kcal

Ingredients

2 tablespoon butter
3 oz unsweetened chocolate chopped
4 large eggs separated and at room temperature
4 to 6 tablespoon hot water
½ cup powdered Swerve Sweetener divided
⅛ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar
¾ cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and chocolate together, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm.
In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks together until smooth. When the chocolate has cooled to lukewarm, whisk in the egg yolks. The mixture will become very thick and the chocolate will seize – this is normal.
Add 2 tablespoons of hot water and whisk vigorously. Continue to add 1 tablespoon water at a time until chocolate mixture becomes smooth (will still be quite thick). Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the egg whites with ¼ cup powdered Swerve, the salt and the cream of tartar until they hold stiff peaks. In another bowl, beat the cream with the remaining sweetener and the vanilla until it holds stiff peaks.
Stir a large dollop of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to help lighten lighten it. Then carefully fold the chocolate mixture back into the egg whites. Fold in the whipped cream thoroughly but gently.
Divide amont 6 dessert dishes and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Nutrition Facts

Keto Chocolate Mousse

Amount Per Serving (1 serving = ⅙th of recipe)

Calories 280 Calories from Fat 216

% Daily Value*

Fat 24g37%

Carbohydrates 5.2g2%

Fiber 2.4g10%

Protein 6.9g14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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French-Style Keto Chocolate Mousse

What is real chocolate mousse?