Ever had one of those nights where you’re standing in front of the fridge debating between a spoonful of peanut butter or something sweet like mousse? Why choose when you can have both? This peanut butter mousse is that perfect middle ground — rich, creamy, and just indulgent enough to feel like you got away with something. I first whipped this up on a lazy Sunday when I refused to turn on the oven. I wanted dessert, but not the kind that asked for effort. What I ended up with was a mousse so silky, I didn’t even miss the cake. Peanut butter lovers, this is your moment. Just a handful of ingredients, a whisk, and your sweet craving is handled. Whether you’re meal-prepping dessert for the week or treating yourself after work, this one’s your go-to. And trust me — people will think you bought it from a fancy café. (Let ’em think that.)

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Peanut Butter Mousse Recipe
3) Ingredients for Peanut Butter Mousse
4) How to Make Peanut Butter Mousse
5) Tips for Making Peanut Butter Mousse
6) Making Peanut Butter Mousse Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Peanut Butter Mousse
8) Try these desserts next!
9) Peanut Butter Mousse
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

Just 5 ingredients make this mousse both simple and satisfying
No baking required, just a little whipping and folding
Perfect for sweet easy recipes lovers who want flavor without fuss
Chills in under an hour and tastes like dessert shop magic

2) Easy Peanut Butter Mousse Recipe

Let me tell you, this peanut butter mousse was not born from a craving. It was born from a full-on dessert emergency. You know the kind. It’s late, you’re done with work, your feet hurt, and your brain wants something sweet. Not candy-from-the-cupboard sweet. Real dessert sweet.

That’s where this mousse comes in. This recipe is one of those sweet easy recipes that manages to hit the perfect spot between indulgence and ease. It’s fluffy. It’s rich. It’s peanut buttery in the best way. And it comes together with stuff you probably already have in your pantry and fridge.

Here’s the fun part. You don’t need an oven. You don’t need fancy chocolate curls or baking degrees. Just five ingredients, a bowl, and a strong wrist or a hand mixer. You’ll get the kind of dessert that makes people ask if you secretly bought it somewhere. The answer? Nah. We made it. Together. Right here on Elena Cooks (https://www.elenacooks.com).

3) Ingredients for Peanut Butter Mousse

Heavy Whipping Cream: You want the full-fat kind. The kind that holds a soft peak and looks like a cloud when whipped. That’s our base.

Creamy Peanut Butter: Smooth is the move here. I like using the regular stuff that doesn’t separate, just to make mixing easier. But hey, if you’re stirring your natural peanut butter till your arm falls off, you’re still winning.

Powdered Sugar: Skip the granulated. This gives our mousse that gentle sweetness and the silky finish we’re going for. Granulated just doesn’t cut it here.

Vanilla Extract: Adds warmth. Rounds out the peanut butter so it’s not just smacking you in the face with nuttiness. A small splash changes everything.

Crushed Peanuts or Chocolate Shavings (Optional): For topping. If you want crunch, go peanut. If you’re in a chocolate kind of mood, grab the grater. Either way, it makes your mousse look like it tried harder than it did.

4) How to Make Peanut Butter Mousse

Step 1. Start by whipping the heavy cream until you hit soft peaks. If you’re wondering what that means — the cream should stand up when you lift the whisk but curl slightly. Think whipped clouds.

Step 2. In a separate bowl, stir together your peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. It’ll look glossy and smell like childhood peanut butter sandwiches, but richer.

Step 3. Time to fold. Don’t mix aggressively here. Just take your whipped cream and gently fold it into the peanut butter base. You want to keep all that air you whipped in — that’s what gives mousse its life.

Step 4. Spoon your mousse into serving glasses. Or cups. Or mugs. Or honestly whatever you’ve got that’s clean. Pop them in the fridge for at least an hour to set.

Step 5. Right before serving, if you’re feeling fancy, top with chopped peanuts or chocolate. Or both. I’m not judging. I do both. Every time.

5) Tips for Making Peanut Butter Mousse

Use chilled cream. Don’t take it out early and let it sit around. Cold cream whips better. Soft peaks form faster and stay longer.

If your peanut butter is super thick, give it a gentle warm-up in the microwave. Ten seconds. Stir. That helps it mix more easily with the other ingredients and avoids little bits of unmixed sugar later.

And don’t overmix when folding the whipped cream. Think gentle swoops. Not aggressive stirring. That airy texture you’re looking for? That’s born in this step. This is where the magic happens in sweet easy recipes like this one.

6) Making Peanut Butter Mousse Ahead of Time

This mousse is like a good friend. It gets better with a little chill time. I like to make it a few hours before dinner, pop it in the fridge, and forget about it until dessert calls.

If you’re planning to serve it for guests, it’s a great make-ahead option. You can spoon it into little jars or ramekins, throw on a lid or some plastic wrap, and stack them in the fridge.

And if you want it extra fluffy, give it a gentle stir before topping. It’ll wake it up a bit. Mousse that’s had a nap is sometimes even better than fresh mousse. Weird but true.

7) Storing Leftover Peanut Butter Mousse

Got leftovers? First off, wow. Second — yes, you can store them. Keep them in the fridge in a covered container or with wrap for up to three days. Past that, it might lose its puff and turn into more of a peanut butter cream. Still tasty. Still worth eating.

I wouldn’t freeze it, though. The texture changes and not in a fun way. But if you’re someone who sneaks midnight fridge spoonfuls, you won’t have to worry about leftovers lasting that long anyway.

This mousse really earns its spot among the most honest sweet easy recipes. It’s forgiving, delicious, and kind of hard to mess up.

8) Try these desserts next!

9) Peanut Butter Mousse