Easy High Protein Tofu Chocolate Mousse

Super creamy, delicious silken tofu chocolate mousse that is vegan, gluten free, and takes less than 20 minutes to make! Plus, you can add protein powder for a high protein chocolate mousse, and easily switch up the flavor in SO MANY ways. You just can’t lose with this dessert! 😊

I love making easy chocolate desserts. And I’ve been meaning to share this particular recipe for years now. As someone with a sweet tooth and the occasional hyperfixation on certain foods, this tofu chocolate mousse has been a fixation of mine for the past 4 years!

I’ve even turned my friends and family over to the tofu mousse side, and it’s no surprise why. This is such a versatile recipe, great as an easy dessert for parties and potlucks, but perfect as a high protein chocolate mousse for my weekly meal prep too!

Why this is such a versatile dessert

• Quick and easy to make. Takes less than 20 minutes to make this tofu chocolate mousse.
• So creamy and delicious, but made without any cream!
• A high protein dessert that is super satiating! Thanks to the tofu, the chocolate mousse has extra protein too. BUT, you can easily add more protein (as I do) for a more nutritious chocolate dessert too.
• A naturally vegan and gluten free dessert, but you’d never know this is made with tofu!
• Eat this tofu chocolate mousse as a daily chocolate treat that can help meet your daily protein needs and satisfy your sweet tooth all at the same time.
• But you can also transform it into a rich, luxurious dessert that is vegan, gluten free, AND deceptively protein packed compared to other rich chocolate desserts like chocolate pudding or chocolate mousse. Great to serve at parties and potlucks too!

Ingredients (and notes)

Silken tofu / soft tofu

You can use silken tofu or soft tofu. Silken soft tofu is usually sold in Asian stores, and can be shelf stable. It’s very soft, silky and custardy! I use a Canadian brand of soft tofu that has identical texture as silken tofu, and can be used interchangeably (with silken tofu).

Melted chocolate

I’m using a bittersweet chocolate that does not contain any milk for this recipe. You can also use a certified vegan bittersweet chocolate.

It’s absolutely crucial to use a dark chocolate that you like the flavor of, as the mousse will obviously acquire the flavor of the chocolate that you use. A bittersweet chocolate will have a deeper chocolate flavor that will come through in the chocolate protein mousse.

Cocoa powder

I love the addition of cocoa powder, because it helps to deepen the flavor of the chocolate mousse / chocolate pudding. I prefer to use dutch cocoa powder over natural cocoa powder (as explained in my dutch cocoa vs natural cocoa post).

Optional ingredients

Protein powder

This is what adds extra protein into the recipe! I always add it when I make this for myself, but it can also be left out if you choose not to add it.

I LOVE adding protein powder any time I make this as a meal prep recipe. I like to use my unflavored protein powder to add extra protein without changing the flavor of the protein chocolate mousse. The protein powder also helps to thicken the chocolate mousse further, making it thick and creamy.

Salt

Salt is essential to enhance the sweetness and for balance of flavor. Just a pinch is enough, but you can add more for a sweet and salty flavor profile in your dessert. You can also leave it out if you choose to.

Sweetener

If I want my tofu chocolate mousse to be sweeter, I prefer to add dates or date syrup. This also adds extra fiber to the dessert. But adding maple syrup or honey would of course be easier. Be careful not to add too much liquid however, because this could make the chocolate mousse too soft.

How to make silken tofu chocolate mousse

You will need a blender or food processor to make this high protein chocolate pudding. You could also use a stick blender if you don’t have a blender or food processor.

Unfortunately, a stand or hand mixer won’t work as well to blend the ingredients nicely.

Step 1 – Melt the chocolate

Melt the chocolate on a double boiler OR in the microwave in 20 second bursts. It’s absolutely crucial to make sure that the chocolate is not mixed with any water or liquid. Otherwise it will seize.

Once the chocolate has melted and it’s smooth, set it aside to cool slightly (image 1).

Step 2 – Prepare the tofu

Remove the tofu from the package and drain any excess water that’s in the package. You can also keep the tofu on a paper towel or cloth napkin to absorb any excess moisture. But I only strain the excess water in the package.

Step 3 – Place the ingredients in the blender

Place the tofu in the blender (image 2). Add the cocoa powder, melted chocolate, and salt in the blender as well (image 3). You can also add the protein powder, like I have here (image 4).

Step 4 – Blend

Blend the ingredients together (image 5). You’ll need to stop the blender and scrape down the sides and bottom with a spatula, as the melted chocolate will stick to the sides of the blender (image 6).

The mixture will change from grainy to smooth and chocolatey (image 7). Stop the blender and do a quick taste test (image 8). At this point you can also add sweetener to make the mousse sweeter, if you like.

Blend to mix the sweetener.

Step 5 – Pour the mixture and refrigerate

The blended mixture can be poured into individual containers at this point. I prefer to set the mousse in smaller containers as the tofu will set better in smaller containers, rather than in one large container.

Cover and refrigerate the tofu chocolate mousse for at least 8 hours until it chills and sets.

Step 6 – Serve

Once the dessert is chilled and set, you can serve it. If I’m serving this for guests, then I top it with vegan whipped cream (or regular whipped cream) and chocolate shavings.

But if I’m eating this as a daily snack, I eat it just as is OR with a dollop of Greek yogurt or labneh. To keep it vegan, you can serve it with vegan yogurt too. Yogurt adds a lovely tanginess to the sweetness, AND adds more protein too.

Helpful recipe tips

The texture of the tofu mousse will change depending on the ingredients you add to it. The more liquid you add, the less likely it will set. So, keep that in mind. Conversely, thick or dry ingredients will also make the pudding thicker and set it well.

Tips to make thicker, richer silken tofu pudding

I follow these changes when I want to make this dessert for a special occasion or for a crowd!

• Add more melted chocolate! Adding more bittersweet or semisweet chocolate will yield richness and thickness to the mousse. Semisweet chocolate also adds sweetness to the final dessert, and you’ll then need to add less sweetener to the recipe too. The cocoa butter in the chocolate will help set the mousse as it chills, and make the mousse more silky and rich.
• If you do not want to add more melted chocolate, you can add more cocoa powder instead. Cocoa powder is a dry inredient that will also help thicken the mousse. But if you add too much, it will taste gritty. This is why I prefer to add both melted chocolate and cocoa powder.
• To sweeten the tofu chocolate mousse, I prefer to add dates. Dates add a lovely earthy sweetness, and helps to maintain the thick consistency too.

Other helpful tips

• A combination of melted chocolate and cocoa powder helps to flavor the chocolate mousse well, while maintaining a lovely thick texture.
• The melted chocolate is especially important for me, because I want to be able to taste my favorite dark chocolate in the dessert! This tricks my brain into thinking I’m satiating my craving.
• Adding protein powder can change the flavor, and add more interest to your mousse! While I use my unflavored pea protein powder, I also have a chocolate whey protein powder that can add more chocolate flavor and sweetness to this recipe. But I personally prefer not to use this because I don’t want my silken tofu chocolate mousse to be too sweet.
• Do not add more liquid additions such as fruit juice to flavor the mousse. This will make the mousse liquidy and it will not set in the fridge.

Flavor variations, substitutions and add-ins

You can easily switch up the flavors of this mousse to make it more interesting!

Adding extra flavor to the tofu

As I mentioned in the tips section above, be careful not to add any flavoring that is liquid. But you can easily add solid or thick ingredients to the tofu.

• Peanut butter or almond butter – Peanut butter is my favorite addition to make a peanut butter chocolate tofu mousse!
• Peanut butter powder – Another way to add PB flavor to the mousse without interfering with the texture.
• Coffee – Add instant coffee granules OR espresso powder (not ground coffee) to add coffee flavor to the chocolate tofu pudding to make a mocha tofu mousse.
• Spices – Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice can be added to make a spiced version. Cayenne pepper will also add a little spicy kick for a chili chocolate tofu mousse!
• Freeze dried fruit – Freeze dried fruit powder is now widely available, so these can be used to flavor the tofu mousse without sacrificing the thick texture. I love adding raspberry or passion fruit to this protein mousse!
• Other types of chocolate – You could change up the flavor of the chocolate, but the tofu won’t set the same way. White chocolate and milk chocolate aren’t as thick as dark chocolate, and won’t set with the tofu the same way. HOWEVER, if you add a thickener like protein powder or blended chia seeds, then the tofu mousse will set better with these chocolates.

Toppings for the silken tofu chocolate mousse

The simplest way to add flavor is to add different types of topping.

• Granola topping – Adding flavored granola will add texture and flavor to your tofu chocolate mousse.
• Chopped nuts.
• Nut spreads – Adding a drizzle of nut spreads (like this homemade praline paste) will add a lovely nutty flavor, similar to this hazelnut praline chocolate mousse.
• Chocolate – Chopped chocolate or shavings will add more chocolate flavor.
• Flavored sauces – Hot fudge sauce or salted caramel sauce or butterscotch chocolate fudge sauce for a decadent treat.
• Fresh or freeze dried fruits – The fruit flavors will add a lovely tangy freshness to the dessert. I especially love freeze dried fruits because the concentrated flavor and crunch are delicious and complementary with the chocolate.

Storage tips

• In the fridge – I like to store my tofu chocolate mousse in the fridge for up to 5 days in airtight containers. Keeping them stored in individual containers makes them last longer in the fridge.
• In the freezer – Yes, you can freeze this chocolate mousse too. I prefer to freeze them in individual containers, so that I can thaw out a portion at a time when I need it. Let it thaw out in the fridge, and then enjoy.

Commonly asked questions