Have we recovered from Thanksgiving sufficiently? I gave you an extra day yesterday just in case you were doing one of those kale-quinoa juice-fast things. I can’t talk to you when you do things like that, because my mind is already on small batch peppermint bark, but that’s just me.
BUT today is grand because we’re in the depths of December (by two whole days!), and so we’re celebrating with a rich chocolate mousse! I tipped a little peppermint extract in the bowl, and pounded a candy cane to bits for the top. It’s fun!
Why am I calling this dessert skinny? Well, I cut the heavy cream by using Greek yogurt. It’s just as creamy, and the tangy flavor goes great with peppermint. This mousse is a satisfying dessert, but not so rich that you can resist eating both servings. <—That’s your only warning.
As you know, it’s the holidays. In the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, let’s pause and think about those who don’t have such a great holiday ahead of them. Food banks have always been my number one method of charitable giving because I love feeding people. The thought of people going without food wrecks me. I’ve been working with the American Dairy Association all year long to promote the nutritional benefits of dairy products, like milk, yogurt and cheese. But did you know that milk is the number one request for food banks? and they rarely receive it? I know that my food bank donations are almost always dry goods. But this year, the ADA is teaming up with Feeding America for a Great American Milk Drive. Do you want to help? It’s so easy!
If you go to ADA’s Facebook page and like, comment or share my post, $1 is instantly donated to the cause! Doesn’t that feel good? One click, one dollar. We can do this!
It would really melt my heart if we all brought thousands of gallons of milk to those in need.
It would also melt my heart if you made this skinny chocolate mousse and enjoyed it with your sweetie.
Chocolate Peppermint Mousse {skinny}
Skinny chocolate mousse with peppermint flavor!
Ingredients
- 3.5 ounces (1/2 cup) semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
- 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
For the topping:
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
- crushed candy canes, optional
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe glass cup, add the chocolate and butter. Microwave on medium strength for 30 seconds pulses, stirring in between each pulse to melt the chocolate. Go slowly so you don't burn the chocolate. It took me 3 pulses total. Set the chocolate aside to cool slightly.
- Meanwhile, in a glass or metal bowl that fits over a pan of steaming water, add the egg yolk. Whisk for about 1 minute to break it up and lighten it. It should start to turn light yellow.
- Continue whisking the egg yolk while slowly streaming in the sugar. When all of the sugar is in, whisk for another 1 minute vigorously to lighten and aerate the mixer.
- Next, whisk in the water and espresso powder.
- Place this mixture over the simmer water, and whisk constantly until it thickens. It should look like softly whipped cream that does not hold peaks. It will also coat the back of a spoon nicely.
- Remove from the heat, and stir in the peppermint extract. Then, stir in the melted chocolate in about 3 batches. Finally, stir in the Greek yogurt to cool the entire mixture down.
- In a clean bowl, whip the 3 tablespoons of heavy cream to soft peaks. Fold into the chocolate mixture.
- Divide the mixture between two serving dishes.
- To serve, whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and peppermint extract until soft peaks form. Spoon it over the chocolate mousse, and garnish with candy canes.
Notes
*If you're wondering how I got the crushed candy canes to stick to the rims of the glass, I dipped them in corn syrup first. I did this after the mousse set--if you work quickly, there's no risk of the mousse flopping out ;)
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 775Total Fat: 54gSaturated Fat: 32gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 268mgSodium: 74mgCarbohydrates: 73gFiber: 4gSugar: 63gProtein: 11g
Mmm that sounds fab! Hard to believe it is healthy :)
Are you trying to kill me? All three of my absolute favorite things over the last three posts, peppermint, cranberries, and ham and cheese. Think I wanna cook is a reasonable excuse for missing work? Julie
I’f love a tall glass (or giant bowl) of this mousse! The flavour sounds great!
I love giving to food banks too, it just comforts me knowing that I’m feeding someone else too! p.s. This mousse=pretty!!
This needs to happen in my kitchen today!
I think I am just gonna ignore your warning and consume both. No shame ;)
The fact that you used Greek yogurt here is TOTALLY my jam. I am all for anything chocolate, peppermint AND skinny.
Especially my Thanksgiving was nothing short of not skinny ;) Pinned!
This looks stunning – and I’m stoked that it’s healthier!
Greek yogurt in the mousse = mousse for breakfast. Don’t fight my logic.
This looks awesome – I’m stoked that this is healthy (er)!
Looks absolutely delicious! I’m so down for chocolate combined with a good cause!
These are so cute!!! It makes me want to have a holiday party and multiply this recipe by like 14 :D
Three cheers for skinny mousse! Being that it’s skinny, I’ll take two. Pinned.
I’ll have to keep that corn syrup trick handy, I’ve used water in the past and that doesn’t always work well! These are beautiful!
This looks way good girl. YES!
These are so freaking adorable! I love that they are lightened up too, I’m still bloated from a month of Thanksgiving dinner testing.
Pinned and stumbled <3
I want to dive into these and swim around! Gorgeous!!
This looks amazing! There is no way that I wouldn’t eat both servings, it’s just not possible :)
And it’s wheat-less, too! Yay :)
1. I love anything that comes in a champagne glass.
2. Liked and shared your photo on my FB page! What a great cause :)
Nails emojis everywhere right now.
I can (and probably will) eat ten of these. How’s that for skinny!
This dessert looks aMOOzing!
well I’m a beast who is STILL eating Thanksgiving leftovers, so there’s that!!! But if “recovered” means I would somehow manage to stuff myself even further with this mousse? Then yes, I am most definitely in recovery :)
this looks ahhhhhmazing!!! I love chocolate + peppermint!
This looks so decadent and gorgeous and perfect!!!! Can I come lick the bowl?
OK, I’m so glad you said what you did about kale cleanses and juice fasts – no thanks! I think I cleared my entire reader that day because I couldn’t deal with all the health.
But this? This kind of health I can get on board with!
I am not sure what is skinny about this other than it’s in a skinny glass. It looks nice and yummy rich to me. I like the way you served it.
Such a great call to use the greek yogurt. Love it!
So excited about Christmas coming up! Gotta get baking!
Ohhhhh my gosh, does this ever look amazing! I love chocolate mousse, but haven’t made it in years…this looks perfect for the holiday season! Love the little candy cane garnish, so pretty :)
Oh my word, this looks AMAZING!!!
Such a GREAT cause! I try to help out food banks as much as I can during the holiday season. Thanks for sharing the fb info!
These mousses look absolutely gorgeous! Perfect holiday treat!
I really wish this was breakfast. That mousse looks so perfectly airy–it must be practically calorie free right? This is such a great cause and I’m so thrilled to see it getting the attention it deserves!
Oh my. I have no other words!
GORGEOUS! Seriously I want to gobble it up.
I’ve made a lot of your recipes and usually don’t comment but this was so great I just had to! Amazing silky texture and rich taste. And if anyone is interesting in eliminating some more fat, I accidentally left out the butter and it was still delicious! The chocolate seized up a bit after I added the yogurt so I just put it back over the heat and whisked until it incorporated. Thanks for all your wonderful recipes for two!
Thank you so much, Meg! This is so sweet :) I’m so glad to hear it.
Happy baking!
xo,
Christina
This looks so amazing and decadent, but I love that it’s a skinny treat! I could use a few more skinny recipes this time of year! Can’t wait to make this for the holidays… Pinned!
I love the use of greek yogurt in unsuspecting desserts!
This is the PERFECT dessert for me and my guy! Because… He hates chocolate. So I’d get to eat both servings. And I’d be the happiest girl alive, and he’d be happy because I was happy (and because he didn’t have to eat chocolate). Total win-win! :) Pinned!
This mousse is stunning (and I love that you used champagne glasses)-so delicious and light and wonderful!