This Boozy Chocolate Mousse for Two Is an Easy Date-Night Stunner

The pandemic brought a newfound appreciation for gathering at home—prompting a full-on dinner party renaissance.

During lockdown, novices began cooking more than ever before. And what at first was a shared frustration with being “stuck” inside transformed into a post-pandemic celebration of more intimate, relaxed experiences at home.

Plus, if you’re paying rent, you might as well get your money’s worth.

This sentiment led Katherine Lewin to open Big Night, a one-stop shop for anything and everything useful for hosting in New York City, in 2021. Her mission: to alleviate traditional pressures around entertaining and empower people to entertain at home.

“I wanted to create a space that said you don’t have to be perfect,” says Lewin. “You don’t even really have to know how to cook. You can put out a beautiful piece of cheese and some crackers and some nuts on a beautiful platter and suddenly there’s a vibe there.”

Lewin believes anyone can be a great host and any night could be a “big night.”

Her debut cookbook, Big Night: Dinners, Parties & Dinner Parties, serves as an extension of this philosophy. It offers inspiration, tips and tools to craft memorable meals for all seasons and occasions, from large holiday gatherings to a special dinner for two. 

Whether hosting a large group or one-on-one get-together, she believes in taking the time to make it special—which, to her, means a sweet treat at the end. 

“Just because there’s two of you doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also have dessert,” says Lewin.

But, for many home cooks, the thought of going on a baking journey while also cooking a big dinner feels daunting. Cue: a low-effort chocolate mousse that comes together with just five ingredients—one of which is booze.

The liqueur adds a level of complexity and depth to a dessert that can err on the side of being overly sweet, Lewin says. Montenegro and Amaro are her tried-and-true favorites for this recipe. For a sweeter, slightly citrusy riff, she recommends Grand Marnier, though any spirit from your bar could work in a pinch.

While this is the perfect dessert for an intimate dinner date, it can also be scaled up for a crowd. Just double (or triple) as needed.

How to Make Boozy Chocolate Mousse for Two

Recipe adapted from Big Night: Dinners, Parties & Dinner Parties by Katherine Lewin

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate (70% cacao), roughly chopped
  • Kosher salt
  • 4 teaspoons crème de cassis, medium amaro (such as Averna or Montenegro), or Grand Marnier (optional)*
  • ½ cup heavy cream or sour cream, for serving (optional)
  • Flaky sea salt, for serving

Instructions

Fill a large bowl with ice and a little cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine the chocolate, 1/3 cup water, a pinch of kosher salt and the crème de cassis (if using). Cook over medium heat, stirring, until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth, two to three minutes.

Immediately pour the melted chocolate mixture into a medium bowl and place it over the ice bath. Vigorously whisk (or beat with a hand mixer on medium speed) until the mixture is thick, two to four minutes. It will seem like nothing is happening at first, but then the mixture will firm up very quickly; if it becomes too firm for your liking, warm the mousse over a medium pot of simmering water to slightly melt, then rewhip over a fresh ice bath.

Divide the mousse between two bowls or cups, if you like, or share it straight from the bowl. (If making ahead of time, transfer to your desired serving vessel, cover, and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve, no more than one day in advance.)

If you want to top the mousse with something creamy, rinse the mixer beaters, then pour the cream into a medium bowl. Beat on medium speed until the cream holds medium peaks, about one minute (if using Greek yogurt or sour cream, simply dollop it on the mousse). Top the mousse with the whipped cream, or swirl or fold it into the mousse. Finish with a pinch of flaky salt and serve in individual glasses or serve it family style.

*Note: if you don’t have any of these liqueurs or you’d prefer not to use alcohol, omit it and use four teaspoons of water instead.

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