Just as blueberries sing their swan song for the summer, I learn (secondhand, I might add, through our youngest child) that they're the most favoritest fruit of the man to whom I have been married for almost 15 years.
Me: “Why didn't I know that?”
Him: “It just never came up.”
Me: “________________.”
Now if I didn't do for a living what I do for a living, then that might be an almost-normal exchange between two marrieds.
As I adapted this recipe from Martha Stewart in an effort to make the most of these last reasonably-priced, utterly bursting with flavor, pints of blueberries, I learned something else. All I really did was to make a jam of sorts with these fresh berries and fold that into whipped cream to make mousse.
I haven't done it myself, but I'd be willing to wager that this mousse would be nearly as good (not exactly as good, since fresh pureed berries are a wonderful thing) if you simply strained some blueberry jam and went on with things.
It's the crust that makes the whole thing worthwhile, anyhow. Thin & crispy chocolate chip cookies made with mini chocolate chips, ground into crumbs, are mixed with some melted butter and sugar, and then pressed into a square baking pan.
The mousse is poured on top and made smooth, and then frozen.
You really could use any berry at all here in place of blueberries. It's the smooth, chilled berry mousse and the salty sweetness of the chocolate chip cookie crust, that make this a fast late summer favorite.
Gluten-free No-Bake Blueberry Mousse Pie |
- 1 1/2 cups finely ground [url href=”http://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/thin-crispy-chocolate-chip-cookies-how-they-get-that-way-recipe/”]gluten-free Thin & Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies[/url]
- 1/3 cup (67g) granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) powdered unflavored gelatin
- 3 tablespoons cool water
- 3 cups fresh blueberries, rinsed and patted dry
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream, chilled
- 3 tablespoons (22g) confectioners' sugar
- Grease and line a 9-inch square baking pan with a piece of unbleached parchment paper that overlaps two sides of the pan. Grease the parchment paper, and lie another sheet of unbleached parchment paper on top that overlaps the other two sides of the pan. Set the pan aside.
- In a large bowl, place the cookie crumbs, 1/3 cup granulated sugar and melted butter, and mix to combine. Scrape the cookie mixture into the prepared pan, and press firmly into one even, compact layer. Place the pan in the freezer while you make the mousse.
- In a small bowl, place the gelatin and cool water. Stir to combine, and allow to sit. The gelatin will swell.
- Puree 2 1/2 cups of blueberries in a blender until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve, and discard the seeds.
- In a medium-size saucepan, place the blueberry puree and 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and mix to combine. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture begins to simmer (about 3 minutes). Add the swelled gelatin to the blueberry mixture and continue to cook, still stirring, until the gelatin is dissolved (about another minute more). Remove from the heat and allow to cool until no longer hot to the touch.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, place the heavy cream and whip, at medium-high speed, until stiff but not dry peaks form, adding the confectioners' sugar just as the cream begins to thicken. Slowly pour the cooled blueberry mixture along the side of the bowl of whipped cream, and gently fold it into the cream until only a few white streaks remain.
- Remove the baking pan from the freezer, and pour the blueberry-cream mixture on top of the crust. Smooth the top with an offset (or angled) spatula, and dot with the remaining blueberries on top of the mousse.
- Place the pie in the freezer until firm. Once frozen, slice into 12 squares. About 15 minutes before you are ready to serve the pie, place it in the refrigerator to thaw a bit. Serve chilled.
Oh, and since it is, undeniably, late summer and that means back-to-school, I'll be sure to share some of my favorite lunchbox staples for my 3 kids.
Love,
Me
P.S. To all of you who have bought a copy of My Cookbook, thank you so much for your support! It means the world to me (not to mention soothes my fragile ego).
Jennifer says
This looks absolutely delicious, my spoon wants to dive right in. A perfect compliment to a cup of organic green tea.
Sara says
Nicole,
Bought 2 copies of your book: one for me and one for my uncle who’s had to go gluten free. (Actually it’s for my aunt who will be baking for my uncle! : ) Mine should be here tomorrow. Can’t wait to try out the recipes. Quick question: in your Cup4Cup where it lists grams, can that be converted to ounces and will the mixture be the same? Thanks again. Can’t wait to make the blueberry mousse pie.
Nicole says
Hi, Sara,
Thank you so much for your support in buying 2 copies of my cookbook! So the book is for your aunt, but the gift is really to your uncle. :) You can always convert grams to ounces (about 28 grams/ounce), but if you are thinking actually of a volume measurement (like cups), you can’t since it won’t be precise enough. Does that help? Hope so!
xoxo Nicole
bookladyDavina says
ooh.. so going to have to make this soon.. blueberries are my hubby’s fav as well and he was very much in favor when I mentioned the name of this recipe. :) just turned all the blueberries I had into some very yummy blueberry syrup (which btw, makes a wonderful marinade for roasts…) but we still have some of the blueberry jam from last year, so maybe i can use that for the first go-round (need to get more berries to make more jam as well…) need a celebratory dessert that i won’t need to buy much for and this sounds perfect :) (after a very unexpected lay off, hubby just got offered a new job, woohoo!!)
Nicole says
Getting a new job most definitely calls for a celebration, Davina! Especially in this economy. So glad he landed on his feet. Interesting that the syrup makes a nice marinade. I hadn’t thought of that. Congratulations to your husband – and to you!
xoxo Nicole
Kristi says
My Mom used to make this with raspberries and it was a favorite! I am very excited to make this!
Thanks!
Nicole says
Funny, Kristi, my mother used to make a raspberry yogurt pie, made of cool whip and raspberry yogurt in a premade graham cracker crust. I couldn’t escape the memory of that while I was making this!
xoxo Nik
Kristi says
OMG NIK, that is it. I just asked my Mom and it is the raspberry yogourt and whip on a graham crust. I think I like your rendition better!
Nicole says
No way! That is too funny. If memory serves (and it usually doesn’t), it was a Weight Watchers’ special. With nonfat cool whip, maybe?
xoxo Nik