Skip to main content
Epicurious

Bittersweet Chocolate Chantilly

One afternoon, I was craving chocolate mousse, but didn’t want to mess with eggs. I came up with this super-easy version. Temperature is key here: The cream should be thick and very cold when you whisk in the slightly cooled liquid chocolate. If the cream isn’t cold enough and the chocolate’s too hot, the mixture will melt. If the cream is too cold and the chocolate has cooled too much, the chocolate will solidify. You also want to avoid overwhipping the cream to keep this dessert luscious and creamy. Even if you don’t nail the texture the first time, it’ll still be delicious. What’s not to love about chocolate and cream?

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 4

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
3 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, preferably Valrhona 71% cacao, finely chopped, plus additional for garnish

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Whisk the cream in a large metal bowl until thick but before soft peaks form. Transfer to the freezer.

    Step 2

    Fill a medium saucepan with an inch of water and bring to a simmer. Put the chocolate in a large heatproof bowl and set over the saucepan; do not let the bottom of the bowl touch the water. Melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally, then remove from the heat. Let cool. The chocolate should be cool and liquid and not yet solidified.

    Step 3

    Whisk the cold cream continuously while adding the chocolate in a slow, steady stream. When the chocolate is fully incorporated, freeze the mixture for 2 minutes. Divide among 4 serving bowls and let stand for a few minutes before serving. Shave chocolate over the chantilly for garnish.

Reprinted with permission from Home Cooking with Jean-Georges: My Favorite Simple Recipes by Jean-Georges Vongerichten with Genevieve Ko. Copyright © 2011 by Jean-Georges Vongerichten; photographs copyright © 2011 by John Kernick. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. Jean-Georges Vongerichten is one of the most influential chefs in the world, having single-handedly redefined haute French cuisine, lightening and refining it by adding select Asian accents. He is the chef-owner of dozens of restaurants in fourteen cities around the world. His flagship restaurant, Jean Georges, at New York's Columbus Circle, is one of six restaurants in the United States to have been awarded three coveted Michelin stars; it received four stars from the New York Times. The winner of multiple James Beard Foundation awards, he lives in New York City and Waccabuc, New York, with his family. Genevieve Ko is a cookbook author and the senior food editor at Good Housekeeping magazine. She has written for Martha Stewart Living, Gourmet, and Fine Cooking and lives in New York City with her family.
TagsMousseDessertChocolateGluten FreeNut FreeCookbooks
Read More
Mango Sticky Rice
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
Easy Egg Custard
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
Simple Hot Cocoa for One
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
Béchamel Sauce
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.
Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad
Crunchy and crowd-pleasing, this salad can be prepared in advance and customized to your heart’s content.
Chicken Meatballs With Sesame Green Beans
Baking meatballs and green beans on two sides of the same sheet pan streamlines the cooking process for this saucy, savory dinner.
Dulce de Leche
Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.
Sun Gold Tomato Pasta With Pistachio Gremolata
A garlicky pistachio topping takes this sunny summer pasta from good to great.