Brazilian Passion Fruit Mousse

This maracuja mousse recipe is an incredible Brazilian dessert made from passion fruit pulp, giving a tangy taste of the tropics while having a light and creamy texture.

Exotic desserts look and taste impressive, but here is a little secret - they can be super simple and easy to make (but don't tell anyone!). This maracuja mousse recipe is an incredible Brazilian dessert made from passion fruit pulp, giving a tangy taste of the tropics while having a light and creamy texture. And with only a handful of ingredients, it is a perfect recipe for any day of the week! 

I am so lucky to have Fernanda, a Brazilian friend who shares her amazing recipes with me, like her flavorful fish stew Moqueca recipe. Every time I try Fe's Brazilian dishes, I feel like I am transported into a dream land: the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, the streets of Sao Paolo, and the music of the samba. The flavors are so vibrant and bold yet perfectly blended with the accompanying ingredients to make a well-rounded dish. You must try them to believe me, and this mousse de maracuja is the easiest one to start with!

Ingredient Spotlight: Passion Fruit (Maracuja)

Passion fruit, known as maracuya in Spanish or maracuja in Portuguese, is a unique ingredient that most home cooks shy away from, mainly due to not really knowing what else to do with it other than add it to yogurt or blend in a smoothie. Known for it's seedy pulp and tart flavor, it is a shame not to use such a beautiful fruit in more of our recipes. 

Today, I am introducing a dessert, however passion fruit can also be used for main courses like my Avocado and passionfruit tuna carpaccio or even fancy breakfasts like my Vegan overnight oats. I love using it in drinks, like my passionfruit margarita mocktail or passion fruit martini. No matter how you use passion fruit, it is sure to bring an exciting twist on your meals that the whole family will enjoy.

Ingredients

Condensed milk: The base ingredient of our mousse giving a thick and creamy texture, like with my coconut macaroon pyramids.

35% cream: Whipping cream is used to enhance the creaminess and to thicken the mousse for that perfectly whipped texture.

Fresh passion fruit or frozen passion fruit, thawed: Our prime ingredient in today's recipe, providing the tang and tart flavor. We can also use some of the pulp with seed for garnish.

Exact quantities in the recipe card below

Step-by-step instructions

This easy mousse recipe is achieved in just two simple steps!

Blend mousse

Measure out your ingredients and add them all to your blender, then blend until the mixture is smooth. 

Refrigerate to set

Next, transfer the blended mixture into a large bowl or individual ramequins. Refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours or until set. Your mousse should be light and fluffy.

Serve passion fruit mousse

Serve cold and add a little bit of passion fruit pulp onto the top to garnish. 

Storage

If you have any leftovers of this passion fruit mousse recipe, put them into a container, cover, and store them in the refrigerator for a couple of days. It can even be frozen for 3 months, just make sure to cover it well to protect it from freezer burn!

Serving Suggestions

Serve this mousse as part of a tropical inspired meal! Colombian ceviche will make for a great appetizer. For a main, serve rice or farofa alongside my Colombian chicken drumsticks or a vegetarian main like my tofu with kiwi salsa. Whenever you choose to use passion fruit in your cooking, it will surely add a unique flavor to your meals that everyone will love.

Also use passion fruit for...

We talked about making food with passion fruit, but what about drinks? There is nothing better than a sunny summers day, sipping on a flavorful cocktail/mocktail and feeling like you are being transported to the beach. 

Now what if I told you there was a passionfruit martini that is a crowd pleaser in high end restaurants and cocktail bars? Introducing my non-alcoholic Pornstar martini. With its natural fizz and tropical flavor, you wont miss it's spirited counterpart. Try it and let me know what you think!

For more passionfruit drinks, try my passionfruit margarita mocktail. Passionfruit kombucha is the best starter kombucha recipe!

Recipe