chocolate avocado mousse with pistachio macadamia nut topping

chocolate avocado mousse with pistachio macadamia nut topping...i bet you can't say that fast five times ;)

apparently i have been on a major mousse kick lately. but hey, i don't hate it. and neither does my husband ;). i remember the first time i discovered that you could use avocados for mousse. i was completely baffled. it was too good to be true! but nope, it's true...so very true. this mousse does have a bit of an avocado taste, but i think it compliments the chocolate flavor nicely. serve this up for your guests, and they will be so impressed with your decadent dessert. and if you choose to leave off the whipped topping, you've got yourself an easy, delicious, vegan dish.

chocolate avocado mousse with pistachio macadamia nut topping

serves: 4

ingredients:

• 2 hass avocados, medium sized and very ripe [should be soft to the touch]
• 4 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 tbsp. local, raw honey
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

for the topping:

• 1/3 cup raw macadamia nuts
• 1/3 cup raw pistachios
• 2 tbsp. grade a maple syrup

first, prepare the topping. add the nuts to the food processor and pulse a few times. you want the nutty texture, so don't over blend. in a bowl, mix the nuts with the maple syrup until they are all fully covered. place on parchment paper and bake at 350 F for 8 minutes, being careful not to burn. remove from oven to cool.

for the mousse, add all the ingredients for the mousse into a food processor. blend until smooth and creamy. transfer to the refrigerator to cool before serving, at least one hour. top with whipped cream [homemade or store bough - your preference!] and nut topping. 

i think it's pretty obvious i have a major sweet tooth. i love this recipe because it makes me feel a little less guilty about indulging, knowing that i am getting some added nutrition. enjoy!