Bourbon Chocolate Mousse

By garciamoss

Got rave reviews! Don't skip out on the whip cream-it needs a little sweetness to balance out the bitter chocolate. But those that love 'not sweet' deserts, go for it!

Ingredients

• TIP:
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
• 2 tablespoons bourbon
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (3/4 cup)
• 4 large egg whites, room temperature
• Pinch table salt
• The egg whites in this recipe are not cooked, but using pasteurized egg whites is not recommended, because they tend to separate after they're folded into the ganache.

Preparation

Step 1

Put 4 small (at least 3/4 cup) individual serving bowls in the refrigerator.

Bring the heavy cream and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan and remove the pan from the heat (don’t just turn off the burner). Stir in the bourbon and vanilla. Add the chocolate and let it sit for 5 minutes without stirring. Whisk the chocolate and cream until smooth and then transfer the ganache to a large bowl. Don’t refrigerate.

In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites and the salt with a hand mixer on high speed just until they form stiff peaks when you lift the beaters.

With a rubber spatula, fold about one-quarter of the beaten whites into the ganache to lighten it. Then gently fold in the remaining whites, taking care not to deflate them. Divide the mousse among the chilled bowls and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes but preferably 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
Serving Suggestions

Top the mousse with a dollop of whipped cream or crème fraîche and sprinkle with cocoa powder, if desired. Garnish with fresh raspberries or strawberries.