Easy 3 ingredient pumpkin mousse recipe
Welcome to the world of simple and delicious desserts! If you’re a fan of all things pumpkin and looking for an easy-to-make dessert, you’re in for a real treat. Today, we’re diving into a 3 ingredient pumpkin mousse recipe that’s as easy as pie (or should we say mousse?).
With just a few common ingredients, you’ll soon be enjoying this delicious mousse’s creamy, pumpkin goodness. It’s the perfect dessert for the holiday season and something you can whip up in just minutes!
What is pumpkin mousse made of?
This no-bake dessert is made of only 3 simple ingredients, found in any grocery store:
- Cream cheese. The cream cheese is what makes the dessert smooth and a bit tangy. Think of it as the glue that holds everything together.
- Pumpkin puree. Pumpkin puree is what gives the mousse its pumpkin flavor and lovely orange color. It’s like the main flavor booster. This recipe uses a whole can of pumpkin puree, as a result, it’s packed with a lot of pumpkin flavor.
- Powdered sugar. Powdered sugar is there to make things sweet. It’s also great at dissolving quickly, so your mousse stays smooth.
Find the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe.
Ingredient substitutions and add-ins for this easy pumpkin mousse
- Dairy-free option. In order to create a dairy-free dessert, replace the cream cheese with either dairy-free cream cheese or coconut cream. Additionally, if you opt for coconut cream, be sure to refrigerate the can until it separates and forms a thick cream on top. You can then scoop out the cream and discard the water.
- Pumpkin fluff. If you’d like to prepare pumpkin fluff, swap out the cream cheese with whipped cream. To make the whipped cream, simply use heavy cream. Whip the cream until it reaches stiff peaks, and then gently fold it into the pumpkin pureé with a rubber spatula.
- Maple syrup drizzle. To enhance the fall flavors in your dessert and add some extra sweetness, you can add a drizzle of maple syrup on top and sprinkle it with pumpkin spice.
- Chocolate Chip pumpkin mousse. If you’re looking to give your mousse recipe a chocolate kick, fold in 1/2 a cup of chocolate chips.
- Pumpkin seed mousse. For an added crunch to your mousse, fold in 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds with a rubber spatula.
- Sugar-free mousse. To create a sugar-free version of the mousse, substitute the powdered sugar with any sugar-free sweeteners, such as monk fruit. Be sure to select a sugar substitute with a 1:1 ratio for easy and quick dissolution, and ensure it’s in powdered form.
How to make this easy pumpkin mousse recipe
Using a large bowl, mix the cream cheese with an electric mixer at medium-high speed for 1 minute, or until it is creamy and no lumps are visible.
Then, add the pumpkin pureé and mix until just combined. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
Once the pumpkin is added, sift the powdered sugar into the pumpkin mixture and mix on medium speed, until reaching a fluffy texture. About 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Scoop the fluffy mousse into small ramekins or individual glasses. Cover with a lid or with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
Lastly, when the mousse is ready, you can top it with a dollop of whipped cream or Cool Whip if desired. Serve cold.
Expert tips for this easy mousse recipe
- Ingredient Quality: Start with high-quality ingredients. Because this recipe has just three ingredients, the quality of what you use can greatly affect how your dessert turns out.
- Soft Cream Cheese: Let the cream cheese warm up to room temperature. This makes it easier to blend and gives your puree a smooth texture.
- Smooth Sugar: Sift your powdered sugar before using it. This way, you won’t have any lumps, and it mixes in evenly.
- Chill It: For the best flavor and texture, put your pumpkin puree in the fridge for at least 3 hours before serving. This gives the flavors a chance to mix and the texture to firm up.
How to store this pumpkin mousse recipe
Keep your pumpkin dessert recipe fresh by putting it in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. It should stay good for up to three days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference between canned pumpkin and canned pumpkin puree?
There is no difference between canned pumpkin and canned pumpkin puree. In recipes, people sometimes interchangeably use the terms, but they both refer to the same thing.
For this recipe, look for 100% canned pumpkin, without any sugar or spices added.
Does canned pumpkin need to be cooked?
Canned pumpkin is pre-cooked and mashed for simplicity and convenience. Therefore, you don’t have to cook or bake the canned pumpkin for this recipe.
Can I use pumpkin pie mix instead of pumpkin puree?
While pumpkin pie mix is a convenient option for making pumpkin pie easily, it won’t work for this particular recipe. The pumpkin pie mix is sweetened and contains extra spices, while pumpkin puree consists of pure pumpkin without any additives.
Don’t miss out! Click this link to watch the video of this Easy 3 ingredient pumpkin mousse dessert up close.
Take a look at this link for more Thanksgiving dessert recipes, or the links below for other pumpkin recipes you might like:
Pumpkin Maple Bread with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
Pumpkin Cheesecake Chia Parfait
If you make this recipe, please be sure to give it a star rating and leave a comment below!
Easy 3 ingredient pumpkin mousse recipe
Equipment
- 1 Electric mixer
- 1 sifter
Ingredients
- 8 ounce full fat cream cheese (226 g) room temperature
- 15 ounce 100% pure pumpkin pureé (425 g)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar spooned and leveled
Instructions
- Using a large bowl, mix the cream cheese with an electric mixer at medium-high speed for 1 minute, or until it is creamy and no lumps are visible.8 ounce full fat cream cheese (226 g)
- Add the pumpkin pureé and mix until just combined. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.15 ounce 100% pure pumpkin pureé (425 g)
- Sift the powdered sugar into the pumpkin mixture and mix on medium speed, until reaching a fluffy texture in your mousse. About 30 seconds to 1 minute.1/2 cup powdered sugar
- Scoop the fluffy mousse into small ramekins or individual glasses. Cover with a lid or with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
- When the mousse is ready, you can top it with a dollop of whipped cream or Cool Whip if desired. Serve cold.
Notes
-
Ingredient Quality: Start with high-quality ingredients. Because this recipe has just three ingredients, the quality of what you use can greatly affect how your dessert turns out.
- Soft Cream Cheese: Let the cream cheese warm up to room temperature. This makes it easier to blend and gives your puree a smooth texture.
- Smooth Sugar: Sift your powdered sugar before using it. This way, you won’t have any lumps, and it mixes in evenly.
- Chill It: For the best flavor and texture, put your pumpkin puree in the fridge for at least 4 hours before serving. This gives the flavors a chance to mix and the texture to firm up.