Description

This silky smooth chocolate cottage cheese mousse is a decadent yet healthy dessert option that combines creamy cottage cheese with rich cocoa powder, sweetened naturally with maple syrup. Chia seeds help thicken the mousse to a pudding-like consistency, while melted bittersweet chocolate adds an indulgent finishing touch. Perfectly chilled and garnished with fresh berries or nuts, this dessert balances creamy texture and deep chocolate flavor with wholesome ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale

Mousse Base

2 cups cottage cheese (preferably Good Culture for thicker texture)
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/3 cup maple syrup
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
1 large pinch sea salt

Thickening and Topping

1/4 cup chia seeds
2 oz melted chocolate (60% cacao bittersweet chips, e.g., Ghirardelli)
Optional toppings: fresh berries, toasted nuts, chocolate shavings

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Instructions

Blend the Mousse Base Until Silky Smooth: Add the cottage cheese, cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and sea salt to a blender. Blend on high speed for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is completely smooth and silky, breaking down the cottage cheese curds for a luxurious mousse texture. If your blender struggles, blend in batches or use an immersion blender or food processor for best results.
Fold in Chia Seeds and Melt the Chocolate: Transfer the blended mousse base into a bowl and gently fold in the chia seeds with a spatula until evenly distributed. Warm the chocolate gently using a double boiler or microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Prepare the melted chocolate for drizzling on the finished mousse.
Assemble and Chill: Divide the chia-seeded mousse evenly into serving cups or bowls. Drizzle the warm melted chocolate over the top, allowing it to form ribbons and small pools on the surface. Refrigerate the assembled mousse for at least 1 hour to permit the chia seeds to fully absorb the moisture, achieving a pudding-like consistency and enhancing the chocolate flavor and texture.
Garnish and Serve: Remove the mousse from the refrigerator and garnish each serving with optional fresh berries, toasted nuts, or chocolate shavings. Serve immediately to enjoy a rich, creamy, and delightfully light chocolate dessert.

Notes

Blending the mousse base thoroughly is crucial to eliminate graininess from the cottage cheese curds.
Adding chia seeds just before serving helps maintain the desired pudding-like texture; chilling is recommended for best flavor and consistency.
Melt chocolate gently to avoid burning; use a double boiler or short microwave bursts with stirring.
Optional toppings like fresh berries or toasted nuts add texture and complementary flavors.