Craving chocolate? This dairy free chocolate mousse is light, fluffy, creamy, and also vegan. A perfectly delicious chocolate snack!
The first time I made dairy-free chocolate mousse was when I hosted a Bunco night at my house. It was shortly after I began eating dairy-free. I knew I wanted some sort of sweet chocolate dessert that was single serving.
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❤️ Why you’ll love this dairy free chocolate mousse
- This chocolate mousse is so rich and creamy, you guys. You won’t miss the dairy at all.
- You only need 4 simple ingredients that you can easily find at your local grocery store.
- It’s done in under 30 minutes, so it’s an ideal snack!
- Makes a great dessert on a busy weeknight that the whole family will love.
🥣 Ingredients for this recipe
You only need FOUR ingredients to make this vegan chocolate mousse:
- full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream – this replaces the dairy but adds so much richness. It’s such a simple and delicious one-to-one substitution. And, it works perfectly when creating almost any chocolate dessert.
- cocoa powder – to add that chocolatey goodness. And most cocoa powder is vegan.
- vanilla extract – for more flavor depth.
- powdered sugar – this gives the mousse a nice sweetness and helps it from becoming grainy.
✅ Step-by-step directions
Exact measurements of ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this post. Here are some helpful tips to guide you as you make this recipe.
There’s a little bit of prep work in making this, in that you’ll want to refrigerate a can of coconut milk overnight. You can also use coconut cream, but I have found that it’s easier to find 15-ounce cans of full fat coconut milk.
Coconut cream tends to be sold in 8-ounce cans, and is not as common in general grocery stores across the US.
1. Once you’re ready to make the recipe, remove the bowl and the can of coconut milk from the refrigerator. Open the can and skim off only the thick cream into the stand mixing bowl. Reserve the rest for smoothies, soups, and other recipes.
2. Add the cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar to the mixing bowl.
3. Mix all ingredients on medium until whipped into a thicker cream the consistency of mousse.
4. If necessary, add more powdered sugar. Serve!
💡 Optional: Add mini chocolate chips. I love the added crunch and texture that the mini chips bring to this dessert.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
Yes! If you purchase the kind that is in the baking aisle, chances are more likely that the cocoa powder you purchased is vegan. It’s made by processing the cacao beans under high heat, and typically does NOT have any animal byproducts added.
To help avoid grainy mousse, use powdered sugar. If you already have a grainy mousse, you may be able to fix it by re-melting your mixture, adding a bit more cream, and whisking it again. Too much whisking can separate the cream and start to form a grainy, buttery texture, so be careful not to overdo it.
🍽 How to serve
When I make this just for me and my family, I’ll keep it in a big covered bowl in the refrigerator.
For parties, however, I like to serve this dairy-free chocolate mousse in individual shot glasses, small single serving bowls, or even champagne coupe glasses.
The presentation alone is super adorable, but offering single serving desserts also make it easy for guests to enjoy and still mix and mingle.
More dairy free dessert ideas
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Dairy Free Chocolate Mousse
Ingredients
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- mini chocolate chips for topping
Instructions
- Chill the can of coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight.
- For best results, place your stand mixer bowl in the refrigerator for 10-30 minutes before you make the chocolate mousse shots.
- Once you’re ready to make the recipe, remove the bowl and the can of coconut milk from the refrigerator.
- Open the can and skim off only the thick cream into the stand mixing bowl. Reserve the rest for smoothies, soups, and other recipes.
- Add the cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar to the mixing bowl.
- Mix all ingredients on medium until whipped into a thicker cream the consistency of mousse. If necessary, add more powdered sugar.
- Serve immediately.
- Optional: top with mini dairy-free chocolate chips.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’m new at finding and making dairy free recipes but this one is amazing! My guests did not know that this was vegan – and very low in calories – until I told them. My husband – a chocoholic – was also fooled. Definitely a recipe that I will make again and again!
Yay! So glad you all loved them!
Easy and delicious!! I love using coconut milk as a dairy substitute!
These mousse cups are so delicious! Totally perfect for the holidays.
I love these cute little shot style desserts for big cocktail parties. So great.
Yum! Delicious!
Apparently I need some mini chocolate chips, as that’s the only thing I’m missing in order to make these right now.
How cute are these! And yes, chocolate chips are a must!! They make everything better! ;)
I make a similar dessert with white chocolate. I wonder if the coconut milk would change the flavor, which is extremely delicate. I’ll definitely give this a try.
chocolate chips are should NEVER be optional ;) coconut milk is one of my favorite ways to make rich desserts – have you tried whipping it for whip cream yet? SO GOOD.
I used to have dinner parties in college, and made these kind of mousse desserts… so simple yet so impressive, and tasty!