The Best Salted Caramel Chocolate Mousse Cups Recipe Ever

Salted caramel chocolate mousse cups convert ordinary desserts into extraordinary culinary adventures.

Rich, velvety textures dance across your palate with unexpected flavor combinations.

Luxurious ingredients merge sweet and savory sensations in perfect harmony.

Decadent layers create a sophisticated dessert experience that elevates home baking to gourmet heights.

chocolate deep complexity intertwines seamlessly with golden caramel notes, while delicate salt crystals provide surprising depth.

Elegant yet approachable, these delightful cups promise a sensory journey that delights sophisticated and casual dessert lovers alike.

Delight in Salted Caramel Chocolate Mousse Cups

• Craft Luxurious Layers: This dessert delivers an incredible sensory journey with its perfectly balanced chocolate, caramel, and salt components that create a complex yet harmonious flavor profile.
• Master Impressive Techniques: The recipe teaches elegant culinary skills like tempering eggs, creating chocolate cups, and making restaurant-quality caramel, empowering home cooks to develop professional-level dessert-making abilities.
• Enjoy Textural Wonderland: Each bite offers a delightful contrast between smooth, silky chocolate mousse, crunchy chocolate cups, and gooey salted caramel, providing a dynamic eating experience that keeps taste buds engaged and excited.
• Elevate Simple Ingredients: Using just a few basic pantry staples, this dessert transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary, restaurant-worthy treat that looks and tastes incredibly sophisticated without requiring extensive baking expertise.

Gather Ingredients for Salted Caramel Mousse Cups

Main Ingredients:

• Dark Chocolate: Rich and intense chocolate providing deep flavor and smooth texture for the mousse.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Enhances chocolate depth and adds robust chocolate essence.

• Heavy Cream: Creates luxurious, light, and airy texture for the mousse.
• Cream Cheese: Adds creamy tanginess and helps stabilize the mousse structure.

• Granulated Sugar: Foundation for creating golden, deep caramel flavor.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and heightens caramel complexity.

Supporting Ingredients:

• Eggs: Provide structure and help set the mousse texture.
• Gelatin: Ensures smooth, consistent mousse consistency.

• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, aromatic undertone to the dessert.

Garnish and Serving:

• Chocolate Shavings, Sea Salt Flakes: Provides visual appeal and extra flavor contrast.

Whipping Up Silky Salted Caramel Chocolate Mousse Cups

Step 1: Prepare Chocolate Cups

Line a muffin tin with paper liners. Melt chocolate in microwave using 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Spoon chocolate into each liner, using a brush or spoon to coat sides evenly. Ensure thick chocolate layer covers entire liner. Refrigerate until completely set. Carefully peel away paper liners.

Step 2: Create Chocolate Mousse Base

• Egg yolks
• Sugar
• Heavy cream
• Vanilla extract
• Salt
• Chocolate

Whisk egg yolks with sugar until well blended. Heat cream with vanilla and salt until hot. Slowly pour half the hot cream into egg mixture, whisking constantly. Return mixture to pot and cook on low heat until temperature reaches 170°F. Add chocolate and stir until completely melted. Cool mixture in refrigerator.

Step 3: Whip Mousse to Perfection

Whip remaining cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into cooled chocolate mixture. Ensure mixture is light and airy with no streaks. Refrigerate mousse for 30 minutes to firm up.

Step 4: Craft Salted Caramel Sauce

• Granulated sugar
• Corn syrup
• Butter
• Heavy cream
• Salt
• Vanilla extract

Cook sugar and corn syrup in heavy-bottomed pan until it turns deep amber color. Carefully add butter and cream (mixture will bubble intensely). Stir until smooth. Add salt and vanilla. Let caramel cool slightly.

Step 5: Assemble Decadent Dessert Cups

Spoon thin layer of caramel into bottom of each chocolate cup. Add generous scoop of chocolate mousse. Drizzle additional caramel on top. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Garnish with chocolate curls.

Step 6: Chill and Serve

Refrigerate assembled cups for minimum 4 hours. This allows flavors to meld and mousse to set completely. Serve chilled for maximum flavor and texture experience.

Mousse Making Tips for Perfect Texture

• Choose High-Quality Chocolate: Select premium dark chocolate with at least 60% cocoa content for deeper, richer flavor and smoother texture.
• Master Chocolate Melting: Use a double boiler or low microwave heat to prevent chocolate from burning, stirring frequently to maintain silky consistency.
• Stabilize Egg Mixture: Temper egg yolks gradually with hot cream to prevent scrambling and ensure a smooth, creamy mousse base.
• Achieve Perfect Caramel: Watch sugar closely while cooking, aiming for a deep amber color without burning; remove from heat immediately when desired color is reached.
• Chill for Maximum Flavor: Refrigerate assembled cups for minimum 4 hours to allow flavors to meld and mousse to set perfectly, creating an incredible taste experience.

How to Store Salted Caramel Mousse Cups for Best Flavor

• Refrigeration: Store your Salted Caramel Chocolate Mousse Cups in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Cover each cup carefully to prevent absorbing other food odors and maintain their delicate texture.
• Freezing: Wrap individual cups tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 weeks, ensuring they remain protected from freezer burn. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Reheating: Let chilled mousse cups sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving. Avoid direct microwave heating, as this can compromise the mousse's delicate texture. Garnish with fresh chocolate curls or a light dusting of salt to refresh the presentation.

Pairing Ideas for Salted Caramel Chocolate Mousse

• Pair with Bold Red Wine: Match the rich chocolate mousse with a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, whose deep berry notes and slight tannins complement the dessert's intense chocolate flavor.
• Serve with Espresso Twist: A shot of hot, freshly brewed espresso cuts through the sweetness, providing a perfect bitter counterpoint to the salted caramel and chocolate, enhancing the dessert's complex flavor profile.
• Create Textural Contrast: Accompany the mousse cups with a crisp almond biscotti or delicate shortbread cookie, adding a satisfying crunch that plays beautifully against the smooth, silky mousse texture.
• Balance with Sparkling Drink: A chilled glass of champagne or prosecco offers a light, bubbly contrast to the dense chocolate, with its crisp acidity cleansing the palate between decadent bites.

Add New Twists to Salted Caramel Mousse Cups

• Chocolate Orange Sensation: Infuse the mousse with orange zest and replace vanilla with orange extract for a citrusy kick. Drizzle dark chocolate orange sauce over the final dessert to amplify the vibrant flavor profile.
• Espresso Caramel Dream: Add instant espresso powder to the chocolate mousse for a rich coffee undertone. Swirl a coffee-infused caramel through the dessert and garnish with chocolate-covered espresso beans.
• Nutty Chocolate Indulgence: Mix finely chopped toasted hazelnuts into the caramel for extra crunch. Incorporate hazelnut liqueur into the mousse and top with praline pieces to enhance the nutty complexity.
• Sea Salt Coconut Fusion: Replace heavy cream with coconut cream in the mousse for a tropical twist. Sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top and use flaky sea salt to elevate the caramel's depth and create a more exotic dessert experience.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Mousse Cups Recipe

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4.7 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Silky salted caramel chocolate mousse cups deliver pure indulgence with rich French-inspired elegance. Chocolate lovers will discover delicate layers of smooth caramel and intense chocolate creating an irresistible dessert experience.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 8 ounces (226 grams) dark chocolate
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
• 4 large egg yolks
• ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar

Supporting Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) water
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Finishing Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons flaky sea salt
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) caramel sauce

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Instructions

1. Meticulously melt chocolate using microwave’s 50% power, stirring every half-minute to achieve a glossy, uniform texture.
2. Use muffin liners as a base, carefully coating each with melted chocolate, ensuring thick, even coverage up the sides to create delicate edible vessels.
3. Allow chocolate cups to set completely, then gently peel away liners to reveal pristine chocolate containers.
4. Whisk egg yolks with sugar until thoroughly combined and pale in color.
5. Gently warm cream with vanilla and salt, then gradually incorporate half into egg mixture to prevent curdling, using a tempering technique.
6. Return tempered mixture to heat, cooking slowly until reaching precisely 170ºF, creating a rich custard base.
7. Incorporate chocolate into warm custard, stirring until completely melted and smooth.
8. Chill chocolate mixture thoroughly to prepare for final mousse texture.
9. Whip remaining cream to stiff, billowy peaks, then delicately fold into chilled chocolate mixture, creating an airy, luxurious mousse.
10. Caramelize sugar and corn syrup until achieving a deep amber color, watching carefully to prevent burning.
11. Carefully introduce butter and cream to caramel, allowing vigorous bubbling to subside.
12. Enhance caramel with salt and vanilla, stirring until silky and perfectly balanced.
13. Layer caramel at the base of each chocolate cup, creating a sweet foundation.
14. Generously spoon mousse into cups, filling to near the rim.
15. Drizzle additional caramel over mousse, creating elegant swirls.
16. Garnish with coarse salt crystals and delicate chocolate curls for textural contrast.
17. Refrigerate assembled desserts for minimum 4 hours, allowing flavors to meld and mousse to set completely.

Notes

• Chill dessert cups for minimum 4 hours to develop rich, complex flavor profiles.
• Tempering egg yolks prevents scrambling and ensures silky smooth mousse texture.
• Always use fresh ingredients for maximum taste and professional-quality results.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg