Light and airy this easy make-ahead dessert is perfect during the week or served as a special treat to guests. Fluffy, creamy and fruity, this low sugar strawberry mousse recipe is sure to be a family favorite any time of the year!

Last week my family and I got together for supper. My Mom served up the main course, my sister in-law brought a side dish and I was in charge of the dessert. I whisked up a double recipe of strawberry mousse. Light and fluffy, I was certain everyone would be delighted with this flavorful, low sugar dessert. When I got to my parents home, my niece and nephew wanted to know what dessert I had made. I told them strawberry mousse.

… crickets.

“Strawberry moose?”, they asked.

“Yes, strawberry mousse.” I replied.

… more crickets.

I’m sure in their 7 and 5 year old minds they thought “what kind of dessert did Aunt Alisha make? Ain’t no way I’m eating a strawberry flavored slice of moose”.

Slight communication error between adult and child.

Once I explained that they were not going to be served moose, they were thrilled with anticipation to try the fruity dessert.

What is Mousse?

There are countless mousse recipes out there, everything from chocolate and vanilla to fruity and coffee flavored. Mousse is similar to a pudding but much more light and airy. It’s created by folding in an aerator such as whipped cream or meringue. Gelatin is often added to help the mousse set but occasionally in recipes where chocolate is added, no thickener is required because the chocolate helps to create a firm, thick consistency. Some mousse recipes take a long time to complete but this strawberry mousse recipe below is a simpler, quicker version of the beloved dessert.

Low Sugar Strawberry Mousse Recipe

This strawberry mousse recipe is a perfect treat to serve year around. Make it as an easy weeknight dessert or serve it to guests in your favorite custard cup or mini mason jar topped with fresh strawberries. Dish up a bowl during the peak of strawberry season or use frozen strawberries and surprise your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day.

Serves: 5-6

Ingredients

1 tsp gelatin
1/4 cup water
2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
1/3 cup plus 1 Tbs sugar (or sweetener of your choice), divided
Pinch of salt
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, combine the water and gelatin. Allow to bloom for 3-5 minutes.

Add 2 cups of strawberries in a blender and purée. Place a mesh strainer over a small saucepan. Pour purée through strainer and press to remove the seeds.

Place the saucepan on a stovetop over medium heat. Add 1/3 cup of sugar and a pinch of salt. Whisk to combine. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the sugar has dissolved and the strawberry mixture has thickened slightly. Whisk in gelatin to dissolve. Pour mixture into a bowl and set in the fridge for 30-45 minutes until cool.

Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, or a hand mixer, add the cream and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Whisk on high until stiff peaks form.

Add 1/4 of the whipped cream into the cooled strawberry mixture. Whisk until completely combined. Gently fold the rest of the whipped cream into the strawberry mixture until only a few light pink streaks remain.

Place the bowl into the fridge, or divide the strawberry mousse into individual cups. Chill for 2-3 hours. Serve as is or top with additional strawberries. Enjoy!

Kitchen Notes

If strawberries aren’t your thing, try raspberries to make raspberry mousse or blueberries to make blueberry mousse.

As you will see in many of my homemade drink and dessert recipes here on the blog, I like to use fructose or agave as a sweetener. However, granulated sugar or honey will also work well in this mousse recipe.

Any type of gelatin will work for this recipe. I’ve been using beef gelatin in my homemade gummy, marshmallow and mousse recipes lately. Gelatin is an excellent food to support a healthy gut. It helps improve digestion as well as heal and thicken the stomach lining which is great for those with digestive issues like leaky gut.

Dessert Recipe Ideas

Yield: 5-6 servings

Strawberry Mousse

Fluffy, creamy and fruity, this low sugar strawberry mousse recipe is sure to be a family favorite any time of the year!

Ingredients

1 tsp gelatin
1/4 cup water
2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
1/3 cup plus 1 Tbs sugar (or sweetener of your choice), divided
Pinch of salt
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, combine the water and gelatin. Allow to bloom for 3-5 minutes.
Add 2 cups of strawberries in a blender and purée. Place a mesh strainer over a small saucepan. Pour purée through strainer and press to remove the seeds.
Place the saucepan on a stovetop over medium heat. Add 1/3 cup of sugar and a pinch of salt. Whisk to combine. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the sugar has dissolved and the strawberry mixture has thickened slightly. Whisk in gelatin to dissolve. Pour mixture into a bowl and set in the fridge for 30-45 minutes until cool.
Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, or a hand mixer, add the cream and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Whisk on high until stiff peaks form.
Add 1/4 of the whipped cream into the cooled strawberry mixture. Whisk until completely combined. Gently fold the rest of the whipped cream into the strawberry mixture until only a few light pink streaks remain.
Place the bowl into the fridge, or divide the strawberry mousse into individual cups. Chill for 2-3 hours. Serve as is or top with additional strawberries. Enjoy!