Extra Silken Tofu Chocolate Mousse Recipe (Vegan Desserts)

Whenever you’re in the mood for a quick and easy dessert, this vegan chocolate tofu mousse is your best choice. 

It is an easy recipe which requires only a few ingredients and will be ready in five minutes. The only equipment required is a food processor or a high-speed blender, they will both work.

Many years ago, around ten I guess, I gave up eating foods of animal origin for a while. For about five years I only ate veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes, greens and eggs from time to time. It was like a prolonged detox for me. I felt good for an extended period of time but then my body started craving for meat and so I went back to my balanced way of eating.

However, in my period of veganism I had to find decadent and exquisite dessert recipes because well…

I simply love desserts! So I couldn’t live for such a long time without creamy and soft mousses, rich 2-3 layered cakes and other marvels which may enter the “food porn” category. I didn’t know anything about tofu desserts back then.

One of the things I missed most was chocolate. Dark chocolate isn’t completely satisfying for me and I needed something else, sweeter and smoother. That moment I ran into some silken tofu recipes. It was like an enlightenment for me. I shouted “Eureka” and went to buy silken tofu.

You may be skeptical about using tofu in desserts. Don’t worry, I felt that too. We usually use this “soy cheese” in salads or savory foods.

It seems more appropriate. But if you examine it closer, you will see that silken tofu has no flavor and no salt.

Plus, it holds the best texture for a creamy and velvety mousse. This characteristic makes this food the perfect base ingredient for silken soft tofu recipes.

So, What is Tofu?

In the easiest way possible, we may say that it is processed soybean curd. 

The beans are soaked in water and heated. After that, the producers coagulate them with various minerals, like magnesium salt or calcium. 

They press the curds into a block and obtain the well-known tofu. The process is resembling the preparation of cheese. You will find various types of this food, the differentiating aspect being its firmness. 

People may buy tofu ranging from extra-soft to extra firm, depending on what they want to cook.

Tofu has a nutritional chart that is pretty impressive. While it has high amounts of protein, iron, calcium and amino acids, it is low in fat and calories. Just like a dream, right?

Why Should I Buy Tofu?

While it has its origins in Asia, the food has made its way into the world-wide cuisines. It is a valuable protein source and can be used as replacement for meat and dairy products for the daily nutritional intake. Many researchers state that soy has noticeable health benefits. Some of them are lowering the risks of heart disease or preventing cancer.

In opposition, other scientists affirm that around 90% of the soy grown in United States is genetically modified. One of the repercussions is that it can kill the good bacteria in your gut. Or that soy contains thyroid hormone blockers, such as goitrogens.

From my experience, I believe that the truth is somewhere in the middle. We don’t eat tofu five times/day as well as we don’t eat meat or dairies for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I am someone who has tried a lot of extreme diets from junk food in my 20’ to veganism, raw-veganism, juice fasting for ten days, very low carb – high protein and so on. I found out that I feel best with a balanced diet. I eat lots of veggies, good proteins like organic meats and tofu, eggs and sometimes I indulge something decadent. Like this vegan chocolate tofu mousse.

I don’t get along well with dairies so finding this replacement was a miracle for me.

Can You Eat Tofu Raw or Uncooked?

The answer is definitely “yes”. Because the fact is… tofu is already cooked. As I previously told you, the soy beans are already heated. So if you were worried about eating raw legumes (which is not recommended at all), here is your response and relief. You don’t need to cook it first if you want to add it in salads. On the other hand, it will be baked in tofu desserts, for example.

Here are a few suggestions of how to use raw tofu in your diet:

How to Cook Soft Tofu?

Silken tofu has a consistency like mozzarella or burrata while regular tofu has a texture resembling with feta cheese. Very firm tofu feels like Cheddar.

You may use the silken version for tofu desserts or soft tofu recipes. A great idea would be preparing this silken tofu dessert recipe so you can enjoy the amazing taste.

Having this creamy texture, soft tofu recipes are often used in cakes and other sweet dishes. But you will find it also in risottos, “meat” loaves, lasagna, dressings and many Asian dishes.

One delightful (not very healthy though) way of enjoying it is to batter and deep fry the tofu. You will get something similar to mozzarella sticks.

What Can I Replace Silken Tofu With in Recipes?

The answer to this question depends on the recipe you are cooking.

Let’s take this vegan chocolate tofu mousse for example. If you are lactose intolerant, there is the option of replacing the tofu with cashews. Soak the nuts for at least two hours. Add a fruit juice or vegetable milk and you will get the desired texture. In case you can eat dairies, feel free to use ricotta or mascarpone cheese to get a rich consistency.

If you are baking a cheesecake, cashews will no longer be an option for a vegan dish. They only work with raw foods. You can try a vegan yogurt and also add a binder such as cornstarch. For non-vegan version, use cream cheese and heavy cream.

How to Use Silken Tofu in Recipes?

Silken tofu recipes cover a wide variety of dishes. You can simply take it out of the package and place it in your salad or prepare something similar to mozzarella Caprese. Or drizzle a few drops of soy sauce and add fresh herbs and grated ginger.

Its texture gives richness to your cakes so it is suitable for many desserts, from ice creams and mousses to cheesecakes and pies.

What Ingredients Do I Need for This Silken Tofu Chocolate Mousse Dessert Recipe?

Would you believe me if I told that you only need three ingredients for this dessert? You’d better do it because this is the truth.

The basic recipe only requires silken tofu, chocolate and a sweetener.

We talked a lot about tofu, let us move on a bit to another key ingredient: chocolate. You have the choice here. You may opt for dark chocolate (70%-75%) or something milder. If you have kids and they are not very fond of dark chocolate (mine certainly aren’t), buy milk chocolate. Your mousse will be sweeter and your children happier.

To sweeten the mousse, you can utilize raw honey. It is my favorite by far. Maple syrup will add a caramelized flavor to your dessert. If you can think of any other liquid sweetener that you like (stevia perhaps), just add it. I would not advise you to add sugar because it melts harder and you get a sandy texture not suitable for a silky mousse. 

OK. So How Do I Cook a Silken Tofu Chocolate Mouse Dessert Recipe?

In addition to those three ingredients, you will also need about five, maybe ten minutes of your precious time.

Melt the chocolate in a microwave or over a pot with boiling water. Transfer it to the food processor or hand mixer. Bring in the other ingredients (tofu and sweetener) and blend until everything is smooth and soft.

That’s it! Your tofu chocolate mousse is ready. This is the moment the fun part begins. I like to divide it between serving glasses or ramekins. It is perfect as it is but if you want a firmer texture, take the bowls to the fridge and let them rest for minimum half an hour. Meanwhile, you may reflect on what toppings would work best.

Trust me, the options are endless here: almond or coconut flakes, shaved chocolate, berries, bananas, unsweetened jams, cherries or any kind of fruits, a bit of cinnamon, whipped cream. 

Peanut or almond butter are also good choices, they’ll bring a nutty flavor. I like adding two tablespoons of peanut butter and a pinch of salt. 

If you really want to go crazy, you should go for chili chocolate mousse. As hotter as it gets. You may achieve that stringy hot taste by adding a pinch of cayenne or even a chopped chili. Try whatever comes to your mind and you feel like eating.

Don’t let anything hold you down, just run wild with your topping preferences. You have the right to do that!

I have another tip I would like to give you: if, by any chance, you like a mixture of soft and crunchy, add some roasted nuts inside the mousse. Right before taking it to the fridge. Go for cashews if you need something softer or hazelnuts if “crunchy” is your word. 

It is well worth it, I promise you!