My Absolute Favorite Dessert

I found this recipe for an absolute divine chocolate mousse dessert. People love it and it makes you look like you worked harder than you actually did! It can also be made in cupcake tins. Just take the crust and put it into muffin tins. It makes 24 perfect little mousse pies!

Death by Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients:

21 chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup heavy cream
1 (12 ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips or 2 cups chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup white sugar
1 cup heavy cream, chilled
1/4 cup white sugar

Note: If you buy higher quality chocolate chips, it works better. I get the dark chocolate chips from Orson Gygi's. You can also use a bag from the grocery store.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 9 inch springform pan with 2 3/4 inch sides. (Pam works great!)

2. In a medium bowl, mix together crushed cookies and softened butter or margarine. Press mixture evenly into greased pan. Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes, then allow to cool. (I usually use 24-26 cookies)

3. Combine 1 cup cream, chocolate, vanilla extract, and salt, in the top of a double boiler. Heat until chocolate is fully melted and mixture is smooth. (If you do not hava double boiler, just heat it up really slowly in a regular saucepan and it turns out perfect!)

4. Pour chocolate mixture into a bowl and cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.

5. In a large bowl, beat 2 cups chilled cream with 1/4 cup sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into chocolate mixture. Pour mixture into cooled crust. (If the crust is hot, it will melt the mousse and you will have mousse soup!)

6. Chill pie at least 6 hours before serving. Prior to serving, beat remaining 1 cup cream with 1/4 cup sugar. Beat until stiff, then pipe onto top of pie with a star tip, or place a spoonful on top of each slice.

I like to add chocolate dipped fruit or a garnish with it and it will go over very well at any party!