Dark Chocolate Mousse

  Normally, if I have to have something sweet I want caramel.  There is nothing better than rich, buttery, silky caramel, preferably off-set with some sea salt... pardon me while I while the drool from my lips.  But when it comes to chocolate, I love dark chocolate. Plain and simple, it's the best stuff ever invented.  So why not combine, dark chocolate, heavy cream and gelatin together to create the most sinful and fluffy concoction on the plant, dark chocolate mousse. I'll admit, I was nervous; I've never made mousse before and I had this awful mental image that I might end up with dark chocolate goo, however, I followed the Hershey's recipe to a T and from it emerged a luxurious, fluffy, rich, and sinfully good dark chocolate mousse.  One spoonful and I was hooked, I would totally make this for a dinner party in a moment; putting it into cocktail glasses like the above photo and letting it chill so that it forms a beautiful smooth top layer.  I would then garnish it with raspberries or strawberries and serve.  Easy, elegant and completely mind blowing.  This will make you think twice about calling on ice cream as a comfort food, I think my new favorite might be dark chocolate mousse.  

Ingredients

• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1/3 cup boiling water
• 1 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
• 2 cups (1 pt.)cold whipping cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. 1 Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in small bowl; let stand 2 minutes to soften. Add boiling water; stir until gelatin is completely dissolved and mixture is clear. Cool slightly.
   
2. 2 Combine sugar and cocoa in large bowl; add whipping cream and vanilla. Beat on medium speed of mixer, scraping bottom of bowl occasionally, until mixture is stiff. Pour in gelatin mixture; beat until well blended. Spoon into dessert dishes.
   
3. 3 Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Garnish as desired. Store covered in refrigerator. 8 servings.

Link to the Hershey's recipe website