My 4-Ingredient Dessert Feels Fancy but Couldn’t Be Easier

As a former bakery owner, I love to spend time in the kitchen prepping a batch of intricate soft pretzels or baking an elaborate layer cake for a friend’s birthday. Other times, though, I’m all about low-lift no-bake desserts. This four-ingredient lemon mousse is one of those treats.

As spring warms us up after a dreary winter and the transition to summer is near, I’m always craving something light, vibrant, and chilled. This easy egg-free mousse delivers with a creamy texture, balanced sweetness, and a pop of tangy lemon flavor.  

A Great Make-Ahead Dessert

You can prepare this mousse in minutes and enjoy it right away. However, the texture improves with chilling time in the fridge. That means this is also an excellent backyard barbecue dessert because you can prepare it days ahead of time. Make a batch when you’re doing menu prep and store it covered in the fridge for up to three days. That way, all you’ll have to do is pull out the dessert, grab some spoons, and everyone can dig in.

If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the freezer. Keep the mousse in the freezer for up to two months and allow it to thaw in the fridge before serving.

Ways To Garnish and Serve This Easy Lemon Mousse

This easy mousse provides a blank canvas for a variety of garnishes and serving options. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Add a dollop of whipped cream or lemon curd on top of each serving (or both!). 
• Garnish the top of the lemon mousse with crushed graham crackers or shortbread cookies.
• Add fresh blueberries or raspberries, or drizzle with a berry sauce.
• To really impress your guests, use fresh lemons as your serving dishes. Slice the lemons in half and scrape out the flesh with a spoon. Fill each lemon half with mousse and let the mousse chill and set before serving.

How To Make My 4-Ingredient Easy Lemon Mousse

To make four to six servings, you'll need:

• 2 lemons
• 2 cups (16 ounces) heavy whipping cream
• 8 ounces mascarpone cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Finely grate the zest of both lemons, then juice 1 to 2 lemon halves until you have 4 teaspoons of lemon juice.

In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the cream and mascarpone cheese at medium speed until smooth and soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Add the powdered sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice and continue whipping until the mixture thickens, not quite to stiff peaks, about 2 minutes.

Spoon the mousse into a large serving bowl or individual bowls, cups, or ramekins. For the best texture, cover and chill the mousse in the fridge for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days before serving. 

Other Ways To Use Lemon Mousse

This lemon mousse can be served on its own for a delicious dessert. However, you can also put it to work in other ways. Here are some ideas if you want to get creative with it:

• Use it as the filling for a layered lemon trifle.
• Make mini no-bake cheesecake-inspired desserts by layering in jars with a graham cracker crumb crust.
• Serve a dollop on top of angel food cake or pound cake and pair it with fresh berries for a more elaborate treat.