Pumpkin Mousse

This rich, creamy Pumpkin Mousse is a fall dessert favorite. It’s beginner-friendly and requires little experience to whip up. Make this holiday mousse with a little time and a few common ingredients to create pumpkin spiced perfection — and no baking required!

In fact, you can whip up this delicious dessert in only 15 minutes of prep (plus two hours of chill time) and have it ready to go the moment you’re ready for it. It’s easy to make ahead and freezer-friendly too.

Why You'll Love This Pumpkin Mousse

• A simple and delicious fall dessert. As the seasons change, the demand for pumpkin spice everything goes up. Why? Because it’s delicious and classic! Add in the creamy richness of cream cheese and whipped cream and you’ve got an irresistible concoction of silky spice on your hands.
• It doubles as a dip. You can serve this pumpkin puree mousse on its own with a spoon, or as a dip with things like graham crackers, gingersnaps, or teddy graham — adapt it to whatever works for you.
• It’s easy to make. Making mousse with pumpkin is a lot easier to make than you think! If you haven't made homemade mousse before, then you will be pleasantly surprised. This easy no bake treat comes together in literally minutes with a handful of ingredients before it's ready to be set in the refrigerator.
• It has the best texture. The melt-in-your-mouth fluffiness of this mousse is thanks to whipped heavy cream, which helps the softer ingredients (like the cream cheese and pumpkin puree) hold a more structured shape. It’s silky smooth yet firm.
• Great for holiday parties. Pumpkin mousse cups are a crowd favorite and are sure to please guests at any event you make them for! You can also leave it as a family-style serving and take it to potlucks, provided your transit time is low and you have a place to refrigerate it before serving. Don’t anticipate leftovers — this one usually gets devoured quickly!

Ingredient Notes

To make this easy Pumpkin Mousse, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

• cream cheese - cream cheese helps give the mousse a silky consistency, but if you’re out, you can swap it with neufchatel cheese, ricotta, or a vegan cream cheese alternative.
• brown sugar - maple syrup or honey will work best as a 1:1 substitute for brown sugar.
• pumpkin pie spice - pumpkin pie spice is just a blend of spices, so you can make your own or use a store-bought blend. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger, clove, and allspice are all you’ll need. 
• pumpkin puree - you can use homemade pumpkin puree or the grocery store version. Either way, it’s important to note that pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie mix are not the same thing. Pumpkin puree only contains pumpkin, whereas pumpkin pie mix has a different texture and already includes sugar, spices, and other ingredients for pumpkin pie.
• vanilla extract - vanilla bean paste, though a little harder and more expensive to get your hands on, would amplify the flavors even more in this mousse recipe.
• heavy cream - you can also use a non-dairy version.
• sugar
• whipped cream - optional, for topping. There are several vegan whipped cream alternatives on the market that would work just fine in this recipe like coconut whipped cream or whipped cream made from almond milk.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, and hand mixer.

Toppings

Feel free to serve pumpkin mousse in individual cups as is. You can also top them with your favorite toppings. Try:

• whipped cream and a dusting of pumpkin pie spice
• crumbled graham crackers or gingersnap cookies
• whipped cream and sprinkles (customize the colors based on a holiday that you are serving this during)

How to Make the Best Pumpkin Mousse

1. Beat cheese. In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer and beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.

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2. Add sugar and spice. Add brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice and continue to beat until light and fluffy and fully blended together.

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3. Add pumpkin. Add the pumpkin puree and vanilla and mix until combined.

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4. Whip cream. In a medium mixing bowl, whip the cream using your hand mixer set on low-medium speed until you form soft peaks, about 1 minute. Add the granulated sugar and set the mixer to high and continue to whip until you reach stiff peaks, about 1 more minute.
5. Combine. Gently fold the whipping cream mixture into the pumpkin mixture until fully combined with no streaks visible.

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6. Chill. Transfer the mousse into individual sized serving cups. You can pipe them to make the transfer easier. At this stage, the mousse will be very soft. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let the mousse set. If you have time, leave it overnight.
7. Serve. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice on top.

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How to Serve

Pumpkin Mousse is delicious served on its own with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice on top.

If making this for a holiday dessert spread this fall, here are some other favorite fall desserts to include:

• Apple Pie
• Butternut Squash Bread
• Individual Apple Crisp
• Baked Apples
• Pecan Pie
• Apple Pie Bars

Storage and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Spoon the pumpkin mousse into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to four days. It may lose its shape and “flatten” a little over time, so use it or freeze as soon as possible.

How to Freeze

Transfer the leftover mousse into an airtight, freezer safe container or freezer bag and store for 2-3 months. To thaw the mousse, just transfer the bag into the refrigerator and let it thaw for several hours (or overnight) until it’s gone back to its original consistency.

More Pumpkin Recipes

• 20 Best Pumpkin Desserts
• Pumpkin Bread
• Pumpkin Pie
• Mini Pumpkin Pies
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Pumpkin Cornbread

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