If you’ve ever craved an effortlessly elegant fall dessert, Pumpkin Mousse might just be your new go-to recipe. With its dreamy texture, rich pumpkin flavor, and gentle warmth from pumpkin pie spices, this delightful treat feels like autumn in a bowl. The best part? It’s no-bake, comes together in just minutes, and is guaranteed to charm your family and guests alike. Whether you’re serving it at a festive gathering or indulging in a personal pumpkin moment, Pumpkin Mousse promises a delicious escape with each fluffy spoonful.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Every ingredient in this Pumpkin Mousse recipe has a purpose, bringing color, creaminess, or irresistible flavor to your finished mousse. Simplicity here is the secret—nothing fancy, just quality pantry staples that work magic together.

Pumpkin Puree: Use canned pumpkin puree for convenience and a velvety pumpkin punch—just make sure it’s plain, not pumpkin pie filling.
Heavy Whipping Cream: This is what makes the mousse cloud-like and airy, while adding the perfect rich body.
Cream Cheese (softened): Softened cream cheese gives the mousse a subtle tangy backbone and ensures extra smoothness.
Granulated Sugar: Brings light sweetness and helps balance the earthiness of pumpkin.
Brown Sugar: Adds a gentle molasses depth that complements pumpkin flavors beautifully.
Vanilla Extract: Gives the mousse rounded, comforting warmth and enhances every other flavor.
Pumpkin Pie Spice: The essential autumnal blend that brings your mousse to cozy, aromatic life.
Cinnamon: A pinch more cinnamon intensifies the warming spice and aroma.
Salt: Don’t skip this tiny pinch! It sharpens all the flavors and keeps the mousse from tasting flat.

How to Make Pumpkin Mousse

Step 1: Cream the Cream Cheese

Start by beating your softened cream cheese in a large mixing bowl until it’s dreamy and ultra-smooth. This will give your Pumpkin Mousse a perfectly luscious base without any lumps, so take your time and scrape down the sides if you need to.

Step 2: Blend in the Pumpkin and Flavors

Next, add your pumpkin puree to the cream cheese, along with both sugars, vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Mix everything together until the mixture is silky and uniform. You’ll already see the gorgeous golden hue and smell those classic autumn spices!

Step 3: Whip the Cream

Pour the heavy whipping cream into a separate bowl and whip with a hand mixer until firm, billowy peaks form. This step infuses your mousse with that irresistible, fluffy-light texture Pumpkin Mousse is known for—don’t skimp on it!

Step 4: Fold Until Fluffy

Gently fold the whipped cream into your pumpkin mixture. Work slowly and lovingly: you don’t want to deflate all that air you just whipped in. Stop folding as soon as you don’t see any more streaks—now you have the silkiest Pumpkin Mousse base.

Step 5: Chill and Set

Spoon your finished mousse into serving dishes, glasses, or ramekins. Pop them into the fridge for at least 2 hours so they firm up and get that perfect mousse texture. It’s hard to wait, but the chill time really does make all the difference!

How to Serve Pumpkin Mousse

Garnishes

Dressing up Pumpkin Mousse is half the fun! Give each serving a swirl of whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg right before serving. For a little crunch, try topping with crushed gingersnap cookies, candied pecans, or even a sprinkle of toasted coconut for a festive touch.

Side Dishes

This mousse shines all on its own, but if you want to craft a full dessert spread, it plays beautifully alongside crisp fall apple slices, buttery shortbread cookies, or dainty biscotti for dipping. Warm spiced tea or coffee also make a dreamy pairing.

Creative Ways to Present

Take your Pumpkin Mousse up a notch by layering it in parfait glasses with crushed cookies, or serve it in hollowed-out mini pumpkins for a showstopping holiday centerpiece. Little mason jars or vintage teacups make each serving extra special—perfect for parties or gifting.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you’re lucky enough to have Pumpkin Mousse leftovers, simply cover each ramekin or dish tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to three days. The flavors deepen as it sits, making it just as delicious the next day!

Freezing

Pumpkin Mousse freezes surprisingly well. To freeze, portion into individual airtight containers and place in the freezer for up to one month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving. The texture remains creamy, though it can be a tad denser, so give it a good stir after thawing if needed.

Reheating

Since this is a chilled, no-bake dessert, there’s no reheating required! Simply take your mousse out of the fridge, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy. If it’s been frozen, just let it thaw completely in the refrigerator before serving.

FAQs

Can I use homemade pumpkin puree instead of canned?

Absolutely! Homemade pumpkin puree brings a fresh depth to Pumpkin Mousse—just make sure it’s well-drained and not watery, so you keep that dreamy, thick texture intact.

Is this Pumpkin Mousse gluten-free?

Yes, the mousse itself contains no gluten. Just double-check your flavorings and toppings, and you’ll have a gluten-free, crowd-pleasing dessert.

Can I make this Pumpkin Mousse ahead of time?

Definitely! In fact, it tastes even better after chilling overnight. It’s a perfect make-ahead dessert for holidays or dinner parties.

What if I don’t have pumpkin pie spice?

No worries—you can make your own with ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove. Adjust to your liking for that custom, signature autumn flavor.

Is there a lighter version of Pumpkin Mousse?

You can substitute whipped topping for the heavy cream and use reduced-fat cream cheese. This makes the mousse less rich but still utterly delicious and fluffy.

Final Thoughts

I’m so excited for you to try this Pumpkin Mousse and experience how effortless and irresistible it is. With just a few simple ingredients and no baking required, it always earns rave reviews and shouts of “more please!” Don’t wait for a special occasion—bring a bowl of autumn sunshine into your kitchen and enjoy every blissful, spiced spoonful!

Pumpkin Mousse Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 6 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (includes chilling)
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Indulge in the creamy and flavorful delight of Pumpkin Mousse, a perfect no-bake dessert for the fall season. This easy-to-make mousse is a heavenly combination of pumpkin puree, cream cheese, and warm spices, topped with a dollop of whipped cream.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 oz cream cheese, softened

Additional Ingredients:

¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of salt

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prepare the Pumpkin Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add the pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt. Mix until well combined and smooth.
Whip the Cream: In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
Combine the Mixtures: Gently fold the whipped cream into the pumpkin mixture until fully incorporated and fluffy.
Chill and Serve: Spoon the mousse into serving dishes or ramekins. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to set. Serve chilled, optionally topped with extra whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.