Decadent No-Bake Lemon Mousse with Cream Cheese & Tangy Lemon Curd: An Easy 3-Ingredient Recipe
Get ready to discover your new favorite dessert! This incredibly easy no-bake lemon mousse is a dream come true for anyone craving a light, tangy, and refreshingly creamy treat. Combining just three simple ingredients – fluffy whipped cream, rich cream cheese, and bright, zesty lemon curd – it creates a truly decadent experience that tastes like pure sunshine. While often associated with warm summer months, its vibrant flavor makes it a perfect dessert to enjoy all year round, brightening any table regardless of the season. What’s even better? It comes together in mere minutes, leaving the hardest part to be the delightful anticipation of it chilling to perfection in your refrigerator!
Why This Easy Lemon Mousse Recipe is a Must-Try
In a world full of complex desserts, this lemon cream cheese mousse stands out for its simplicity and spectacular flavor. Here’s why you’ll absolutely fall in love with it:
- Effortlessly Simple: With only three core ingredients and minimal prep time, this recipe is perfect for novice bakers and busy hosts alike. Forget complicated steps and lengthy baking times!
- No-Bake Brilliance: Ideal for hot days or when you just don’t want to turn on the oven. This chilled dessert is a refreshing escape.
- Creamy & Tangy Perfection: The combination of smooth cream cheese, airy whipped cream, and vibrant lemon curd creates a harmonious balance of textures and tastes that dance on your palate. It’s a luscious, zesty delight.
- Versatile for Any Occasion: Elegant enough for a dinner party, yet simple enough for a casual family treat. Serve it in individual glasses for a sophisticated presentation or as part of a larger dessert spread.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: This mousse requires chilling, making it an excellent option for preparing in advance, freeing up your time when guests arrive.
Other Fruit Desserts You Will Love:
If you’re a fan of fruity, refreshing desserts, then you’re in for a treat! After indulging in this incredible lemon mousse, be sure to explore these other delightful recipes that celebrate the natural sweetness and vibrant flavors of various fruits. They’re perfect for satisfying any sweet tooth!
- Strawberry Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Peach Danish in Puff Pastry
- Pineapple Banana Split Dessert
- Lemon Bars
- Mini Lemon Tarts
- No-Bake Lemon Pie (Sugar Free)
- Blood Orange Bundt Cake
Key Ingredients for Your Delightful Lemon Mousse
The beauty of this easy lemon mousse lies in its incredibly short ingredient list. You only need three essential components to bring this luscious dessert to life. Each plays a crucial role in creating the perfect balance of flavor and texture:
- Lemon Curd: This is the star of the show, delivering that intense, bright, and tangy lemon flavor that defines the mousse. You have options here: use a high-quality store-bought lemon curd for ultimate convenience, or, for an even fresher and more personalized touch, make your own homemade lemon curd. Either way, ensure it’s well-chilled before mixing for the best consistency.
- Cream Cheese: Beyond just thickening the mousse, cream cheese contributes a wonderfully rich and creamy texture, adding a subtle tang that evokes a cheesecake-like experience. For best results, use full-fat cream cheese softened to room temperature. This will ensure it blends smoothly without any lumps, creating a silky-smooth mousse.
- Whipped Cream: Freshly whipped cream is what gives this dessert its signature light, airy, and cloud-like texture. When folded into the cream cheese and lemon curd mixture, it transforms into a thick, yet delicate, mousse. For optimal fluffiness, use heavy whipping cream (at least 36% fat content) and make sure both the cream and your mixing bowl are very cold before whipping.
What Exactly is Lemon Curd?
If you’re new to the world of lemon curd, prepare to have your taste buds awakened! Lemon curd is a thick, intensely flavored, and wonderfully zesty spread or sauce that’s a staple in British baking. It’s typically crafted from a simple combination of fresh lemon juice, granulated sugar, eggs (or egg yolks), and butter. These ingredients are gently cooked together until the mixture thickens to a consistency similar to pudding or a thick custard, resulting in an incredibly smooth and vibrant sauce packed with pure, fresh lemon flavor.
While you can readily purchase excellent quality lemon curd from most grocery stores, making it at home is a surprisingly straightforward process that yields a superior, brighter flavor. Plus, there’s a certain satisfaction that comes from creating such a delightful component from scratch! In the recipe card below, I’ll share my tried-and-true method for making your own luscious lemon curd, ensuring your mousse has the freshest taste possible.
Homemade lemon curd is also quite versatile. Once prepared, it can be stored, covered tightly (preferably in an airtight container), in the refrigerator for up to one week. This makes it perfect for preparing ahead of time, allowing you to assemble your lemon mousse with even greater ease when you’re ready.
Crafting Your Easy Lemon Mousse from Scratch
When you hear “mousse from scratch,” you might envision a lengthy, intricate process involving tempering eggs, precise heating, and delicate folding. Traditional mousse recipes often do entail more complex steps, such as gently cooking whipping cream, egg yolks, and sugar in a saucepan until a thickened base is achieved. After this, flavorings like lemon juice or chocolate are incorporated, and sometimes gelatin is added to ensure a stable, thicker consistency.
However, the beauty of *this* lemon cheesecake mousse recipe lies in its elegant simplicity. We bypass the more labor-intensive steps by combining three pre-prepared (or easily prepared) ingredients: creamy lemon curd, rich cream cheese, and airy whipped cream. The magical fusion of these components, followed by a crucial chilling period, creates a mousse that is just as luxurious and satisfying as its traditional counterparts, but with a fraction of the effort.
The most time-consuming part, if you choose the homemade route, is preparing the lemon curd itself. But even that is a rewarding and relatively quick process. If you opt for store-bought lemon curd, you’re looking at a dessert that comes together in under 15 minutes of active prep time – an absolute game-changer for spontaneous cravings or last-minute entertaining!
Pro Tips for the Perfect Lemon Mousse
- Chill Your Ingredients: For the best results, ensure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature for smooth blending, but your lemon curd and heavy whipping cream are very cold. This helps the whipped cream achieve maximum volume and stability.
- Whip Cream Separately (Optional but Recommended): While the recipe blends all three, for an even lighter and fluffier mousse, you can whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks separately, then gently fold it into the cream cheese and lemon curd mixture.
- Don’t Overmix: Once you add the whipped cream, mix just until combined. Overmixing can deflate the mousse, resulting in a less airy texture.
- Taste and Adjust: Before chilling, taste a small spoonful. If you prefer a sweeter or tangier profile, you can gently fold in a touch more powdered sugar or lemon juice (or zest) to suit your preference.
- Allow Ample Chilling Time: The chilling period is essential for the mousse to set properly and for the flavors to meld. Don’t rush this step! For the firmest, most flavorful mousse, aim for at least 4 hours, or even overnight.
Storing Your Delicious Lemon Mousse
Once you’ve blended all your ingredients, the mousse needs time in the refrigerator to properly set and develop its full, rich flavor. This chilling period is crucial for achieving that characteristic mousse consistency. You can prepare the mousse and chill it for as little as three to four hours, or even overnight, before you plan to serve it. This makes it a fantastic make-ahead dessert for entertaining or busy weekdays.
If you find yourself with any delectable leftovers (a rare occurrence, I assure you!), they can be easily stored. Simply cover the individual serving cups or transfer the remaining mousse to an airtight container. When properly stored in the refrigerator, this lemon mousse will retain its fresh taste and delightful texture for up to five days. It’s important to keep it well-sealed to prevent it from absorbing any other odors in your fridge and to maintain its creamy consistency.
Creative Ways to Serve Your Lemon Mousse
This incredibly versatile lemon mousse is so simple and delicious, you’ll want to make it a regular feature in your dessert repertoire! And with these creative serving ideas, you’ll discover endless possibilities to enjoy this light and tangy treat:
- Garnish with Fresh Fruit or Herbs: Elevate the freshness of your dessert with vibrant garnishes. Bright red raspberries, sliced strawberries, blueberries, or even a medley of seasonal berries make a stunning and delicious topping. For an extra touch of sophistication and contrasting color, a few fresh mint leaves or a sprinkle of finely grated lemon zest (or candied lemon peel) add both visual appeal and a burst of aroma.
- Transform into Mini Lemon Cheesecakes: The creamy blend of cream cheese and whipped cream in this recipe is a perfect foundation for a no-bake cheesecake. To create charming mini lemon cheesecakes, simply add a layer of crushed graham cracker crumbs to the bottom of small jars, ramekins, or shot glasses. Then, pipe or spoon a generous serving of your lemon mousse over the crumbs. Chill thoroughly, and perhaps top with a single berry or a tiny curl of lemon zest for an elegant finish.
- Layer in a Cake: Infuse your layer cakes with an extra burst of lemon flavor and a delightful light texture by using your mousse as a filling. After baking and cooling your cake layers, create a “dam” around the outer edge of each layer using a sturdy buttercream frosting (piping a thick border). Carefully pour or spread a thin layer of the lemon mousse within this buttercream border, then gently place the next cake layer on top. Repeat this process for all your layers, creating a truly show-stopping dessert.
- Fill Your Cupcakes: For a delightful surprise, use this lemon mousse as a luscious filling for your cupcakes. Once your cupcakes are baked and completely cooled, use a cupcake corer or a small spoon to carefully scoop out a small portion from the center of each cupcake. Pipe or spoon a small amount of lemon mousse into these hollowed centers, then cover with your favorite icing or a dollop of extra whipped cream. It’s a fantastic way to add an unexpected burst of tangy flavor.
- Serve as a Parfait: Layer the lemon mousse with other complementary ingredients in a tall glass to create a beautiful parfait. Think alternating layers of mousse, fresh berries, granola, or even crumbled shortbread cookies for added texture and visual appeal.
- As a Dip for Cookies or Fruit: While typically a stand-alone dessert, a slightly less set version of this mousse can be a fantastic, creamy dip for fruit skewers, vanilla wafers, or shortbread cookies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lemon Mousse
- Can I use light cream cheese? While you can, full-fat cream cheese is highly recommended for the best texture and richness. Light cream cheese may result in a thinner, less decadent mousse.
- Can I make this dairy-free? Substituting dairy-free cream cheese and whipped cream alternatives might work, but the consistency and flavor could vary. Look for plant-based heavy creams that whip well.
- How can I make the mousse firmer? Ensuring all ingredients are very cold, especially the heavy cream, helps with firmness. Also, allowing ample chilling time (4 hours to overnight) is crucial. You could also carefully add a small amount of dissolved gelatin if you prefer a very firm mousse, but this recipe is designed to set without it.
- Can I freeze lemon mousse? Lemon mousse generally freezes well. Transfer individual portions to airtight freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 1-2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for several hours before serving. Note that the texture might be slightly different after thawing, but it will still be delicious!
- What if my lemon curd is too thin? If making homemade curd, ensure you cook it long enough over low heat, whisking constantly, until it’s thick like pudding. If using store-bought and it seems too thin, you might try gently cooking it a bit more, but it’s usually best to start with a good quality, thick curd.
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Lemon mousse with cream cheese
petro
Pin Recipe
Equipment
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saucepan
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spatula
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whisk
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mixing bowl
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hand mixer
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ice cream cups
Ingredients
- 2 cups cream cheese frosting
- 1 1/2 cup whipped cream
For the lemon curd
- 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs large
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2/3 cups lemon juice about 2 large lemons
Instructions
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In a saucepan, combine the curd ingredients, except for vanilla and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low and simmer, whisking continuously until the curd is as thick as pudding. Remove from stove, add vanilla and chill completely before using in the lemon mousse.
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Add the chilled curd to a mixing bowl and pour cream cheese frosting over.
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Mix on low using a hand mixer until fully combined.
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Add whipped cream and mix to combine. At this point the mixture should be creamy and soft.
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Pour into serving cups (I used ice cream cups) and transfer to the fridge for at least 3-4 hours.
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Serve garnished with raspberries, whipped cream and dried lemon zest (all optional)
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