2 Ingredient Vanilla Mousse (aka Whipped Pudding) (2024)

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Vanilla mousse may not be something you’ve heard of before, but I’m here to tell you it's a life changing dessert hack. Make this two ingredient no bake dessert in just 5 minutes and become the a hero in your house!

2 Ingredient Vanilla Mousse (aka Whipped Pudding) (1)

“This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

Two Ingredient Vanilla Mousse is so versatile!

This easy vanilla mousse is great in so many different desserts. You can make it in just five minutes after dinner when you just need something sweet, right now OR, make it in advance to serve on it’s own at a party.

Served on it’s own, it’s a decadent dessert, that you can top with sliced fruit, crushed cookies, or chocolate shavings depending on the occasion. Want to mix healthy with a treat? Try using this on top of my healthy apple donuts in place of the peanut butter...double yum!

2 Ingredient Vanilla Mousse (aka Whipped Pudding) (2)

Vanilla mousse is similar to a vanilla pudding filling in pies, and can be used as a custard cake filling or as a whipped frosting on simple cupcakes. This mousse recipe’s versatility is one of the reasons I love it so much!

But reallythe best part is just how quickly and easily you can make it.

Ingredients

2 Ingredient Vanilla Mousse (aka Whipped Pudding) (3)

A few notes on the ingredients:

  • Instant Pudding: I have only tested this recipe with Jell-o instant vanilla pudding. Other vanilla pudding mixes will likely work, but be sure they say “instant”, not “cook & serve”. Also, pay attention to the size of the box. This recipe is written for instant pudding mixes that are 3.4-3.9oz boxes, the little ones, not the big ones.
  • Heavy whipping cream: It’s a must. No substitutions this time.

How to make vanilla mousse (step by step instructions)

To make things even simpler, here are step-by-step photos to help you every step of the way.

This two ingredient dessert has easy to find ingredients and the directions to make it are just as easy.

Pour the instant vanilla pudding mix in a medium sized mixing bowl. To that, add the heavy whipping cream.

2 Ingredient Vanilla Mousse (aka Whipped Pudding) (4)

With a hand mixer, start mixing slowly at first (so you don’t get pudding mix powder everywhere) and then once the two ingredients are combined, beat until you get a light and fluffy whipped pudding mixture.

2 Ingredient Vanilla Mousse (aka Whipped Pudding) (5)

The consistency should be close to a thick buttercream frosting. Once you are done mixing it’s ready to use. If you aren’t enjoying it right away, store in the fridge until you are ready to eat.

2 Ingredient Vanilla Mousse (aka Whipped Pudding) (6)

For all measurements and full directions, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you serve vanilla mousse?

I like to serve vanilla mousse in small ice cream dishes and then put out toppings for people to customize. It’s a fun way to let people feel included in the process. Toppings like crushed graham crackers, crushed sandwich cookies, fresh or frozen fruit, even granola or fun cereals all work as topping ideas.

What else can you make with vanilla mousse?

Vanilla mousse is a great substitute for a quick vanilla custard filling for cakes and cupcakes. If you add some other fun toppings to it and make a double recipe, the mousse works as a no- bake pie filling as well.

How to store the mousse for later

This quick vanilla mousse recipe is great to make ahead of time. Mix it all up and then put into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to one week. I like to use glass containers when I store this recipe. It keeps the vanilla flavor pure and these containers tend to keep their seal a little bit tighter than some of the plastic ones.

To keep a film or crust from forming on the top, place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the whipped pudding for best results.

Another storage trick is to grab mason jars in the size you want to serve from and then portion out the mousse before you store it. Saves a ton of time and clean-up on the day you want to serve them. Or use this tip as simple portion control 😉. I like the 4 oz size for this recipe.

One more simple tip

This 2 ingredient vanilla mousse recipe makes a great filling for homemade donuts! I know, who knew? You’ll want to make the mixture a little bit thinner than a frosting, so it’s simple to pipe into the center of your donut.

Do this by simply adding a bit more heavy cream as you are mixing it up. It’s the perfect solution for a quick donut filling when you are short on time. Looking for a good donut recipe? Check out this one from my friend Anita, at Wild Thistle Kitchen.

Looking for more simple dessert recipes? Try these:

  • Puppy Chow
  • No Churn Mint Chip Ice Cream
  • Apple Donuts

When you try this recipe and love it 😍 let me know by leaving a comment below or 5 ⭐ rating!

📖 Recipe

2 Ingredient Vanilla Mousse

Marni Katz

This simple dessert recipe is great on it's own or as a base for many other desserts. Two ingredients and just 5 minutes from start to finish.

4.22 from 113 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe

Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 7 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Calories 334 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 package instant vanilla pudding (3.4-3.9 oz package)
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream

Instructions

  • Pour the instant vanilla pudding mix in a medium sized mixing bowl. To that, add the heavy whipping cream.

  • With a hand mixer, start mixing slowly at first (so you don’t get pudding mix powder everywhere) and then once the two ingredients are combined, beat until you get a light and fluffy whipped pudding mixture.

  • Once you are done mixing it’s ready to use. It should be the consistency of a thick buttercream.

  • If you aren’t enjoying it right away, store in the fridge until you are ready to eat.

Notes

You can make the whipped pudding thicker or thinner depending on how much heavy whipping cream you add. If you are looking for a thicker consistency (to eat with a spoon, or use as a cake filling), add a little less heavy cream.

If you want to use it as a donut filling, use a little more, so that it’s easily pipeable.

Pay attention to the size of the box of pudding. You are looking for the little guys (3.4 - 3.9 oz) not the bigger ones.

Nutrition

Calories: 334kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 2gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 132mgPotassium: 63mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 1166IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 1mg

Keyword 2 ingredient dessert, vanilla mousse, vanilla pudding, whipped pudding

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2 Ingredient Vanilla Mousse (aka Whipped Pudding) (12)

About Marni Katz

Marni Katz is the recipe developer, photographer and writer behind Simple Gray T-Shirt. She wants to help people keep things simple in the kitchen. With simple recipes, easy menu ideas and plenty of tips and tricks along the way, she wants getting a meal on the table to be as simple as putting on your favorite gray tee!
"I want to inspire you to get back in the kitchen and do this, because you can!"

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rita Williams

    2 Ingredient Vanilla Mousse (aka Whipped Pudding) (13)
    I added some coffee to it and used it as a filling for a 3 layer chocolate cake with coffee icing and coffee filling. It was delicious and light.

    Reply

  2. Leanna

    I did this but I used pistachio instant pudding and sprinkled pistachios on top and it was FANTASTIC and so easy!

    Reply

  3. Michelle M

    2 Ingredient Vanilla Mousse (aka Whipped Pudding) (14)
    I added chopped bananas, and crushed graham cracker to the top, and it was a delightful dessert for the family!

    Reply

  4. Louise

    Can you add raspberry flavoring?

    Reply

    • Marni Katz

      I'm sure you can...if you can find raspberry flavored pudding you could also use that instead of the vanilla pudding 😉

      Reply

  5. Jessica

    Can this be used as filling for my 8 in cake? And is it stable enough to sit out for few hours during party? Thx

    Reply

    • Marni Katz

      Yes, it can definitely be used in a filling for a cake. It should be stable enough for 2-3 hours at room temp if it's not too hot 🙂

      Reply

  6. T. Pollet

    2 Ingredient Vanilla Mousse (aka Whipped Pudding) (15)
    Used this recipe today with chocolate pudding mix, added creamy whipped topping and a chocolate hazelnut rolled wafer for decoration. Perfect for home date night. Thanks for sharing! Will be looking forward to trying new flavors.

    Reply

  7. Yvonne

    I actually made this recipe today 😊😊😊!!!....this is amazing! I'm using it for fruit dips at our yard party this summer!!!...oh my!😃...your recipe is a keeper!👍🏾❤️❣️

    Reply

    • Marni Katz

      I'm so glad you loved it! It's a perfect fruit dip...I hope all your friends and family enjoy it 🙂

      Reply

  8. Veronica kucic

    I just like to know if I can add cacao powder with vanilla instant pudding n cream to whip up together

    Reply

    • Marni Katz

      Veronica - That should work just fine. Can also use chocolate instant pudding 🙂

      Reply

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2 Ingredient Vanilla Mousse (aka Whipped Pudding) (2024)

FAQs

Is mousse just whipped pudding? ›

Mousse is made by folding beaten egg whites or whipped cream into a cold milk and sugar base. Unlike pudding, mousse is not cooked and the addition of air to the mixture leads to a fluffier consistency and lighter texture. Mousse is typically served chilled or frozen.

What is the difference between a pudding and a mousse? ›

Pudding is meant to be thick, soft, and silky, and is, therefore, a lot less airy than mousse. This difference in texture lies in preparation. Pudding requires heat to come together with the right consistency, whereas mousse simply needs to be whipped together.

What is Bavarian cream filling made of? ›

Bavarian Cream is made from a Crème Anglaise base (milk, vanilla, egg yolks and sugar), thickened with Gelatine and lightened with Whipped Cream. Pastry Cream (or Crème Pâtissière) is relatively similar to a Crème Anglaise but is thickened on the stove with Cornstarch (or sometimes flour).

What is whipped mousse made of? ›

A simple yet elegant dessert. While it uses only a few ingredients, chocolate, eggs, butter, vanilla, and heavy cream, its chocolate flavor is rich and its texture is silky smooth and airy, almost foamy. And foamy is an apt description as "mousse" is French for 'froth' or 'foam'.

What is a substitute for heavy whipping cream in mousse? ›

In terms of taste and consistency, a combination of half-and-half and butter is one of the best substitutes for heavy whipping cream—it tastes just like the real thing. As its name suggests, half-and-half is made up of half whole milk and half cream, and its fat content is typically between 10.5% and 18%.

What is traditional mousse made from? ›

Mousse is the stuff of dessert dreams: incredibly light and also ridiculously rich. At its most basic, mousse is made by folding aerators into a base. These aerators can be whipped cream, meringue (egg whites + sugar), pâte à bombe (whole eggs and/or egg yolks + sugar), or a combination.

What are the four basic components of a mousse? ›

Four basic components of a Mousse

Mousse is a light and airy dessert made with eggs, sugar, heavy cream, and flavoring. All mousses have four basic components: aerated egg yolks, whipped egg whites, whipped cream, and a flavoring base.

What makes a good mousse? ›

The whipped cream and egg whites also provide fat and protein, which give the mousse its rich and smooth mouthfeel. Additionally, the use of high-quality chocolate can contribute to the creaminess of the mousse, as the cocoa butter in the chocolate can help to create a smooth and silky texture.

What are the 3 types of pudding? ›

Baked, steamed, and boiled puddings

These puddings are baked, steamed, or boiled. Depending on its ingredients, such a pudding may be served as a part of the main course or as a dessert.

Are Boston cream and Bavarian cream the same? ›

Bavarian cream involves milk, eggs, sugar, and often vanilla extract, the same as Boston cream. But then the two ingredient lists diverge: Bavarian cream includes heavy cream and gelatin, while Boston cream involves cornstarch.

What is Boston cream filling made of? ›

Boston cream pie filling is traditionally made with vanilla pastry cream that tastes similar to a custard or a pudding. It's made with milk, eggs, butter, and vanilla and uses cornstarch to stabilize the mixture. It's cooked on the stove in a pan and is an easy recipe to make.

Is vanilla custard the same as Bavarian cream? ›

Custard Isn't as Thick as Bavarian Cream

The texture of custard is thick and creamy but still pourable when warm. As it cools, it firms up but remains silky smooth. Bavarian cream recipes create an even thicker consistency, thanks to the addition of gelatin and whipped cream.

What is vanilla mousse made of? ›

Vanilla mousse is a fluffy mixture of vanilla custard and whipped cream topped with fresh fruit, more whipped cream, or white chocolate shavings. Make the vanilla custard yourself or save time and use instant vanilla pudding mix for a quick dessert.

Is mousse just pudding? ›

Traditionally, pudding gets its thick consistency from being cooked (which activates the cornstarch), while mousse is not cooked. Texture: Because these two creamy desserts use different methods of thickening, the texture also varies. Pudding is semisolid and more dense, while mousse has a lighter, airier texture.

What are two components in a mousse? ›

Sweet mousses are typically made with whipped egg whites, whipped cream, or both, and flavored with one or more of chocolate, coffee, caramel, puréed fruits, or various herbs and spices, such as mint or vanilla.

Is whipped cream and mousse the same? ›

Dairy-based mousses are usually made with whipped Cream (called crème. A dessert mousse is a light, airy concoction that whips air bubbles into a cream or custard. The most common type of Mousse is chocolate — it can be made with white chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate.

What is mousse filling made of? ›

Heavy Cream – Heaving cream or heavy whipping cream can be used. To make dairy free and vegan chocolate mousse cake filling use coconut cream. Powdered Sugar – You need a fine sugar like powdered sugar to help sweeten the whipped cream and give it a smooth consistency.

What is considered a mousse? ›

mousse, savoury or sweet dish with the consistency of a dense foam, composed of a puréed chief ingredient mixed with stiffly beaten egg whites, whipped cream, or both. Mousses are almost always cold dishes, and sweet mousses are sometimes served frozen.

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