gelatine leaves, each measuring 11½cm x 6½cm (4½in x 2½in), broken into small pieces
300ml
(½ pint) double cream
150g
(5oz) good quality white chocolate, finely chopped
20g
fresh basil leaves, plus extra small leaves to garnish
2
medium eggs
50g
(2oz) caster sugar
Cocoa powder, to dust
Directions
Step 1
Put the gelatine leaves into a bowl and cover with 75ml (3fl oz) boiling water. Stir until the gelatine completely dissolves. Next, put the double cream, white chocolate and basil into a pan and gently heat, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate melts. Take off the heat and leave the mixture to infuse for about 10min.
Step 2
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar with an electric hand whisk until thick and moussey, about 5min - when you move the beaters through the mixture, they should leave a trail that's visible for a few seconds.
Step 3
Strain the basil mixture into the egg bowl, then pour in the gelatine water. Beat quickly to combine, then divide mixture among six glasses. Freeze for about 45min, then transfer to fridge until needed. Dust each mousse lightly with cocoa powder, garnish with basil and serve with Brandy Snaps or a similar crunchy biscuit, if you like.
An experienced and highly skilled team of food writers, stylists and digital content producers, the Good Housekeeping Cookery Team is a close-knit squad of food obsessives. Cookery Editor Emma Franklin is our resident chilli obsessive and barbecue expert, who spends an inordinate amount of time on holidays poking round the local supermarkets seeking out new and exciting foods. Senior Cookery Writer Alice Shields is a former pastry chef and baking fanatic who loves making bread and would have peanut butter with everything if she could. Her favourite carb is pasta, and our vibrant green spaghetti is her weeknight go-to. Lover of all things savoury, Senior Cookery Writer Grace Evans can be found eating crispy corn and nocellara olives at every opportunity, and will take the cheeseboard over dessert any time (though she cannot resist a slice of tres leches cake). With a wealth of professional kitchen know-how, culinary training and years of experience between them, they are all dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work (and if they don’t – we’ll have the answer for why*) every time (*90% of the time the answer is: “buy an separate oven thermometer”!).