The 2-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse That Totally Blew My Mind

Have you come across the internet-famous chocolate and rice mousse recipe by Shivesh yet? Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical when my son found this viral dessert trend and begged me to try it, but honestly, it is SO good. It is ridiculously simple, which is why I was so wary of it—just cooked rice and melted chocolate blended together? Really?

There are no fancy techniques or ingredients here, just a quick and easy treat that’s perfect for kids and adults alike. Blend it up and chill it in coupes (like I did) or ramekins. Before serving, add a dusting of cocoa powder on top and you’re done. You’d never guess there’s rice in there.

We had so much fun making this together, and now it’s our go-to dessert when we want something that’s indulgent but requires minimal effort.  And the best part? You can customize it in a ton of ways. My son added a pinch of cardamom powder and I adorned mine with orange zest.

Choosing the Right Rice

Believe me, the first thing that came to my mind was to use basmati rice. Given my cultural heritage (Pakistani, Afghan, Persian), I always have sacks of basmati varieties in my pantry. But basmati—as lovely as it is for a biryani or tahdig—won’t give you the silky texture you need for this mousse, as it has less starch than other types of rice. 

For this chocolate mousse, I found that jasmine rice works wonderfully. It has just the right balance of starch to create a beautifully smooth and creamy texture when blended with the melted chocolate. Jasmine rice is naturally soft and slightly sticky, which makes it the perfect base for this mousse, giving it a velvety consistency without being too heavy. The rice absorbs the chocolate and helps bind the ingredients together, resulting in a rich, indulgent dessert.

Choosing the Right Chocolate

I used semisweet chocolate chips (50 to 60% cacao), but if you want a more intense chocolate flavor, try it with dark chocolate (70%). Milk chocolate is also delicious, or try your hand with white chocolate! Any kind of chocolate will work here.

How To Make My Take on Chocolate-Rice Mousse

To make two to four servings (about 2 cups of mousse), you’ll need:

• 1 cup chocolate chips (6 ounces)
• 1 cup cooked rice, at room temperature (preferably jasmine rice)
• 1/2 cup hot (not boiling) water, plus more as needed
• 1 pinch salt
• Unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting, optional

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each until smooth. Or, you can use a double boiler by placing the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water and stirring until melted. 

In a high-speed blender, combine the cooked rice, hot water, melted chocolate, and salt. Blend on high for 2 minutes, then pulse until smooth and creamy. Stop periodically to scrape down the sides of the blender jar to make sure everything is evenly incorporated. If the mixture is too thick for your liking, add more hot water 1 tablespoon at a time, up to 1/4 cup.

Transfer the mousse into 2 coupes or 4 small ramekins and place in the fridge to chill until firm, at least 2 hours. Just before serving, dust with cocoa powder, if desired, and enjoy! 

This mousse keeps well in the fridge for up to 1 week. For best results, dust with cocoa powder just before serving, because no one likes a wet and soggy layer of cocoa powder on their mousse.

Zhuzh It Up 

This mousse is a blank canvas for all things delicious. Here are some ideas for making it extra fun and fancy:

• Citrus: If you like the combination of citrus and chocolate, grate some orange zest into the mix before blending it, or add a strip of zest as a garnish on top.
• Spices: Add 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom, cinnamon, or cloves to the mix before blending to give the mousse complexity.
• Go Nuts: Adorn your mousse with coarsely chopped hazelnuts (think Nutella flavors), pistachios, or almonds. So pretty, too.
• Whipped Cream: A dollop of freshly whipped cream on top makes the mousse even more decadent. You can even add a little vanilla extract or maple syrup to the cream.
• Chocolate Shavings: For an extra-fancy look, add some chocolate shavings or curls on top. 
• Sea Salt: I love adding some flaky sea salt on top to contrast to the sweetness.
• Fresh Berries: Garnish with fresh raspberries, strawberries, or even blueberries.