Does anyone actually go out and eat in restaurants on Valentine’s day? It is a contrived scenario to find yourself in. A restaurant only set up with tables of two, a single stem rose in a thin vase and lots of pink splashed around looking anything but pretty in pink. I purposefully avoid restaurants on that day but I do like to spend a little bit of time preparing a special meal at home instead. Not.
In truth I usually do nothing and Mr.Scott brings back fancy semi-prepared food form a very lovely department store and I just drink nice wine whilst it is being prepared. But this year it Valentine’s day falls on a Saturday so the kids will be involved in our meal and my contribution will be this spectacularly divine Valentine Mochaccino mousse.
I have already tested it out on us all and we think it is epic, coffee included. It tastes like the sort of coffee you would drink when you are starting out on the road to coffee appreciation. It is based upon a mocha and consists of a chocolate espresso mousse topped with a caffe latte cream. Is it wrong to get the kids into coffee appreciation so early in life? No way. In fact, good coffee has much less caffeine in it than bad coffee and of course we only ever drink Monmouth here so we are fine.
I often think to myself what would I choose to give up between coffee and wine and chocolate, things I cannot live without. But when I am eating my Valentine Mochaccino mousse I realise very quickly that life is far too short to ever bother. I shall just continue to enjoy it all, including this sumptuous mousse.
If you also happen to be giving your loved one a chocolate gift for Valentines day then I would recommend visiting La Maison du Chocolat. I received a gorgeous box of Valentines chocolates from them, do seek them out for a last minute gift. You will be loved for it. My absolute favourite was the crunchy heart, a praline made with Piedmontese hazelnuts and a layer of caramelised biscuits which tasted just like feuilletine. Utterly scrumptious!
Some more chocolate and mocha flavoured sweet treats from the web:
Rich dark chocolate ice cream & Coffee Rum Walnut brittle ice cream – Kavey Eats
Mocha eclairs & Iced coffee cookies – Coffee & Vanilla
Coffee Amaretto soufflés – Jen’s Food
Instant skinny hazelnut latte ice cream – Taming Twins
Chocolate & Pistachio Mousse – Fab Food 4 All
I am linking up to:
Treat Petite – The Baking Explorer & Cakeboi
Alphabakes – Caroline Makes & The More Than Occasional Baker
I was sent a box of Maison Chocolat chocolates for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed here are my own.
Valentine Mochaccino Mousse
Ingredients
- 200 g Dark chocolate broken into small pieces
- 60 ml Warm espresso coffee I used real espresso but you could use instant espresso powder & hot water,
- 300 ml Double cream 60 ml for the mousse & 240ml for the caffe latte cream
- 3 Eggs separated
- 2 tbsp Light muscovado sugar
- 2 tbsp Espresso coffee for the caffe latte cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. Melt the chocolate along with the 60ml of espresso and 60ml of double cream in a bowl over a pan of simmering water then set aside to cool slightly,
- 2. Separate the eggs and keep the yolks aside while you whisk the eggs whites to soft peaks,
- 3. When the egg whites are at the soft peak stage add in the sugar a tablespoon at a time and continue to whisk until stiff peaks are formed,
- 4. When the chocolate mix has cooled slightly add in the egg yolks one by one and stir to combine before folding in a tablespoon of the egg whites,
- 5. Continue to fold in the remaining egg whites in two stages, trying not to knock too much air out of the mixture. When all of the egg whites have been incorporated, spoon the mousse into your desired glasses, coffee cups or bowls. Glasses are the best to appreciate the colour contrast between the mousse and the caffe latte cream,
- 6. Whip the remaining 240ml of double cream along with the vanilla until it is thick but not over whipped-just so it holds it's shape,
- 7. Pour in the 2tbsp of espresso and either fold it in or continue to whisk until you achieve soft peaks. Remember the cream will firm up in the fridge so don't worry if it is slightly underset,
- 8. Spoon the cream over the chocolate mousse and place in the fridge to set, an hour at least,
- 9. Before serving dust cocoa over the tops of the mousses using a heart shaped template then serve to your Valentine!
Oh my goodness, don’t those look gorgeous! I love mousse, chocolate, coffee, lemon, all kinds! Thank you for sharing my chocolate and coffee recipes. So much deliciousness is making me hungry!
Me too Kavey, mousse makes a lovely dessert and your ice creams are also a big favourite of mine too!
What a delicious recipe!! Coffee & chocolate taste always so good together, perfect Valentine’s Day match 😉
And thank you for mentioning my recipes…
No problem Margot, I think we both love our coffee and chocolate!
Being married for 26 years kind of takes the pressure off doing the going out thing on Valentine’s Day. It is always nice though as we will cook together. I haven’t planned a pudding as yet (we are more cheese people) but this looks incredibly tempting. Hubby is a secret chocolate person so he would appreciate this. Really nice, Laura.
I can’t believe you have been married that long, although having said that I will be married 15 years in August. I forgot to get cheese for tomorrow Kellie, I will rectify that and yes we will cook together too.
Beautiful. I think will make this for my husband tomorrow.
Emily, the best bit is it doesn’t take too long yet has a wow taste factor.
Epic as you say Laura and you’re right about kids and mocha, my daughter love this flavour:-) Thanks for linking to my mousse:-)
Pleased to hear it!
I’m not generally a big coffee lover, but this looks incredible!
Thanks Becca, I think you need to try this and hopefully it will get you into coffee 😉
Mmm mocha mousse sounds like the perfect dessert for a romantic meal. I went out for a meal on Valentine’s Day with my first boyfriend when I was 17, the food and service were terrible so I’ve never done anything since. The current OH and I don’t bother doing anything as he’s usually working then anyway!
Thanks for linking to my souffles 🙂
And the food is often far better at home than out anyway!
I don’t like coffee, but I am loving your styling. I could always go chocolately!
Yes, Jac, just leave out the coffee and maybe replace with spice or fruit or mint even 🙂
Love the look and sound of these and those chocolates look delicious too!
Thanks Caroline, it was my first try of Maison Chocolat and I really liked them, as well as the mousse!
These look and sound delicious , although i very much doubt mine would turn out looking so good if i made them as i am hopeless in the kitchen x
Hi Lindsay, thanks for your comment and I hope you do give them a go. They are worth it and not too tricky, even if you mess them up they still taste good 🙂
This looks like a lovely treat to round off a dinner party! Thanks for sharing with Alphabakes.
Mocha is my favourite coffee and this mousse sounds divine. I try to avoid going out for a Valentine’s meal and will either eat at home or go out with friends as I would a normal meal. However, I do love baking or creating something special in the kitchen for my Valentine. Your box of chocolate looks good too – I’ve had their chocolates before and they are absolutely divine. Thanks for entering AlphaBakes.
I love mocha too Ros, such a winner!