Passion Fruit Mousse is an unbelievable creamy and delicious classic Brazilian dessert. It's quick and easy to make, and super impressive! This foolproof recipe has 3 ingredients, can easily be made in a blender in less than 15 minutes, and you can make it ahead.
Years ago, my Brazilian chef friend Rosalia, gave me a taste of a Passion Fruit Mousse she'd made (Mousse de Maracujá in Portuguese).
Without question, it was one of the most delicious bites of anything I'd ever tasted in my life. Like, life-changing-delicious!
Rosalia told me how she'd made it, exactly the way she'd grown up making it in Brazil. Ever since, I've been making it whenever I get my hands on fresh passion fruit. (Though, you can use frozen passion fruit pulp -- often called passion fruit purée -- which is available in many stores.)
I think this dessert, with its ultra creamy and velvety texture, and sweet and tangy flavor, will blow your mind!
What to Know About the Ingredients
- passion fruit juice and pulp. If you can get your hands of fresh passion fruit when they're in season, do it! Passion fruit season is typically mid-summer through winter, and you'll likely find the best selection at your local Farmers' Market. You can also buy frozen passion fruit pulp at most Latin markets and in most larger grocery stores -- OR -- you can learn how easy it is to cut and juice fresh passion fruit (see tutorial link below).
- heavy cream or Cream de Leite. For this recipe you can use heavy cream or Creme de Leite -- also called Table Cream), which is more traditional. It has a slightly lower milk fat content than heavy cream and isn't as quite as easy to find. Creme de Leite should be available in almost any Latin grocery store and sometimes in the Latin aisle or area of larger markets, whereas, you can find heavy cream pretty much anywhere. Both will produce an incredible dessert!
- sweetened condensed milk. You should be able to find this at any grocery store. If you need a substitute, check out this Taste of Home article, but I would highly advise sticking to the sweetened condensed milk. It provides the perfect amount of sweetness and creamy texture.
How to Make Passion Fruit Mousse
* You'll often find gelatin in mousses. This is a recipe for passion fruit mousse without gelatin.
- First, cut and juice the passion fruits. Follow my Step-by-Step Guide For Juicing Passion Fruit.
- Pour the cream into a powerful blender and blend on high until it's thick (soft to medium peaks), meaning the cream will hold it's shape if you scoop a spoonful of it. This will probably take less than 15 seconds!
- Add the passion fruit juice and sweetened condensed milk, and blend to combine.
Recipe Tip: A blender is a great way to whip cream very quickly. The only caveat is that you really have to watch it carefully. It will only take a few seconds, and if it's over whipped it will break down. Should that happen, here's how to fix it. You can of course use a hand or stand mixer, or a whisk (with muscle) to whip the cream, if you prefer.
- Chill the mousse in the refrigerator, covered, either in a bowl with plastic wrap or in a plastic container with a lid, for about 2 hours before serving. (I think it's also delicious at room temperature as soon as it's ready!)
Variations
I absolutely love the mousse as is, in its purest form. However, below are a few delicious ideas if you want to mix things up.
- You could add a touch (about 2 teaspoons) of vanilla - it'll be very subtle, but it's lovely with passion fruit.
- Passion fruit is also lovely mixed with other tropical fruit juices, like pineapple or mango. To try this, use one part passion fruit juice, and one part of the other fruit you choose.
You can serve the mousse with or without the passion fruit pulp (including seeds) on top. Equally delicious both ways, but it definitely adds a touch of beauty and interest to the presentation.
It's very common to eat passion fruit seeds. In fact, passion fruit lovers just spoon the pulp with the seeds, directly from the skin into their mouth. They have a light crunch, which is a delightful addition to most passion fruit recipes.
Making it Ahead and Storage
This is an excellent make-ahead dessert!
- For guests, I usually make it a day or two ahead, portion it into individual ramekins or dessert glass goblets, cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Then all I have to do is bring them out when I'm ready to serve. Perfect for a dinner party! (If you garnish with the fruit pulp, you can also do that ahead, being sure the plastic wrap isn't touching it.)
- Should you have leftover mousse (not likely!), it can be stored in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container for up to 5 days. It can also be frozen this way for up to a month (see below Pro Tip).
Pro Tip: This can easily double as PASSION FRUIT ICE CREAM! All you have to do is freeze it overnight in a tightly sealed container. That's it, and it's amazing! (I would do this without the garnish.)
More Desserts with Passion Fruit
After one bite, I hope you'll be as hooked as I am on the delicious and alluring flavor of passion fruit mousse!
Passion Fruit Mousse Recipe
Equipment
- blender (or stand or hand mixer, or whisk)
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ½ cup passion fruit juice/pulp without seeds (from about 1 pound of passion fruit)
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- pulp with seeds from about 3 passion fruits for garnish (if desired)
Instructions
- Whip the cream. Pour the cream into a powerful blender and blend on high, watching it closely, until medium-soft peaks form when you lift a spoonful. This will likely take less than 15 seconds. Watch it carefully so it doesn't overmix!
- Combine ingredients. Add the passion fruit/pulp juice and sweetened condensed milk and blend just until it's incorporated.
- Chill. Chill the mousse in the refrigerator, covered either in a bowl with plastic wrap or in a plastic container with a lid, for about 2 hours before serving.
- Garnish. Spoon the pulp with seeds from the remaining 3 passion fruits and drizzle it over the top of each portion of mousse when you're ready to serve. (If desired.)
NOTES
NUTRITION
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Lizthechef
This looks so good - I'm going to read your post on how to cut up the fruit now...
valentina
Thank you, Liz! 🙂
Rosalia
Oh, Valetina, thank you for the beautiful words. I am sure that with you kindness and also love you made the most wonderful Passion Fruit Mousse that one can have.
valentina
Rosalia, you are very sweet. I'll have to have you try this to see if it's up to snuff. 😉 Thank YOU! xo
Adrienne
Valentina! That sounds so great that I'm going to make it tomorrow! Your recipes are always perfect! I've tried many of them, but this Passion Fruit Mousse recipe is going to be made tomorrow morning! Can't wait to try it! Thanks!
valentina
Adrienne, thanks so much! I hope you love it, & I hope all is well!
sippitysup
My mom used to make something very similar with pineapple juice. She called it a Pineapple "Flip" which as a kid made it twice as fun. GREG
valentina
Love that. I'll be adding "flip" into all sorts of recipe titles for my boys. 🙂
valentina
David, I hope you like this -- it' really is so quick and easy. 🙂
Laurel
How far in advance can this be made?
valentina
Hi Laurel, You can make this the night or even two nights before you want to serve it. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap, that's not touching the surface of the mousse. Enjoy! 🙂
Christina Conte
How did I miss this? I ADORE passion fruit, but rarely have it! This looks so utterly delicious, I wish I could have some right now (it's so hot again)! Thanks, Valentina. Definitely want to try this next time I have passion fruit!
valentina
Christina, I hope you try and LOVE it! Thank you! 🙂
Natalie
wow, They are wonderful indeed! This is the dessert I want every October. Two-in-one recipe is the best! xo
valentina
Thank you Natalie! I hope you do try it and love it as much as I do. 🙂
Colette
We have 2 passionfruit vines and are blessed with a ton of fruit.
I love serving it right in the passion fruit shell. xo
valentina
Thank you, Colette. You are so fortunate to have your very own passion fruit vines! I would love that. xo Valentina
valentina
Thanks, Nicole. I hope you do and love it!
David
Oh, wow! This looks so great and refreshing - and I love that it can simply be made into an ice cream! Brilliant!
Laurie
Could I substitute dragon fruit juice?
valentina
Hi Laurie, I haven't tried this particular recipe with a different juice, but I think it will work. I would definitely strain it well first. I don't think the flavor will be a strong or as tropical as it would be with the passion fruit. The color would be gorgeous though, if you use a magenta dragon fruit. Please let us know how it turns out if you try it. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina
Karin
I was looking online for passion fruit jam recipes and browsed my way to your site. My vines are dropping fruit at the rate of two dozen a day! The mousse recipe sounds lovely. Since it’s the weekend, I shall try it! What are your thoughts on putting some fresh ginger in my PF jam?
valentina
Hi Karin, so happy you landed on my passion fruit recipes. 🙂 I actually LOVE ginger with passion fruit -- I think it's a great paring. Not sure if you saw it, but I also have a recipe for Passion Fruit-Ginger Cheesecake. So yes, I think fresh ginger would be lovely in the jam. I'd love to hear how it turns out. Enjoy! ~Valentina
Kayla
Can this recipe be used as a cake filling
valentina
Hi Kayla, Thanks for writing in. Absolutely it could be used as a cake filling. A lighter cake is likely best since the mousse is on the light side (in texture). It also be fabulous to frost a cake with -- on the outside. 🙂 Enjoy and thanks for checking out my recipes. ~Valentina
Marcellina
What a delicious recipe and so easy!
Valentina
Thanks so much, Marcellina! 🙂 ~Valentina
sherry
this sounds so delicious! i love fresh passionfruit; we are lucky it grows in people's backyards here. Gotta have the seeds :=)
cheers
sherry https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
Valentina
How fabulous to have it growing in backyards near you, Sherry. Thanks for checking out the recipe! 🙂 ~Valentina