Vegan Strawberry Mousse

Summer just got a little cooler with Vegan Strawberry Mousse! Everyone will love how this treat is so sweet, creamy, and light as air! All you need are fresh strawberries and a few simple ingredients to make this decadent dessert.

Mousse is such a refreshing dessert to cool you down on warm days. I like to make this as a fun replacement for ice cream or frozen yogurt. 

Please the crowd with this simple dessert at outdoor barbecues, parties, and get-togethers. You can also make it for that special someone on date nights, Valentine's Day, or Mother’s Day! 

It’s a great recipe when you find yourself with extra strawberries during the strawberry-picking season or when the fruit stands have an irresistible deal you can’t pass up. 

This strawberry mousse is made with easy-to-find vegan ingredients like cream cheese and whipped topping that creates a creamy, yet airy texture. It’s incredibly sweet, fruity, and has a slight tang to it.

Prepare this in three simple steps. First, heat up a delicious sauce made with fresh strawberries and cane sugar. Then, whip that up with the dairy replacements. And finally, chill it for a little while before enjoying it!

Reasons To Love This Recipe

• No eggs
• Dairy-free 
• Quick & easy
• Served chilled
• Naturally gluten-free
• No gelatin nor aquafaba
• Made with fresh strawberries

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Strawberries - Use fresh, ripe, and sweet strawberries. Frozen berries would also work but will need a little extra time to cook. 
• Cane Sugar - Vegan cane sugar dissolves as it’s heated with the strawberries. Another preferred granulated sugar can be used instead.
• Cornstarch - Just a little cornstarch helps to thicken the strawberry sauce. Arrowroot powder would work as well.
• Vanilla - Vanilla extract adds a warm flavor and balance to the strawberries.
• Vegan Cream Cheese - This gives the mousse its creaminess. Use just half a container of neutrally flavored cream cheese such as Kite Hill, Daiya, Trader Joe’s, or Violife. You can use a brand that has a stronger cheese flavor like Miyokos if you want the mousse to taste more like cheesecake.
• Vegan Whipped Topping - Half a container adds a light, airiness to the mousse. Use the kind from the freezer section such as Coco Whip.

How to Make Vegan Strawberry Mousse

Here are some quick visual steps. The full recipe with exact measurements can be found on the recipe card below.

Dice most of the strawberries. Save a few to use for toppings. Add the diced strawberries and sugar to a medium or small pot. Place the pot over medium heat on the stove. Stir the strawberries occasionally as they cook down for 10 minutes. 

Stir in the cornstarch and cook the sauce for 2 more minutes. At this point, it should be a thick mixture. Take the pot off of the heat. Stir in the vanilla and let the sauce cool for 10 minutes.

Puree the strawberries to your desired consistency in a blender or with a hand mixer. Reserve ½ cup of sauce for the bottom fruit layer of the servings. Next, beat the cream cheese into the strawberry sauce. Beat it for a full 3 minutes as this will help fluff the mousse up by incorporating air into it. Then, gently fold the whipped topping into the mousse. 

Create a layer of strawberry sauce in four small containers. Then, divide the mousse evenly across them. Chill them by either freezing them for 1 hour or refrigerating them for 2 hours. Top the mousse with strawberry slices and enjoy them right away or save them for later!

Recipe Variation Ideas

• Top it with whipped topping and vegan chocolate chips.
• Sprinkle granola or chopped nuts on top for some crunchiness.
• Try this recipe with other fruit such as blueberries or raspberries.
• Use this mousse as a dip for fruit or cookies like these ladyfingers.

No Waste Ideas

• Dip fresh fruit in the remaining whipped topping.
• Use the rest of the vegan cream cheese to make Cream Cheese Frosting or Thin Mint Truffles.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Decadent Vegan Dessert Recipes 

• Tiramisu
• Tres Leches Cake
• Butterscotch Sauce
• Carrot Cake Cupcakes

I hope you loved this Vegan Strawberry Mousse!