Vanilla Mousse Berry Jello (Printable version)

Elegant layered dessert with smooth vanilla mousse over tangy berry jello, ideal for entertaining.

# What you'll need:

→ Berry Jello Layer

01 - 2 cups mixed berries (fresh or frozen strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 1/2 cups water
04 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
05 - 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin powder (14 g total)

→ Vanilla Mousse Layer

06 - 1 cup whole milk
07 - 1 vanilla bean or 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
08 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
09 - 3 large egg yolks
10 - 1 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin powder
11 - 1 tablespoon cold water
12 - 1 cup cold heavy cream

→ Garnish

13 - Fresh berries
14 - Fresh mint leaves

# Directions:

01 - Combine berries, sugar, and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, gently mashing berries with a spoon. Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds and pulp; return liquid to saucepan.
02 - Sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water in a small bowl and let bloom for 5 minutes. Stir bloomed gelatin into hot berry liquid until fully dissolved. Add lemon juice and mix well.
03 - Pour berry jello into bottom of serving glasses or trifle dish, filling about halfway. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firmly set.
04 - Split vanilla bean and scrape seeds into saucepan. Add milk and heat just until steaming. Remove from heat. Whisk egg yolks with sugar until pale, then slowly pour hot milk mixture into yolks while whisking constantly.
05 - Return mixture to saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened and coats the back of a spoon. Do not boil.
06 - Sprinkle gelatin over 1 tablespoon cold water in a small bowl; let bloom for 5 minutes. Stir into warm custard until dissolved. Let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally to prevent skin formation.
07 - Whip cold heavy cream to soft peaks using electric mixer or hand whisk.
08 - Gently fold whipped cream into cooled custard until fully combined and smooth.
09 - Once berry jello is set, spoon or pipe vanilla mousse over the jello layer. Refrigerate for at least 2 more hours until mousse is completely set.
10 - Top with fresh berries and mint leaves before serving, if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between bright, tangy berry and silky vanilla is the kind of elegant simplicity that makes people think you spent hours planning
  • It can be made entirely ahead of time, leaving you free to enjoy your own party without last minute kitchen stress
02 -
  • The jello layer must be completely set before adding the mousse, or the layers will blur together
  • Room temperature custard incorporates into whipped cream much better than warm custard, which can deflate the cream
03 -
  • Run your knife under hot water and wipe dry between slices if cutting portions from a larger dish
  • If your custard curdles slightly, press it through a sieve before adding the whipped cream and no one will ever know

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