This dessert is a delightful combination of creamy mascarpone cheese complimented with the sweetness of fresh summer fruits. Mascarpone is a soft Italian double or triple acid-set cream cheese that originated in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy during the Renaissance. This sweet and silky cow’s milk cheese is quite versatile, making it a wonderful addition to a variety of desserts. It also adds a rich texture to savory dishes. This is due to the quality achieved by its especially high percentage of saturated fat. Mascarpone can be found at your local grocery store or an Italian specialty shop or deli.
The Recipe
I found this mousse recipe in a wonderful cookbook with easy to follow recipes called Complete Pasta & Italian. It contains over two hundred pasta and Italian dishes. This recipe calls for the use of frozen fruit, but being that there are so many delicious fruits in season right now, I decided to use fresh raspberries. With them, my mousse turned out wonderfully. To elevate this dessert, if you are feeling adventurous, you can also add three tablespoons of your favorite liqueur to the mascarpone cheese mixture.
The Ingredients
1 Pound Mascarpone Cheese
1/2 Cup Superfine Sugar
4 Egg Yolks
14 Ounces Frozen Summer Fruits, such as Raspberries or Red Currants
Redcurrants, to Garnish
Amaretti Cookies, to Serve
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparing the Mascarpone Mixture
In a large mixing bowl, add the mascarpone cheese. With a wooden spoon, beat the mascarpone cheese until smooth.
Next, stir in the egg yolks and sugar into the mascarpone cheese, making sure to mix well. Allow the mixture to chill in the refrigerator for about one hour.
Adding the Berries
In four individual serving dishes, spoon a layer of the mascarpone mixture into the bottom. Next, spoon a layer of fruit on the top. Then repeat the layers in the same order, making sure to save some of the mascarpone mixture for the top.
Chilling the Mousse
Chill the mousses in the refrigerator for about twenty minutes. You can enjoy this mousse simply by itself or with the addition of amaretti cookies on the side.
