Budget Chocolate Mousse – serve 8 for under R30.00
19 July 2012 in Budget Beater, Cheap and cheerful, Desserts, Easy to prepare
Like most people I have a repertoire of tried and tested hairy old favourite recipes that I have used for years, this chocolate mousse is one of them. It’s easy to make, feeds 8 and doesn’t break the bank.
You will have to buy two bars of chocolate as they are 90g each, you can either eat the remainder (cooks perks) or use it for decoration like I did (see below)
125g Cadburys Bournville dark chocolate (R8.99 per bar = R17.98)
4 eggs (R7.99 for 6 = R5.40)
2/3 of a 250ml tub of cream (R8.99 for tub, R6.00)
Total: R29.38
1 cap of whisky or spirit of your choice (optional)
toasted almonds (optional)
*****
Separate the eggs and place the yolks in a largish mixing bowl.
Break the chocolate into squares and place in a microwaveable bowl, melt on high for 2 minutes, check and give it another minute, check again, and so on until it is melted. Give it a little stir if it needs help.
Whisk the melted chocolate into the egg yolks and add the whisky if using.
While that is cooling whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks.
Fold half the egg whites into the chocolate mix and then the remainder.
Spoon into 8 ramekins (mine are 8cm in diameter) or one large bowl.
Place in the fridge to set, allow at least 2 hours.
Whip the cream and either pipe or spoon a blob on each ramekin, decorate with leftover grated chocolate or scatter a few toasted almonds, add a cherry even. Or you can have a go at making shards……..melt the remaining chocolate and pour onto a cold surface, allow to set and with a sharp knife held at a 45 degree angle shave off some circular shards. Clearly I need to practise!
Last time I mentioned that I bought fresh cream for R8.99 I got the feeling that some of you didn’t quite believe me, so here’s my slip 
UPDATE: A fellow blogger has told me that Checkers currently have the 180g Cadbury slabs are available @ R12.99 – so if you can get one of those it makes the recipe even cheaper!
Colonialist said on 19 July 2012
I can’t wait for all that to happen! My simple solution is simply to guzzle the two choc bars – and blow the other seven people!
Sous Chef said on 19 July 2012
Col I am having great trouble finding your blog
When I click on your name I just get taken to an arb WP page.
adinparadise said on 24 July 2012
I also have to watch hubby whenever there’s dark chocolate around,Col.
Healthy Vegetarian Foods By Usha Singh said on 19 July 2012
Wow! Sue these look oh so decadent, i have been feeling for something sweet & decadent all day long–but have tried to stay away.
Sous Chef said on 19 July 2012
I know what you mean about trying to resist temptation….believe it or not I didn’t have one this evening.
janicetripepi said on 19 July 2012
What fantastic value for money Sue – your choccie mousse looks delish too! AND i am loving you pic Sue. awesome xxxx have a great evening hun xxx
Sous Chef said on 19 July 2012
It’s a really nice mousse, don’t be tempted to use ‘proper’ choc unless you like a very bitter pud. Have a good one yourself.
Art said on 20 July 2012
I think an even cheaper version – instead of chocolate use Cocoa
Sous Chef said on 20 July 2012
Hi Art, yes you could use cocoa but then you would have to use a setting agent such as gelatine, cos the solid choc helps set the pud.
ninatimm said on 19 July 2012
You are so awesome Sue, my husband will love your for being so budget friendly…. BTW I buy cream for that here….
Sous Chef said on 20 July 2012
Thanks Nina, all hubby’s like us to budget hey?!
Spencer said on 20 July 2012
Looks absolutely delicious! I would so love to try some. I love a good chocolate mousse and I just know yours tastes great.
Sous Chef said on 20 July 2012
Hi Spencer, thanks for visiting, I hope you try the recipe and if you do let me know what you thought?
Chantelle said on 20 July 2012
What are T/ESS B/S MUSK?? I also read that you bought CarAmel gherkins LOL
I have a similar recipe, but it get a teeny bit of sugar in too
Sous Chef said on 20 July 2012
The T/ESS B/S MUSK was soap they had on special…can’t help myself! Mine was flower flavoured though.
Chantelle said on 20 July 2012
Thanks!! That is cheap!
Sous Chef said on 20 July 2012
I wanted to try it first, I am going back to get some more.
Cindy said on 24 July 2012
I was just about to ask about the musk thingies …
mitzireddy said on 20 July 2012
Another great recipe – quick, easy, affordable and look amazing – luv the chocolate shards . Have a great weekend, Sue.
Sous Chef said on 20 July 2012
Thank you Mitzi, I almost didn’t use the shards as my efforts were a bit feeble, but they looked ok in the end.
rumtumtigger said on 20 July 2012
This recipe is so great Sue! I can understand why it becomes a staple in your repetoire. Thank you so much for sharing. I can’t wait to try it out xx
Sous Chef said on 20 July 2012
I hope you do try it, let me know what you think.
Christine said on 20 July 2012
Dessert tonight, sorted – thank you Sue xxxx
Sous Chef said on 20 July 2012
My pleasure Christine, enjoy!
Christine said on 31 July 2012
It went down a treat Sue!! Was so easy peasy to make as well. I just did not add the cream on top but decorated with strawberrys and used a potato peeler to get my slivers of chocolate!
Will definately go down as one of my top of the pops dessert recipes – thank you!
Sous Chef said on 31 July 2012
I am so thrilled you liked it Christine, I’m busy trying out another cheap pud as I type
Patricia Blacklaws said on 20 July 2012
I hope you don’t mind me “pinning” this recipe ~ it feels like it should be shared with all my Pinterest friends!! So gonna make this for when it is my turn to host our next “poker evening” !
Sous Chef said on 20 July 2012
I don’t mind at all Patricia, I’ve pinned it as well under Sue Green. Thanks for dropping by and I hope you enjoy the dessert.
Food24 Ed said on 20 July 2012
This is such a great recipe and wonderful post Sous!! Your choccie curls are fabstix! xx
Sous Chef said on 20 July 2012
Thanks so much for the coverage, much appreciated and I’m glad you like my feeble attempts at the curls!
anel said on 20 July 2012
Am definately making this tonight!
Sous Chef said on 20 July 2012
Cool, enjoy Anel and thanks for popping in
Flee said on 20 July 2012
Oh Wow… this looks stunning, But Def wont “serve” 8 people in my house. The Man would eat the equivalent of 7 by himself, but will make this for him this weekend. Thank you so much
Sous Chef said on 20 July 2012
Apparently not only Checkers has Bournville on special, so have Pick n Pay and you get double points if you have a shopper card. Have a great weekend and enjoy the pud.
Mandy - The Complete Cook Book said on 20 July 2012
Talk about a seriously scrumity pud for a seriously good price – I LIKE!
Mandy
Have a super weekend.
Sous Chef said on 20 July 2012
Hi Mandy, it’s always been a popular recipe for me. Have a seriously good one yourself!
pinkpolkadot said on 20 July 2012
My children will love this, Sue!! One thing that I always get for a good price in Cape Town is cream, so I won’t question you on that price!!
Oh, yes, and our P & P also sold the chicken fillets at R39.99/kg. Thanks for the tip and I am sooo going to make that chicken parcels the coming week, because I have many mouths to feed!!
Sous Chef said on 20 July 2012
Ah ya see, tis not just sleepy hollow that has ‘specials’
I have hidden 2 of the 8 mousses (mice…meece) in our other fridge so that Gilly doesn’t chow them all!
adinparadise said on 24 July 2012
This sounds wonderful, and I love your decoration too. Most artistic.
Those bars used to be 100g. We are being swizzed on all fronts these days.
Sous Chef said on 24 July 2012
Exactly! I even bought some loo paper the other day and when I home and put them next to ones I already had in the cupboard the new ones were smaller
This is a family favourite and so easy to make.
Celia said on 25 July 2012
Sue, I had to convert currencies, and now I’m amazed that you made such a beautiful looking dessert for A$3.50! They look restaurant worthy!
Sous Chef said on 26 July 2012
Thank you Celia! that’s a lovely compliment
Lisa Bradshaw said on 29 July 2012
These look delicious and just finished so beautifully!!
Sous Chef said on 30 July 2012
Thanks Lisa, they would be great for your guests, just don’t give them to anyone pregnant and toddlers.
Maresa said on 23 October 2012
Wonderful recipe! I’ve got a standby one for those days that you have nothing in the cupboard but need to put something special on the table: here goes
50 ml custard powder
50ml cacao
175ml sugar
500ml milk
15ml gelatine
30ml cold water
Tin of Ideal milk ( light or regular)
Sift custard, cacao and sugar together, add milk and stir. Cook in microwave/ on stovetop until tick. Sponge gelatine over cold water and mix into cooked mixture. Leave to cool. Beat Ideal milk to double volume. Fold into cooled mixture. At this stage you can spoon the mixtue into individual portions or a nice bowl. Put in the fridge to cool down before serving.
Gava said on 2 December 2012
Hi Sous, thanks for sharing. I have a function for 200 guests coming up. This will be a lifesaver (as well as a huge cost saver).
Please advise if one could make this a day ahead of time.
Sous Chef said on 2 December 2012
Hi Gava, you can definitely make this the day before with no problems as long as it is refrigerated. Good luck with your function and thanks for reading.