Avocado Chocolate Mousse – The Cure To What Ails You (FAK Friday)

Avocado Chocolate Mousse (Raw, Vegan, Gluten-Free)

I know, I know, I’m a little late to the party. Making chocolate mousse / pudding from avocados has been done so many times, you’d think it would be passé by now… but it isn’t, and do you want to know why?

Because it is so damn good, that’s why.

For the longest time, I listened to people rave about how rich and creamy and decadent this stuff is, and I’d nod along and think to myself, “mm-hmm… chocolate flavored guacamole. Makes perfect sense.”

I was a little skeptical, I’ll admit. I am, however, a huge fan of avocados (and of course, chocolate), so finally my curiosity got the better of me.

And now… now I’m a convert. Because let me tell you, this stuff is rich. And it’s creamy. And it is so, so decadent.

It isn’t just those things, though — it is also obscenely good for you. I like to tell myself that chocolate is the cure for everything, but this mousse has given me reason to believe it.

Avocados & Why They're Good For You

Avocados may seem like a strange place to start when making a dessert, but when you think about it, it actually makes perfect sense. Avocados are super rich and creamy, and relatively mild in flavor. A flavor that is easy to hide beneath heaps of chocolaty goodness. The key here is to use the ripest avocados you can find — if they’re at all under-ripe, the flavor will be much harder to mask.

To pick a ripe avocado, look for one that is slightly soft when squeezed. It should feel a bit like there’s playdough inside — not hard, not mushy, but soft. Firm avocados can be ripened by placing them inside a paper bag, rolling down the top of the bag to seal it, and letting them sit at room temperature for a few days. If you want to speed the process up a bit, try adding an apple or banana to the bag. Give your avocados a squeeze every day or two to check their progress. Once they’re fully ripened, you can remove them from the bag and store in the fridge for up to a week.

Besides being a perfectly creamy canvas for our chocolate mousse, avocados are also chock full of vital nutrients our bodies need. If any food deserves the title of “superfood”, it’s the avocado.

Avocados & Why They're Good For You

What makes this humble fruit so super, you ask? I’ll tell you!

Here’s what you need to know: avocados are full of fat. But not just any fat… this is premium, top-notch stuff. We’re talking omega-3 fatty acids, and monounsaturated fats that our bodies need to function. These fats can help cardiovascular health, lower cholesterol levels, and possibly even prevent cancer. Okay, so we aren’t really clear on the cancer prevention, but we’re looking into it. They also play a big role in the absorption of vitamins and minerals, many of which are fat soluble (meaning they are no good to us without fats to break them down). Don’t even bother taking your multi-vitamin if you don’t have some healthy fats to go along with it!

Speaking of which, you might as well pass on the mutli-vitamin all together and eat an avocado instead, because they’ve pretty much got you covered. Avocados are super rich in things like vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin D, Potassium (more than any banana ever laid claim to, in fact), folate, and a variety of B-vitamins. They also contain a lot of phytonutrients, or plant-based compounds, which have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can help fight against disease.

As if that weren’t reason enough to love them, they’ve also been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels, are packed with fiber and protein, and despite being high in calories have actually been known to help people lose weight.

Oh, and they make awesome chocolate mousse. Need I say more?

Avocado Chocolate Mousse (Raw, Vegan, Gluten-Free)

(Plus, a tip for all you ladies out there, the combination of B-vitamins and potassium found in avocados may help relieve some of those painful time-of-the-month symptoms. Do yourself a favor while you get your chocolate fix, and have some avocado, too!)

Oh, it also comes together in about 15 seconds flat. Aaand you probably have all of the ingredients on hand already. Aaaand you aren’t even reading this anymore, are you…

Avocado Chocolate Mousse (Raw, Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Avocado Chocolate Mousse (Raw, Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Makes 4 regular servings, or 2 realistic servings — let’s face it, it’s that good

2 medium hass avocados, very ripe*
1/2 cup raw cacao powder (or regular unsweetened cocoa powder)
1/3 – 1/2 cup maple syrup, raw honey, coconut nectar, or other liquid sweetener, to taste**
1/4-1/2 cup unsweetened dairy-free milk (such as almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, etc.)
1 tsp. vanilla extract (or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean)
pinch of salt

Optional:
1/4-1/2 tsp. cinnamon, a couple of mint leaves, or other add-ins, to taste
Fresh fruit or berries, for serving

*after pitting and peeling, I had about 280g. of avocado. The amount called for in the rest of the recipe will vary slightly depending on how big your avocados are.
**I used maple syrup, and was surprised at how well it sweetened the chocolate without making it taste too maple-y. The amount of sweetener you use is up to you, depending on how dark you like your chocolate.

Method
1.   In the bowl of your food processor, pulse together all of the ingredients. Start with the lesser amounts of sweetener and non-dairy milk, then adjust according to taste. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl, as needed, until everything is evenly mixed and smooth.
2.   Remove blade from food processor. Dive in.

Pudding can be eaten immediately, or stored in the fridge with a piece of plastic wrap pressed on its surface for up to a couple of days.

Note: Recipes for avocado chocolate mousse (or avocado chocolate pudding) are all over the internet. I’ve made a few minor adjustments to my own taste, but variations of this recipe can be found everywhere. If anyone knows the original creator of this dessert, I would love to know so I can give credit where credit is due!

Avocado Chocolate Mousse (Raw, Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Have you tried avocado in your dessert before? If so, what did you think? Let me know in the comments below. Or, go make this mousse and then get back to me! I’d love to know.

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14 Responses to Avocado Chocolate Mousse – The Cure To What Ails You (FAK Friday)

  1. Jennifer Foreman September 21, 2013 at 1:09 pm #

    Yum! To think I have an avocado ripening at this very moment and it looks like I found what I will use it for!

  2. Maria September 21, 2013 at 3:11 pm #

    I just added avocados to my grocery list! Can’t wait to try this. You sold me.

  3. DessertForTwo September 24, 2013 at 2:15 am #

    Ok, I’ve never tried this. But I’ve always wanted to! You’ve finally convinced me :)

  4. shannon weber September 24, 2013 at 4:24 pm #

    i have made this so many times for myself! and i love it: it really is like, a fantastic way to indulge but not go crazy with the bad stuff, for sure. those are the most gorgeous photos of chocolate avocado mousse i’ve ever seen, by the way. truly spectacular. You do the flavor justice by making it so visually appealing.

    • Willow Arlen September 24, 2013 at 5:15 pm #

      Thanks, Shannon! It was hard to get photos because I kept sticking my fingers into the bowl and then having to make it look pretty again. Me: “Oh, is that a little dollop on the edge of the dish? I’d better get that…” *NOM*

  5. ditzsavant September 24, 2013 at 4:37 pm #

    I just found your blog and I love it! Amazing and healthy recipes, great facts and gorgeous photos! I instantly added you to my bloglovin’ and linked to you in one of my posts: http://wp.me/p3Hdvz-fm <3

    • Willow Arlen September 24, 2013 at 5:16 pm #

      Thank you! And thanks for sharing the post and providing a link-back. I’ve never tried putting molasses in my coffee, but now I’ll have to! :)

  6. Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes September 24, 2013 at 8:05 pm #

    The first time I made chocolate pudding with avocados I had to make it so quickly while Justin was in the shower so he wouldn’t get all weird ed out it wasn’t until after he finished a bowl full I told him what it was made of, it is my favorite way to use up almost too ripe avocados :)

  7. movita beaucoup September 25, 2013 at 10:30 am #

    1. Shannon’s right. These photos are epic. And you know how annoyed that makes me.
    2. I need to try this. I, too, was reluctant to try chocolate guacamole-esque mousse, but with your stamp of approval? DONE.
    3. I love avocados except for the not ripe, not ripe, not ripe, not ripe, 3 hour window of perfect ripeness, rotten, rotten, rotten, rotten thing.

  8. Anonymous October 4, 2013 at 12:38 am #

    Thanks so much for your version of avocado chocolate mousse. I added about 1/4 tsp almond flavor (could also use amaretto) and it is delightful!

  9. vincent r medugno December 18, 2016 at 8:52 am #

    i whipped “this” up over the summer (during berry season) using organic nocciolata, avocado, frozen banana & vanilla almond milk… truly divine! Planning to bring this to a Holiday party 2016

    • Willow Arlen December 18, 2016 at 11:37 am #

      So glad you liked it, Vincent, thanks for sharing! :)

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