This Fluffy Raspberry Mousse is an elegant, airy, and refreshing treat bursting with the vibrant flavor of fresh raspberries. It’s made without butter or flour, making it a light and gluten-free option for a showstopping dessert. With a creamy texture, natural raspberry color, and just enough sweetness, this mousse is perfect for celebrations like Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or any special occasion. Add the optional raspberry sauce or layer it with sponge cake for a more indulgent experience.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients
For the Raspberry Mousse:
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7.7 g unflavored gelatin or 4.5 sheets of platinum gelatin sheets (Bloom: 230)
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40 g icy water (for hydrating gelatin powder)
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270 g raspberry purée (strained, from ~330 g fresh raspberries)
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15 g lemon juice
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320 g heavy cream
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90 g egg white
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13 g granulated sugar (for egg white)
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130 g granulated sugar (for hot syrup)
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60 g water (for hot syrup)
Optional Raspberry Sauce:
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170 g raspberry purée (strained, from ~210 g raspberries)
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17 g granulated sugar
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5 g lemon juice
Directions
1. Hydrate the Gelatin:
For powder: Mix gelatin with icy water and let it bloom for 10 minutes in the fridge.
For sheets: Soak in icy water for 10 minutes, then squeeze out excess water.
2. Prepare the Raspberry Purée:
Blend raspberries until smooth and strain to remove seeds. Set aside.
3. Melt Gelatin in Warm Purée:
Heat ¼–⅓ of the raspberry purée (122–140°F / 50–60°C), add gelatin, and stir to dissolve. Mix it back with the remaining purée and add lemon juice. Set aside at room temperature.
4. Whip the Cream:
Whip heavy cream until very stiff. Chill until ready to use.
5. Make the Meringue:
Start whipping egg whites. When foamy, add sugar and continue whipping until fluffy.
6. Make Hot Sugar Syrup:
Heat sugar and water to 244–246°F (118–119°C), then slowly pour it into the meringue while whipping on high speed. Whip until cool and stiff.
7. Combine Meringue and Cream:
Fold meringue into whipped cream until 50% mixed.
8. Add Raspberry Purée:
Fold in half of the purée, then the rest. Mix until 80–90% combined. Finish folding gently with a spatula until smooth and airy.
9. Pipe and Chill:
Pipe mousse into cups or glasses. Chill for a few hours until fully set.
10. (Optional) Make Raspberry Sauce:
Heat purée, sugar, and lemon juice until just boiling. Cool before serving.
11. Decorate and Serve:
Top mousse with whipped cream, fresh raspberries, or a drizzle of raspberry sauce. Optionally layer over sponge cake.
Nutrients (Per serving, approx. for 6 servings)
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Calories: 336 kcal
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Carbohydrates: 37 g
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Protein: 5 g
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Fat: 20 g
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Saturated Fat: 12 g
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Sugar: 32 g
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Fiber: 5 g
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Cholesterol: 60 mg
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Vitamin C: 21 mg
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Calcium: 56 mg
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Iron: 1 mg
A Celebration of Raspberries in Every Bite
The flavor of this mousse is centered around the pure, bright intensity of raspberries. When raspberries are blended, strained, and gently folded into the creamy base, they offer a burst of tangy sweetness that makes each spoonful refreshing and refined. The fruit’s natural tartness helps balance the sugar and cream, making this dessert feel indulgent but never overwhelming.
Using fresh raspberries is ideal, but frozen raspberries can work just as well—especially when strained to remove seeds for a silky-smooth purée. The vibrant hue of raspberries gives this mousse its naturally gorgeous pink color, which makes it particularly appealing for spring and summer events or pink-themed dessert tables.
Feather-Light Texture with a Decadent Finish
What sets this mousse apart is its perfectly airy texture. It’s designed to be fluffy and light, with a stable structure that still melts in the mouth. The combination of gelatin, whipped cream, and Italian meringue ensures the mousse holds its shape while staying silky smooth and pillowy soft.
The gelatin provides just enough firmness to allow the mousse to be piped into elegant glasses or layered over sponge cake without becoming too dense. The whipped cream brings a luxurious mouthfeel, while the meringue lightens the mix even further and adds a touch of sophistication with its glossy, voluminous texture.
Each spoonful is a balance of structure and softness—creamy, light, and infused with the unmistakable brightness of fresh fruit.
An Impressive Dessert That’s Naturally Gluten-Free
With no flour in sight, this mousse is a naturally gluten-free dessert that doesn’t feel like a compromise. It’s a fantastic option for guests with gluten sensitivities or anyone looking to serve a lighter dessert after a rich meal. Despite its lightness, it still feels indulgent and satisfying—thanks to the full-fat cream and rich raspberry flavor.
Its gluten-free nature also makes it incredibly versatile. Serve it on its own in small glasses, pipe it into chocolate cups, or layer it over a slice of almond sponge or gluten-free biscuit base for added texture. It’s a blank canvas for creativity, easily adaptable to suit your guests’ preferences and dietary needs.
Perfect for Make-Ahead Entertaining
One of the best things about raspberry mousse is how well it fits into a make-ahead dessert plan. Since it needs a few hours to chill and set, you can prepare it the night before and let it rest in the refrigerator until it’s time to serve. This makes it a fantastic choice for dinner parties, celebrations, or any time you want to reduce last-minute kitchen stress.
Pipe the mousse into individual glasses or ramekins for easy serving, or use it to build an elegant layered trifle. Top it just before serving with fresh berries, mint leaves, whipped cream, or a drizzle of raspberry sauce for a restaurant-worthy presentation.
Its stability means it travels well, too—so it’s a great option for potlucks, parties, or picnics when kept chilled in an insulated container.
A Touch of Citrus for Depth and Balance
While raspberries are the star of this dessert, lemon juice plays a subtle but essential supporting role. A splash of fresh lemon enhances the raspberry flavor, cuts through the richness of the cream, and adds a clean, bright finish that makes the mousse even more refreshing.
This citrus element also elevates the overall complexity of the flavor without drawing attention to itself. It acts as the perfect backdrop, enhancing the fruitiness while keeping the sweetness in check. It’s just one of the small touches that make this mousse feel polished and thoughtfully crafted.
Italian Meringue for Smoothness and Structure
A key technique that takes this mousse to the next level is the use of Italian meringue. Made by whipping egg whites with hot sugar syrup, Italian meringue is glossy, stable, and silkier than raw or French-style meringues. This method not only improves food safety by cooking the egg whites but also adds airiness and volume without any graininess.
Incorporating the meringue into the whipped cream and raspberry purée creates a mousse that is beautifully light but also durable enough to hold its shape for hours. It’s the kind of small technical step that yields impressive results, especially when you’re serving to guests or layering your mousse in desserts.
Add the Optional Raspberry Sauce for Extra Intensity
For an added layer of flavor and a beautiful finishing touch, a simple raspberry sauce can be made and drizzled over the mousse before serving. It enhances the fruitiness, provides a slightly glossy presentation, and adds another texture to the dessert. The sauce is made with raspberry purée, sugar, and lemon juice, gently heated until just boiling, then cooled for a rich and tangy topping.
This optional addition is ideal for those who enjoy a more pronounced raspberry flavor, or for elevating the mousse into something even more decadent for special occasions.
Serve It Simply or Make It Showstopping
Fluffy Raspberry Mousse is one of those desserts that’s as flexible as it is delicious. It’s lovely served in minimalist glasses with a simple garnish, but it can also be dressed up for formal events. Top it with white chocolate shavings, gold leaf, or piped rosettes of whipped cream. Add a few fresh raspberries and a mint sprig for color, or use it as a mousse layer in a tiered dessert with cake or crunchy elements.
No matter how you serve it, this mousse offers a sense of elegance and sophistication. It looks like something you’d find in a patisserie but is easy enough to make in your own kitchen.
Conclusion
Fluffy Raspberry Mousse is a dessert that brings beauty, flavor, and lightness to the table. With its bright raspberry notes, soft pastel color, and airy texture, it feels romantic, refreshing, and indulgent all at once. Free from flour and butter, yet rich with cream and fruit, it’s a gluten-free option that doesn’t sacrifice an ounce of elegance or taste.
Whether you’re serving it at a dinner party, making something special for a loved one, or simply craving a dessert that’s light yet satisfying, this mousse delivers. Its vibrant flavor, smooth texture, and refined appearance make it a standout choice for any occasion.
This recipe proves that desserts don’t have to be heavy or complicated to feel luxurious. Sometimes, a spoonful of raspberry mousse is all you need to add a little magic to your day.