Recipe for cooking vanilla mousse

Desserts to Go with Coffee and Tea :: Souffles and Puddings

Vanilla Mousse

Posted by darlene60 at recipegoldmine.com 5/17/02 7:12:15 am

This is rich, but if you are hungry for a true vanilla mousse, this is it! A bit of work, but worth the effort.

1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. water
8 egg yolks
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1 qt. heavy cream
Pure vanilla extract or flavoring to taste

Boil sugar and water rapidly for 5 mins.. Cool. Beat egg yolks on top of a double boiler and whip into the syrup gradually. Add vanilla bean, and cook custard over very hot, but not boiling water, stirring constantly, until it becomes creamy and thick. Remove vanilla bean, and squeeze, pressing out seeds. Rub custard through a sieve and stir over a bowl of ice water until it cools.

Whip 1-qt. heavy cream until it is stiff enough to hold a shape, add vanilla extract or flavoring to taste, and fold the cream into the cooled custard.

This can be frozen and served half-frozen, or it can be spooned into c. and served chilled. Decorate with crystallized flowers, shaved chocolate, etc. if desired. Flavored liqueurs can be added instead of vanilla extract or flavoring for a delicate secondary-flavor, if desired.

Serves 6 to 10, depending on serving size.