No Bake Lemon Mascarpone Mousse (Printer-friendly)
Light, creamy citrus dessert with tangy lemon and rich mascarpone. No baking required.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dairy
01 - 1 cup mascarpone cheese, cold
02 - 1/2 cup heavy cream, cold
→ Citrus
03 - Zest of 2 lemons
04 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
→ Sweeteners
05 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Garnish (optional)
07 - Fresh berries
08 - Lemon zest
09 - Mint leaves
# Directions:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the mascarpone cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until smooth and well combined.
02 - In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks using a hand mixer or stand mixer.
03 - Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture in two additions, using a spatula, until fully incorporated and light.
04 - Spoon or pipe the mousse evenly into serving glasses or bowls.
05 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until set and chilled.
06 - Garnish with fresh berries, a sprinkle of lemon zest, and mint leaves just before serving, if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in under 20 minutes with zero cooking required
- The texture is incredibly light yet luxurious, like eating a lemon scented cloud
- You can make it ahead and pull it out when guests arrive, looking fancy with zero effort
02 -
- Cold ingredients are non-negotiable here, or your mascarpone can separate into a grainy mess
- Over-mixing when folding collapses all the air you just whipped into the cream, so use gentle strokes
- The mousse needs those full 2 hours to set properly, so plan ahead and don't rush the chilling time
03 -
- Room temperature mascarpone will curdle when you try to mix it with the lemon juice, so keep everything chilled until the moment you need it
- Use a microplane or fine grater for the lemon zest to avoid bitter white pith