berry mousse
serves 4
This super quick dessert is great for when you feel like whipping up something sweet after your main course. Feel free to play around with different berries – either frozen or fresh.
300mL (1 1/4cups) whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
250g (9oz) mixed berries
1. Whip cream until you have soft peaks. Add in vanilla.
2. Mash berries with a fork until you have a rough puree.
3. Fold the berries through the cream, leaving it a little unmixed or ‘swirled’.
4. Divide between 4 small glasses and serve immediately or refrigerate until ready.
prepare ahead?
Absolutely. Will keep in the fridge for a few days.
leftover potential
Great. Keep in the fridge for a few days, possibly longer.
variations for fun
vegan / dairy-free – try berry sorbet instead, Whizz frozen berries in a food processor until you have a lovely ‘sorbet’ texture. About 300g (10oz) berries will serve 3-4.
berry & coconut – chill 2 cans of coonut milk. Remove the lid and whip the solid coconut ‘cream’ leaving behind the watery liquid. Swirl in berry puree as above.
rhubarb mousse – sprinkle about 500g (1lb) generously with sugar and roast for 20 minutes or until rhubarb is tender. Fold through the cream instead of the berry puree.
stonefruit mousse – remove the seeds from 4 ripe peaches or 8 apricots and puree the fruit in the food processor. Swirl through cream instead of the berries.
even healthier mousse – whip only half the cream and stir in natural yoghurt to make up the remaining half.
problem solving guide
not sweet enough – this is really relying on the ripeness of the berries to give enough sweetness. Serve with a little icing sugar (powdered) sugar for people to adjust the sweetness level if you’re worried about it.
watery – sounds like the cream wasn’t whipped enough OR the berries weren’t ripe enough. Change the name to ‘berry soup’. 
grainy – be careful when whipping the cream not to take it too far to the ‘grainy’ stage. The fruit will help or
short on time? – use an electric mixer to whip the cream or if you’re really desperate try whipped cream out of a can…or better yet, serve the berries with some commercial vanilla ice cream.
serving suggestions
Lovely as is in small, pretty glasses with teaspoons.
Some cruched meringues sprinkled over or stirred through will add interesting texture and ‘crunch’.
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