Pumpkin Mousse: No Bake Pumpkin Puree Dessert

Absolutely. Canned pumpkin puree is actually what I typically use as it’s very convenient. Just make sure to use a quality brand and it’s 100% pumpkin puree with no additives. Alternatively, if you’re looking for the best pumpkin puree dessert, use homemade puree.

Both mousse and pudding are soft, fluffy desserts that don’t require any baking. However, pudding is made by cooking milk with sugar and adding cornstarch to thicken the mixture. Mousse, on the other hand, is made by folding whipped cream into a flavored sugar base. Essentially, while pudding is cooked, mousse is not. The folding, versus cooking, process gives mousse a lighter, more airy texture with a fluffier consistency. Additionally, mousse is typically served chilled or frozen, while pudding can be enjoyed warm, at room temperature or chilled.

• Both pudding and mousse can be enjoyed cold; however, only mousse can be frozen while only pudding can be served warm.
• Pudding requires cooking on the stovetop, while mousse does not.
• Mousse is much lighter and fluffier than pudding.

While you can serve the mousse immediately, I recommend chilling the dessert for at least 1 hour, or ideally 8 hours.

It sure is! Made with ingredients like pumpkin puree, brown sugar, cream cheese, and cool whip, this recipe for pumpkin mousse is generally considered safe for children. However, please be mindful of any dietary restrictions!

You can serve this 10-minute pumpkin mousse recipe any which way you like – as a dip, layered with whipped cream in mason jars, and more. It’s the perfect dessert to serve at various holiday parties because while it’s incredibly simple to make, it’s elegant looking – so it’s easy to fool people into thinking you went to a lot of effort. (Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me!)

Below are a few fun ways to serve this mousse dessert at your any holiday gathering:

• Halloween: The orange hue of this mousse makes it a natural addition to your Halloween menu! Try serving the pumpkin fluff in an Oreo pie crust or as a parfait with layers of Oreo crumbs! Make sure you use festive Halloween gummy worms as a topping for a touch of spooky fun!
• Thanksgiving: Forget fussing around with pumpkin pie and opt for elegant, yet easy pumpkin mousse instead! Crumble a few gingersnaps into individual serving glasses and add the mousse. Finish it off with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon!
• Christmas: Deck out your holiday with beautiful mousse martinis! Crumble a few gingersnaps into martini glasses and top with mousse. Garnish the glass with whipped cream, sugared cranberries, and edible gold flakes!
• More pumpkin: If you’re a big fan of pumpkin, make it the star of your dinner party by serving Pumpkin Dinner Shells for dinner and pairing your mousse with Pumpkin Martinis for dessert!

Expert-tip: If you are going for a pretty aesthetic, make sure you use a pastry bag to pipe the pumpkin dessert into individual serving glasses.

Toppings and garnishes are (arguably) the best part of any dessert! Plus, they are a great way to add your own personal flare and really customize this pumpkin mousse recipe.

If you are serving this pumpkin puree dessert at a party, try setting up a toppings bar so your guests can customize their dessert with their favorite combination of toppings. To set up a toppings bar, serve your mousse in small cups or glasses and arrange toppings in individual small bowls to the right of the mousse. Don’t forget to set out spoons and plenty of napkins at the end of the table so your guests can grab them before enjoying their personalized dessert! Below are some delicious topping ideas to help fancy up your pumpkin pie mousse.

Expert tip: There are two ways to crush cookies and crackers quickly and easily for toppings. First, you can use a food processor and pulse to the cookies/crackers until they resemble thick crumbs. Or you can place the cookies/crackers in a resealable bag and use a rolling pin or the flat side of a meat mallet to crush them into crumbs!

• Whipped cream: Fluffy whipped cream is a classic garnish for mousse. However, frosting made from cool whip or this healthier whipped yogurt topping work too.
• Cinnamon: A sprinkling of ground cinnamon is the perfect way to add a touch of cozy, warming flavor!
• Gingersnap cookies: Nothing say holiday mouse like warming, crunchy gingersnaps (crushed or whole)!
• Sprinkles and non-perils: Sprinkles are a fun way to add a pop of color to your no bake pumpkin dessert!
• Toffee bits: Chopped Heath bars or toffee bits are a great way to add a bit of nutty flavor and crunchy flavor to your creamy dessert!
• Oreos: Oreos (crushed or whole) make a delicious garnish for mousse! The black and orange combination is especially great for celebrating Halloween!
• Graham crackers: Subtly sweet and slightly nutty graham crackers (crushed or whole) are a perfect topping for this cozy cheesecake mousse!
• Wafers: Chocolate or vanilla wafers are a sweet and crisp garnish idea!
• Baking chips: Your favorite baking chip, such as chocolate, white chocolate, caramel, butterscotch, and cinnamon all work beautifully as a topping for mousse!
• Sugared Cranberries: Gem-like cranberries are the perfect garnish for the holidays! They offer a pleasant sweet and tart flavor that complements pumpkin beautifully!
• Nuts: Candied nuts are a fantastic way to add welcoming crunch along with a touch of sweet, nutty flavor!
• Granola: Crispy, crunchy granola is a great topping if you are looking for a slightly healthier alternative! (Chocolate granola is so good with pumpkin mousse!)

Mousse pumpkin is the perfect fluffy, light, and deliciously rich make-ahead dessert or afternoon sweet snack! I personally recommend making this no bake pumpkin dessert a few hours in advance as it tastes best after the flavors have had time to develop and marry.

While this pumpkin fluff recipe will keep for several days in the refrigerator, it tastes best if made no more than 1 day in advance. After you prepare the mousse, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. Do not add toppings or garnishes until just before serving. If you want to serve this dessert parfait-style, wait to layer the crushed cookies until just before serving to ensure they remain crunchy!

Mousse is a delicate, perishable dessert made with dairy products; therefore, it should not remain at room temperature for more than 2 hours. While this pumpkin puree dessert will hold up at room temperature for a longer period, leaving mousse out of refrigeration for over 2 hours will caused bacteria to grow a level that can cause food-illness.