Vanilla mousse is a fluffy mixture of vanilla custard and whipped cream topped with fresh fruit, more whipped cream, or white chocolate shavings. Make the vanilla custard yourself or save time and use instant vanilla pudding mix for a quick dessert. 

Vanilla Mousse Recipe: 5 Tips for Making the Dessert

Vanilla mousse is a sweet, creamy, and fluffy dessert made with a base of vanilla custard. Pastry chefs use whipped cream or whipped egg whites to give the mousse an airy texture and sometimes [gelatin](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-gelatin-how-to-cook-with-gelatin) for structure. (Be careful—too much gelatin results in a rubbery mousse instead of a soft one.) You can use your vanilla mousse as a light frosting for cupcakes, or serve it with fresh whipped cream and fresh fruit. [__Jump to recipe__](vanilla-mousse#5FPzgyd3FY8jHlAZSKDmBA). 
Use the five tips below to make airy and creamy vanilla mousse.

1. __Chill the custard before folding in the whipped ingredients__. Homemade vanilla [custard](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-custard) cooks on the stove, so it stays hot for some time. Pour the custard into a baking dish, spread it into an even layer, and cover it with plastic wrap pressed right up against the surface of the custard to prevent skin from forming. Refrigerate the custard for about four hours or until it’s completely cool. Warm custard deflates the whipped cream or whipped egg whites. 
2. __Choose between vanilla extract and vanilla bean__. For visible specks of vanilla bean and a natural vanilla flavor, use a [vanilla bean](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-vanilla-difference-between-vanilla-extract-vanilla-beans-and-vanilla-pods), and for easy vanilla mousse, use good quality vanilla extract. Both vanilla bean and extract work in vanilla mousse and are readily available in the grocery store; it depends on budget and personal preference. 
3. __If using gelatin, use powdered gelatin__. Gelatin sheets are tricky to work with and work better in other applications than in vanilla custard. Dissolve powdered gelatin in cold water, then let it bloom. Dissolve it again before adding it to the vanilla custard or the heavy whipping cream. 
4. __Strain the custard__. Homemade custard runs the risk of curdling, even if done perfectly. Push the hot custard through a fine-mesh strainer to leave the lumps behind and end up with smooth vanilla custard. Then, stir in softened butter and let the residual heat from the custard melt it.
5. __Use vanilla pudding mix__. Instead of making homemade custard, start a vanilla mousse recipe with instant vanilla pudding mix. Make the pudding according to the directions on the box, then chill it completely before folding it with whipped cream, whipped egg whites, or both.
Vanilla mousse is a fluffy mixture of vanilla custard and whipped cream topped with fresh fruit, more whipped cream, or white chocolate shavings. Make the vanilla custard yourself or save time and use instant vanilla pudding mix for a quick dessert. 

Vanilla mousse is a sweet, creamy, and fluffy dessert made with a base of vanilla custard. Pastry chefs use whipped cream or whipped egg whites to give the mousse an airy texture and sometimes <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-gelatin-how-to-cook-with-gelatin' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-gelatin-how-to-cook-with-gelatin","linkCopy":"gelatin","category":null}'>gelatin</a> for structure. (Be careful—too much gelatin results in a rubbery mousse instead of a soft one.) You can use your vanilla mousse as a light frosting for cupcakes, or serve it with fresh whipped cream and fresh fruit. <a href='vanilla-mousse#5FPzgyd3FY8jHlAZSKDmBA' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"vanilla-mousse#5FPzgyd3FY8jHlAZSKDmBA","linkCopy":"\u003cstrong class=\"mc-text--bold\"\u003eJump to recipe\u003c/strong\u003e","category":null}'>Jump to recipe</a>.

What Is Vanilla Mousse?

Use the five tips below to make airy and creamy vanilla mousse.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Chill the custard before folding in the whipped ingredients. Homemade vanilla <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-custard' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-custard","linkCopy":"custard","category":null}'>custard</a> cooks on the stove, so it stays hot for some time. Pour the custard into a baking dish, spread it into an even layer, and cover it with plastic wrap pressed right up against the surface of the custard to prevent skin from forming. Refrigerate the custard for about four hours or until it’s completely cool. Warm custard deflates the whipped cream or whipped egg whites. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Choose between vanilla extract and vanilla bean. For visible specks of vanilla bean and a natural vanilla flavor, use a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-vanilla-difference-between-vanilla-extract-vanilla-beans-and-vanilla-pods' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-vanilla-difference-between-vanilla-extract-vanilla-beans-and-vanilla-pods","linkCopy":"vanilla bean","category":null}'>vanilla bean</a>, and for easy vanilla mousse, use good quality vanilla extract. Both vanilla bean and extract work in vanilla mousse and are readily available in the grocery store; it depends on budget and personal preference. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. If using gelatin, use powdered gelatin. Gelatin sheets are tricky to work with and work better in other applications than in vanilla custard. Dissolve powdered gelatin in cold water, then let it bloom. Dissolve it again before adding it to the vanilla custard or the heavy whipping cream. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Strain the custard. Homemade custard runs the risk of curdling, even if done perfectly. Push the hot custard through a fine-mesh strainer to leave the lumps behind and end up with smooth vanilla custard. Then, stir in softened butter and let the residual heat from the custard melt it. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Use vanilla pudding mix. Instead of making homemade custard, start a vanilla mousse recipe with instant vanilla pudding mix. Make the pudding according to the directions on the box, then chill it completely before folding it with whipped cream, whipped egg whites, or both. </li></ol>

5 Tips for Making Vanilla Mousse

Homemade Vanilla Mousse Recipe 

Vanilla mousse is a fluffy mixture of vanilla custard and whipped cream topped with fresh fruit, more whipped cream, or white chocolate shavings. Make the vanilla custard yourself or save time and use instant vanilla pudding mix for a quick dessert.

Vanilla mousse is a fluffy mixture of vanilla custard and whipped cream topped with fresh fruit, more whipped cream, or white chocolate shavings. Make the vanilla custard yourself or save time and use instant vanilla pudding mix for a quick dessert. 
