Fruit and summer go together like the Chuck and Sarah. The Doctor and Amy Pond. Castle and Beckett. Bright flavors and cheerful colors to match the sunny days.
I’d also argue that no-bake desserts and summer go together like, well, no-bake desserts and summer. Because bright sunny days also mean heat and humidity, enough of which makes me, at least, never want to turn on my oven again.
One of my favorite no-bake desserts is chocolate mousse, both dark chocolate and white. Not to mention it’s easy to throw together, and impressive to boot. The addition of raspberries makes these tarts presentation worthy for even the fanciest of soirées.
The raspberry shines equally bright in both versions, although you could argue it tastes like a completely different fruit depending on which chocolate it is paired with. White chocolate brings out the floral notes, fresh and fragrant. The dark chocolate reveals the berries’ sexy side, rich and sultry.
My mom and I made a double batch of these, one with white chocolate and one with dark, for a gathering at my in-law’s last month. Testing the waters, I guess you could say, since we couldn’t make up our own minds and thought democracy could serve in our favor. Bring it to a vote, let the people decide.
I hovered around the dessert tray and interrogated the party guests while their mouths were still full, hoping there would be a consensus as to which version was the best. The first handful all decidedly chose the dark chocolate, and I thought we had a definitive winner, until the majority of the late-comers surprised me by backing the white chocolate version.
So, unable to pick a side once again, I wrote this recipe to go both ways. It’s identical, with the exception of the chocolate base, and the fact that the white version may need a few minutes of chill time before being spooned or piped into the cupcake wrappers. Pick your favorite, or better yet, make a batch of each, and let your guests choose for themselves.
No-Bake Raspberry Mousse Tartlets
You can choose whether you want to use white chocolate or dark chocolate in this easy no bake dessert recipe; each highlights the raspberry flavor in a different and delicious way. Or better yet, make a batch of each!
Ingredients:
For Crust
- 5 ounces chocolate wafer cookies, finely ground (about 1 1/4 cups of crumbs)
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
For Filling
- 8 ounces fresh raspberries, divided (from 2 6-ounce clamshells)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
- 1 (3.5 oz) bar good quality white chocolate or bittersweet dark chocolate (not chips/baking pieces), shaved or very finely chopped
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, divided
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Directions:
- Line one 24-cup or two 12-cup capacity mini muffin tins with mini cupcake papers.
- To prepare crust, mix together cookie crumbs, sugar, and butter until evenly moistened. Spoon a rounded teaspoonful into each muffin cup. Using the base of a shot glass or an upside down bottle lid, firmly press crumbs into bottom of cups. Freeze until set, at least 30 minutes.
- Pick through raspberries and set aside 24 of the prettiest berries. Puree the rest in a food processor or blender. Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds; you should have about 1/3 cup of puree.
- Place lemon juice and 1 tablespoon cold water in a small dish. Sprinkle gelatin over top and let sit 5 minutes until congealed.
- Place finely chopped white or dark chocolate in a heat proof bowl.
- Heat 1/3 cup of whipping cream in a small saucepan set over medium-low heat until it just barely begins to bubble (do not let it boil). Pour over chopped chocolate. Let sit for 30 seconds, then stir until smooth. If your chocolate was chopped very finely there will be more than enough residual heat to melt it; if not, microwave in 5 second intervals, stirring until just melted. Do not overheat or the mixture may separate.
- Microwave softened gelatin for 5 seconds to melt, then stir into melted chocolate mixture. Add raspberry puree and stir until incorporated.
- In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat remaining 2/3 cup cream until frothy. Add powdered sugar and continue to beat until it forms medium-stiff peaks. Stir a spoonful of the whipped cream into raspberry mixture to lighten it. Fold in remaining whipped cream with a large rubber spatula until incorporated, pressing out any large lumps. At this point the mousse should hold medium peaks. If it seems runny, refrigerate for 10 to 20 minutes or until thickened (but do not refrigerate too long or it will set up completely). White chocolate mousse is more likely to need a bit of chilling than dark chocolate.
- Remove crusts from freezer. Spoon or pipe filling into individual cups, filling to within 1/4-inch of the rim of the wrappers. Top each with a whole raspberry. Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours or overnight. Tarts will keep, lightly covered with plastic wrap, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Did you make this recipe?
Let us know what you think!
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Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Driscoll’s. As always, all opinions written are purely our own. We’re incredibly grateful for opportunities like these that allow us to continue sharing delicious recipes with you, so thank you for supporting us and the brands we love.
These look absolutely lovely. The dark chocolate sounds better to me, but I think my husband would prefer the white. I guess I’ll have to make both.
These are the cutest! My boys LOVE mousse!
Mousse is definitely a summery food! Perfect – those would be amazing in white chocolate too…
These are almost too cute to eat, almost!
Holy cow, I would inhale like 20 of these in the blink of an eye! Can I ask how you were able to pipe out the mousse so perfectly? They all look impeccable!
Could you give me a brand name or a description of the chocolate cookie crust, please? I am assuming it is not an Oreo type of cookie, but one without a frosting filling? As soon as I get that part down, I will be making the dark chocolate version!
You got me at no-bake. And chocolate mousse. These tartlets are amazing.
Beautiful photos! No bake desserts are perfect for summer! Will definitely be making these!
These tartlets look so cute and I’m sure they are really nice too!
I think I might go for the white chocolate ones :)
Linsday, have you ever tried to make them with passion fruit? Its acidity reminds the raspberries one. White chocolate and passion fruit are magical together :)!
I just opened my little food blog and I would be glad if you could just came and say hallo :)!
I’ve been itching to make something with passion fruit, ever since I had an amazing passion fruit donut in San Francisco. I can’t seem to find them locally, however! May have to find an online source.
How cute! I love little bite sized desserts!
Awh these look so pretty, I love all the different layers, a perfect little summer dish!
I will love you forever for that Chuck reference.
Mmm I don’t know how you and your guests didn’t just pop them all in your mouth at once!
These are so cute!
omg these look sinful! I must try the dark chocolate version! You captured the decadence of these perfectly in that shot where it is cut in half… I feel like I could just reach into the screen and grab that little bite of goodness! YUMMM
SO SO ADORABLE LOOKING TARTLETS!
These look delightful – I made a ‘oogh’ sound when I saw the picture with the 1/2 rasberry! amazing :)
I love the chocolate and raspberry combination – these look so wonderful!!
These are so adorable. Pinned! I’m making these soon.
Oh my goodness, these look so adorable, I wouldn’t be able to eat them!! They are so pretty!
i have to ask, where did you get that board? did you make it yourself? i’ve been searching for a similar one for ages!
Ahhhhhhh these are so cute!! And the photos are just breathtaking!
These tartlets are the cutest things! Your photography is stunning. I’ve never made mousse before, but I love how you paired the flavors. I wouldn’t be able to stop eating them! :)
OMG that picture of just the raspberries is just gorgeous. Well, they’re all gorgeous, but you know what I mean!! I’ve been loving all of your pretty pictures lately! Can’t stop flipping through old posts!!
Do you think this might work subbing coconut milk for the cream?
The whipped cream gives the mousse its body and airy texture, otherwise it’d just be ganache basically. If you can whip coconut milk to have the same fluffiness it would work in theory. I’ve seen recipes for coconut whipped cream but have never tried it myself.
That one shot with the cross section of a raspberry, holy steady hands and I am thinking that’s your 100mm macro lens. I bought that lens b/c of you and one other friend and love it so much! Your images are just stunning in this post and you have the non-shaking hands of a surgeon I think :) And I would devour like 5 of these in a minute! pinned
Tripod all the way. :)
Ooh I love no bake desserts and those raspberries look so divine! Yummy :)
I LOVE. LOVE, LOVE that you mentioned three of my favourite TV couples. Seriously, kudos to you! And this dessert looks sooooo good. I am in need of a no bake (super yummy) dessert in my life (possibly this weekend). :)
Thanks for sharing!
These are so pretty! Perfect summer treat :)
These are adorable!
these are perfection in mini-mousse tartlet form. . and I love that they are no bake!!!
Perfect dessert for summer. Often it’s just too hot to turn on the oven. :) And chocolate with fruit is always winner. I would probably have to make both as my boyfriend loves white chocolate whereas I prefer the darker one. Thanks for sharing this gorgeous recipe, Lindsay. :)
I love no bake desserts in the Summer — this are absolutely gorgeous!! Chocolate and raspberry is such a great combo!
I just think that these are just the cutest little things ever! Love all of the flavor combinations – yum. Cannot wait to make them. Hope you’re having a great week. :)
You had me at no-bake, but then when you offer up the white vs. dark chocolate throwdown….I’m all in.
Oh my gosh those are so cute! Love the chocolate crust, chocolate + raspberry are like PB + J in desserts like this. :)
I am sooo doing those!!!
Totally! Fruit and summer are the best! Love this combo, girl! xx
They look amazing! So cute and elegant!
Que buena pinta! Y además sin horno, que en verano encenderlo para cocinar es una tortura…