If there’s one dessert that feels fancy and low-effort at the same time, it’s a good chocolate mousse. And this Lazy Girl Dark Chocolate Orange Mousse? Oh, she’s silky, rich, citrusy, and ready to impress without any of the drama.

I’m absolutely obsessed with the combination of dark chocolate and orange. It’s classic, it’s cozy, and it just feels a little bit more elevated than your average chocolate dessert. But don’t worry—this mousse doesn’t involve any complicated steps, fancy equipment, or endless whisking. If you can melt chocolate and whip cream, you’ve got this.

Why You’ll Love This Dark Chocolate Orange Mousse

Only a handful of ingredients: Chocolate, cream, orange, sugar. That’s basically it.
No baking, no eggs, no stress: It’s a luxurious treat for the lazy girl.
Big flavor payoff: The orange zest and juice add a fresh, citrusy brightness that blends warmly with the rich dense dark chocolate leaving you with a decadent dessert.
Customizable sweetness: You can easily adjust how sweet you want your mousse to be.
Perfect for make-ahead desserts: Make it a few hours ahead and let it chill until you’re ready to wow everyone.

Why It’s a Lazy Girl Dream Dessert

This Lazy Girl Dark Chocolate Orange Mousse checks all the right boxes: minimal effort, maximum payoff, no baking required, and you’ll look like you spent hours in the kitchen. (We can keep the real story between us.)

It’s decadent without being heavy, sweet without being cloying, and just citrusy enough to make it feel special. Honestly, you could whip this up on a random Tuesday and feel like you’re dining at a 5-star café.

What You’ll Need

Dark chocolate: 60% cocoa is ideal for richness but not an overpowering bitterness
Heavy cream: Stick to 30–35% fat for the dreamiest texture
Orange zest: Fresh is key here!
Orange juice: Again, fresh is the way to go.
A pinch of salt: Chocolate always needs a little salt
Powdered sugar: Depending on how sweet you like it, add a little (or a lot)
Garnish: Use chocolate shavings, more orange zest, or both

A Quick Walkthrough of How It’s Made

Melt the Chocolate
Start by melting your chocolate gently with half of the cream. You can use a microwave (30-second bursts, stirring in between) or a double boiler on the stove. I personally prefer the double boiler method as it’s a lot gentler and you can control the temperature a lot better. Let it cool slightly before adding the remaining cream.
Add the Flavors
Add the orange zest, orange juice, and salt to your mixture. Start whipping using an electric whisk. until you get soft peaks.
Add the Sugar:
As you whip, gradually incorporate the powdered sugar. You want to keep tasting it as you go to make sure you don’t add too much or too little. Be careful not to overwhip. You want your mousse light and airy, not stiff like whipped cream frosting.
Garnish
Top with extra chocolate shavings, a little more orange zest.
Chill
Transfer the mousse into serving glasses, a tray or bowls and refrigerate for at least one hour. If you are in a rush, you can also pop it into the freezer for 15-20 minutes and it will set just as well.
Serve!

Tips to Make Your Chocolate Orange Mousse Even Better

Don’t rush the melting: Burnt chocolate is a tragedy we don’t need. Keep the heat low and stir often. This is also why I prefer the double boiler to the microwave.
Use freshly squeezed orange juice: Trust me, bottled juice just doesn’t bring the same sparkle.
Taste as you go: Start with 1/2 cup of powdered sugar, and add more if you want it sweeter after folding in the chocolate.
Use high-quality chocolate: Since chocolate is the main flavor, pick a bar you actually enjoy eating!

If you’re looking for a dessert that’s fancy enough for guests but chill enough for a lazy night in, this mousse is it. Chocolate + orange = true love forever.

Mousse doesn’t have to be hard and this lazy girl recipe is one I’ve followed so many times. Truly, this recipe feels like zero effort and always gets a phenomenal response.

Now for the full recipe…