Easy French Strawberry Mousse Dessert Without gelatin

This is an easy, French strawberry mousse dessert recipe: you only need 4 ingredients, and it comes together quickly. It has a fresh strawberry custard-like base mixed with whipped cream, is made without gelatin. I love this easy strawberry mousse because it’s fresh, fluffy, light, and it means summer is around the corner.Hope you enjoy it! If strawberry is not your thing, you can make this white chocolate mousse or this dulce de leche mousse instead!

Ingredient & Material Notes

• Eggs: this recipe calls for large eggs.
• Strawberries: to make the mousse you can either use fresh or frozen strawberries. However, for topping the mousse once it’s ready, I recommend using fresh strawberries as the frozen kind runs the risk of making it runny.
• Heavy Whipping cream: full fat; if not you won't be able to whip the cream to soft peaks. It must be kept cold and chilled until the very moment you are ready to whip it!
• Additions: you can add roasted almonds or meringue kisses along with the fresh strawberries as a topping, to give this dessert some extra crunch!
• I like to serve this strawberry mousse dessert (and any mousse really) in small individual containers: it can be mini ramequins, small dessert cups, old yogurt glass containers, shot glasses (if you will be serving other desserts as well). Whatever you like and have at home.
• You can also serve it in one big dessert bowl and then spoon the mousse onto smaller bowls when you are ready to eat it.

About the containers you can serve this dessert in

How to make this recipe

This fresh strawberry mousse recipe is easy to make as it only has 2 main components: Whipped cream and strawberry custard.

To make it you simply:

• Whip the cream to soft peaks
• Make the strawberry custard
• Fold the whipped cream into the custard.

Recipe notes

• You can either use fresh or frozen strawberries for this strawberry mousse recipe. I used fresh.
• If you would like a smoother mousse, you can strain the strawberry pure before heating it up.
• While making the strawberry custard, you have to constantly mix using a spatula or whisk to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
• If you don't have a thermometer, to verify whether or not the custard is ready, you should coat the back of a spoon with it, then run a finger along the middle of the spoon. If the custard is not runny, then it means its done. If the trace of your finger becomes invisible after a few seconds, then continue to cook it on the stove.
• Custard must not boil. If it does, you have gone too far, and you must start over.
• After the custard is ready, we are going to whisk it using an electric mixer until it has completely cooled off and gained in volume. You will notice it will also change to a lighter pink color.

Expert notes

You can use this easy strawberry mousse recipe as a cake filling. If you want to make it a little firmer, you can add gelatin. Here is how you should do this:

• Dissolve 7 g of powdered gelatin in 10 ml of warm water. Or hydrate 2 leaves of gelatin in ice-cold water.
• Add the gelatin to the strawberry/egg yolk mixture while still warm.
• Whisk until it has cooled down and gained in volume.
• Fold in the whipped cream.

Serving tips

Strawberry mousse must be served cold. It must chill for at least 12 hours.

You can serve this fresh strawberry mousse topped with fresh strawberries. You can also add some toasted almonds or meringues to add some crunch.

Storage tips

This French strawberry mousse dessert can be kept, refrigerated, for up to 4 days. You can cover the containers to prevent a thin layered crust from forming on the top.

Top with the fresh strawberries when you are ready to serve.

Freezer instructions

• Cover the containers with film wrap and place them in the freezer, keeping them upright. The mousse keeps for up to 1 month in the freezer.
• To defrost: Place in the refrigerator overnight. Top with fresh strawberries right before serving. Enjoy!

Variations for this recipe

If you freeze strawberry mousse, you will end up with a delicious no churn homemade strawberry ice cream. If you choose to transform the mousse into ice cream, here are a few tips you should follow:

• Make sure to add in some fresh strawberries before freezing. Fold them in gently. You can also add some chocolate chips if you like the chocolate strawberry combination.
• Wrap the container twice in plastic wrap and then transfer it to a freezer bag. If you use a container that has a lid – even better!. This will help minimize crystallization.
• Let the strawberry ice cream sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
• You can replace the strawberries in this recipe with other berries like raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries.