French Chocolate Mousse with Cocoa Nib Brittle
Dessert · Flans, Puddings · François de Mélogue · Provencal Recipes · TasteThis recipe is definitely for chocolate lovers! An adaptation of Jean-Andre Charial’s chocolate mousse (mousseux au chocolate, craquant au grue de cacao, crème glacée au caramel) for home cooks. This is a slightly simplified version of Charial’s chocolate mousse that does not lose any of its deliciousness in the translation. Almost no other dessert could be more French than this mousse.

Chocolate Mousse with Cocoa Nib Brittle
This recipe involves two steps: make the brittle in advance, and the chocolate mousse takes very little time.
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Brittle:
- 1/3 cup flour
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup orange juice freshly squeezed or tangerine juice
- 3 tbsp butter melted
- 2 oz cocoa nibs available in most stores
For the Chocolate Mousse:
- 1/2 tsp powdered gelatin
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (35%)
- 6 oz bittersweet chocolate chips
- 5 egg whites
- 1/4 cup sugar
To Finish:
- 1 quart (1.1 Litre) caramel ice cream
Instructions
For the Brittle:
- Mix flour, sugar, orange juice and melted butter in your food processor.
- Add the cocoa nibs and let sit in your refrigerator for one hour.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Put six spoonfuls of brittle batter on a silpat (see note) covered sheet pan.
- Bake ten minutes or until lightly brown.
- Let cool while making mousse.
For the Chocolate Mousse:
- Mix powdered gelatin with two tablespoons of water and let sit for ten minutes.
- Put a small amount of water in a pot to boil then remove from heat.
- Set bowl of gelatin over till it melts and turns to a clear liquid.
- Boil cream and mix with gelatin.
- Pour over chocolate chips and stir until well mixed. The chocolate should be slightly warm to room temperature.
- Beat egg whites in a stand mixer till light and frothy.
- Add sugar and continue beating for 30 seconds on high speed.
- Gently fold into chocolate and pour into serving vessels. I used clear glasses.
To Finish:
- Garnish mousse with cocoa nib brittle and a spoonful of caramel ice cream.
Notes
Silpat is a silicone baking sheet. They are brilliant for baking and easy to clean. Click here to buy one.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
More Chocolate Desserts
Kumquat Bitter Orange Tartlets in a Chocolate Crust
A combination of sweet, sour and chocolate that is irresistible in a dessert. I prefer making tartlets to one larger tart. Regardless, this dessert is a great way to finish a meal. As a bonus, you can keep the bitter orange curd in a jar in the fridge for up to a month.
Check out this recipe
Chocolate-Lavender Truffles
A tasteful dessert that comes from Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm. A high-quality product that tastes amazing and is easy to make!
Check out this recipe
Lemon & Lavender Honey Madeleines dipped in Chocolate
The perfect treat to share! This recipe makes 30 large madeleines or 48 small madeleines.
Check out this recipe
Chocolate and Pear Tarts
These tarts are easy to make and a delicious finish to a fall menu. Make sure to leave enough time to prepare and rest the dough.
Check out this recipe
Legal
All rights reserved. Perfectly Provence articles and other content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten (including translations into other languages) or redistributed without written permission. For usage information, please contact us.
Syndication InformationAffiliate Information
As an Amazon Associate, this website earns from qualifying purchases. Some recipes, posts and pages may have affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, we receive a small commission that does not impact your price. Thank you in advance for supporting our work to maintain Perfectly Provence.
Previous Post
Warm Salad Nicoise a Recipe from ProvenceRelated Provence Articles
Easy Apple Crumble for Dessert
November 25, 2019
I would be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn't like the sweet aroma of baked apples, cinnamon and sugar. This Apple Crumble is easy to make for dessert.…
Vanilla Crème Brûlée a Classic French Dessert
October 16, 2020
Some things are just better in France, including dessert. There is no debating the fact that Vanilla Crème Brûlée sounds more appealing than Vanilla Burnt Cream. This baked custard is a classic French dessert.…
A Sweet Pairing Recipe for Pear Frangipane Tart
October 20, 2021
Today’s recipe combines one of my recipes and one by my friend Inger, who writes The Art of Natural Living. She posted a pear frangipane tart sometime before Christmas, and I had been tasked with finding a Christmas dessert with a 1999 Château d’Yquem Sauternes (thanks, Lee!). Such a problem with the perfect solution. This …
Just Try to Resist this Lemon Meringue Tart Recipe
October 18, 2021
I love this tart, it might seem daunting, but I’ve broken it down into three parts, so open a bottle of rosé and have fun with it. You’ll be really happy with the results, I promise! I’ve made the pastry, but feel free to buy it. There are some amazing ready-to-use products out there. If …
No Comment