Julia Child's Chocolate Mousse

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 cup semisweet baking chocolate
• 4 tablespoons strong coffee
• 6 ounces soft unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks)
• 4 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup rum or 1/4 cup strong coffee
• 4 egg whites
• 3/4 cup instant superfine sugar
• 2 tablespoons instant superfine sugar
• whipped cream (optional)

Recipe

• 1 place the chocolate and 4 tbsp strong coffee in a small sauce pan and place in a pan of hot water. stir for a minute or so until melting begins.
• 2 place egg yolks in a bowl and beat, adding the sugar in a thin stream. continue beating until the mixture is thick, pale and forms a ribbon. beat in the rum. set over a pan of almost simmering water and beat for an additional 5 minutes. test with your finger to make sure the mixture is warmed through.
• 3 allow to cool. it should again form a ribbon and have the consistency of thick creamy mayonnaise.
• 4 stir the chocolate until smooth and gradually add the softened butter. when totally in corporate stir the mixture into the yolks and sugar.
• 5 in a clean dry bowl beat the room temperature egg whites. begin slowly and increase the speed until soft peaks are formed. sprinkle with 2 tbsp of sugar and a pinch of salt. continue beating until stiff peaks are formed.
• 6 fold 1/4 of the stiff egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. scoop the remaining egg whites on top and delicately fold them inches.
• 7 place into a mold or serving dishes and chill for several hours or overnight.
• 8 serve with whipped cream if desired.