Chocolate Cinnamon Mousse … Life is certainly a bowl of cherries, Chocolate Makes it Better!

“I just clipped 2 articles from a current magazine. One is a diet guaranteed to drop 5 pounds off my body in a weekend. The other is a recipe for a 6 minute pecan pie.”
Erma Bombeck
Sweet bowl of cherries…
…& Cherries atop a Chocolate-Cinnamon Mousse. Can it get any better?

Coincidentally, my dessert’s set out in Red, White & Blue!! Have a great 4th of July to all of you in the U.S.!!

When summer came round the corner, the first flood of fruit hit us. Amongst them were cherries, a fruit I have always connected with an immensely funny book, ‘If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits?’ by Erma Bombeck, an American humorist who achieved great popularity for a newspaper column that depicted suburban home life in the second half of the 20th century. Oft referred to the ‘enchanting lady of laughter’, Erma pens a hilarious account of the domestic dilemmas of life; this book taking swipes at husbands, honeymoon, marriage, tennis elbow, lettuce…”Marriage has no guarantees. If that’s what you’re looking for, go live with a car battery.” LOL!! … Back to the cherry of the matter then…

Luscious, sublime, decadent, luxurious, silken…

…a Gastronomical Treat!

A while ago I was exploring Food Blogga ( a delicious pass time ) & I tripped on this precious recipe….A Quick Chocolate Cinnamon Mousse with Cherries. One look & I was sold! It had everything I was looking for…primarily cherries that I wanted to use in a dessert; was quick, had chocolate & cinnamon too! Susan @ Food Blogga is one of my fave bloggers, & the number of fruity summer sensations stepping out of there are beckoning the ‘Envy Police’…in Ann’s words!! I’m scared of going there because I’m terrified of adding to my already bursting bookmarked folder. Having said that, am just back from there again, with the folder even bigger & my taste-buds happily tantalized. Check out her blog (if you haven’t already…it’s nirvana!!)

Quick Chocolate-Cinnamon Mousse with Cherries
Adapted from Dave Lieberman’s recipe from the June 2007 issue of Bon Appetit.

Cherries:
Fresh cherries – 350 gms, pitted
1/3 cup – Black cherry conserves ( or other cherry preserves)
1/3 cup – cherry juice (or ruby Port ) … I used a squeeze of lime as I had neither
Almond Essence – 1 tsp ( I added this coz I think it enhances the flavour of cherries)
Mousse:
Chilled heavy whipping cream – 2 cups / divided
Ground cinnamon – 2 tsp (generous)
Dark chocolate – 200gms / choppedFor cherries:

  • Combine cherries, cherry preserves, and juice in heavy small saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat.
  • Reduce heat to medium and boil until juices thicken to syrup consistency, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes.
  • Remove from heat. Transfer to small bowl and chill until cold, about 3 hours. ( Can be made 1 day ahead.) Cover and keep chilled. IMG 2829

For mousse:

  • Combine 1/2 cup cream and cinnamon in small saucepan; bring to boil. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth.
  • Transfer chocolate mixture to large bowl. Using electric mixer, beat remaining cup cream in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Fold 1/2 of whipped cream into lukewarm chocolate mixture. Fold remaining whipped cream into chocolate mixture in 3 additions just until incorporated.
  • Divide mousse among 8 glasses or bowls. Chill until set, about 4 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead.)
  • Cover; keep chilled.
  • Spoon cherries with syrup atop mousse and serve. Garnish with chocolate flakes & a sprig of mint. I also added a couple of cherries dipped in melted chocolate on top (which I set earlier on baking parchment).

C’est Magnifique !!

Was busy browsing & found a ‘berry’ event… Waiter, There’s Something in My… the popular monthly foodie event hosted in rotation by Johanna, Andrew and Jeanne. Jeanne @ Cook Sister is hosting it this month, & her theme is ‘Berried Treasure’ – “absolutely any recipe in which berries take centre stage”. Off to Jeanne this ‘berried treasure’ goes!!

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Posted by Deeba @ PAB

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Deeba @ PAB

About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.

26 thoughts on “Chocolate Cinnamon Mousse … Life is certainly a bowl of cherries, Chocolate Makes it Better!”

  1. hmmm..chocolate and cherries..drool worthy combination,just saw indira’s choco-cherry cake and now this..great great entry deeba,the mousse is looking delicious..have bookmarked so many recipes from your blog..donno when i am gonna start making them;-(

    Reply

  2. Gosh, you’re so lucky to have hit gold with the cherry abundance. I’m so jealous. We also have benefitted from it but the prices are still too high for me– they must think we don’t know there is an excess this season. I’m boycotting out of spite, haha. Chocolate mousse made with whipped cream is the best!

    Reply

  7. The picture where you’ve got the cream and the chocolate mixing had me spellbound and drooling for a long time 🙂 Beautiful!

    Reply

  8. The picture where you’ve got the cream and the chocolate mixing had me spellbound and drooling for a long time 🙂 Beautiful!

    Reply

  11. Yum! Let me know the next time you make this so that I can come over & lick the bowl & spoon. My goodness, I could die in peace after this.

    BTW, I was thinking of you today as I bumped into a friend at Costco (that place on a Saturday is pure torture!). Anyhoo, she was there with her mom visiting from India. After I told her that she needs to take her mom to better places, the mom invited me to visit her! Well, you see I might just get to India yet. I’m working on it. Subtle hints to DH will eventually work.

    Tanti baci, bella,
    Amy

    Reply

  12. Deeba, This is fabulous and I wish I had some left over cherry compote.I just love the color and presentation.It really gives a luxurious look.

    Reply

  14. This looks just divine!!!
    Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment about my cupcakes! Stop by anytime!!

    Reply

  17. chocolates and cherries are like husband and wife: they complement each other, they support each other and they taste best together!! i lvoe this recipe

    Reply

  21. What fabulous treats!!!! i’m sure these were devoured in a flash!

    Thanks for submitting this to Bookmarked Recipes!

    Reply

  22. Hi Deeba
    I am really fascinated with this delicious concoction..
    Wondering from where to get the cherry preserves..Where does one find it in delhi..Is there a way to make it with fresh cherries…
    Love your desserts!!
    Will wait to hear from you

    Swati

    Reply

  23. The season for cherries is so short here, and I love them! I’m also loving your chocolate mousse and cherries – one of those special great food combinations!

    Reply

  24. Oooh, what a fantastic combination. I love chocolate mousse and I love cherries so this recipe has my name all over it 😉 I also love Erma Bombeck – some great quotes there, especially the first one. Thanks so much for taking part in WTSIM this month!

    Reply

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