Julia Child’s Chocolate Mousse

• servings: 8 servings
• active time: 30 minutes
• total time: 4 hours 35 minutes

Ingredients

6 ounces (170g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped (see notes above)

6 ounces (170g) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

¼ cup (60ml) dark-brewed coffee

4 large eggs, separated

½ cup (116g) to ⅔ cup (170g), plus 1 tablespoon sugar (see notes above)

2 tablespoons (30ml) dark rum

1 tablespoon (15ml) water

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

dark chocolate for shaving over top, optional

Directions

Heat a saucepan one-third full with hot water, and in a bowl set on top, melt together the chocolate, butter and coffee, stirring over the barely simmering water, until smooth. Remove from heat.

Fill a large bowl with ice water and set aside.

In a bowl large enough to nest securely on the saucepan of simmering water, whisk the yolks of the eggs with the ½ to ⅔ cup of sugar (see notes), rum, and water for about 3 minutes until the mixture is thick, like runny mayonnaise. (You can also use a handheld electric mixer. Note: Be sure this mixture is thick before removing bowl from heat. )

Remove from heat and place the bowl of whipped egg yolks within the bowl of ice water and beat until cool and thick, as shown in the photo in DL’s post. Then fold the chocolate mixture into the egg yolks.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with the salt until frothy. Continue to beat until they start to hold their shape. Whip in the tablespoon of sugar and continue to beat until thick and shiny, but not completely stiff, then the vanilla.

Fold one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture, then fold in the remainder of the whites just until incorporated, but don’t overdo it or the mousse will lose volume.

Transfer the mousse to a serving bowl or divide into serving dishes, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, until firm.

Use a microplane grater or peeler to shave chocolate overtop before serving (optional).