Minted Chocolate Mousse with a Protein Boost

Partake Members Only - Early Exclusive Release

Holidays and sweets go hand in hand, and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception! From Irish soda bread to Guinness brownies, there are so many tempting treats this time of year. But if you’re looking for something festive, satisfying, and packed with protein, this Minted Chocolate Mousse with a Protein Boost is the perfect option. It’s a small-batch silky-smooth chocolatey dessert that keeps you full, tastes indulgent, and contains protein to help moderate those swinging blood sugar levels. Plus, the fluffy green Minted Whipped Cream is just plain fun.

I lost 100 lbs in 2018 and have been maintaining ever since. I firmly believe that you don’t have to cut out the foods you love to do it. In fact, that kind of all-or-nothing thinking is exactly what makes people miserable and burned out. That’s why I love making high-protein sweet treats like this—so I can bring some balance to my holiday season. This mousse has 20g of protein per serving, which makes it far more satisfying than your typical St. Patty’s dessert (looking at you, Bailey’s martini). So on some days, I have the high protein mousse. And on other days, I’m going to fully enjoy that Bailey’s martini.

And the best part? You’d never guess there’s cottage cheese in it. If you hate cottage cheese, don’t worry—this is not like those tofu mousses where you can still catch a hint of the base ingredient. It’s creamy, rich, and absolutely delicious.

I’m ready for the Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade, already!

Every year, my partner and I host a St. Patrick’s Day gathering since we live right by the Staten Island Forest Ave parade route. Over the years, I’ve made everything from Irish soda bread buns to Irish coffee, but I always find myself searching for high-protein treats to balance things out.

That’s why I love having recipes like this mousse. I have a holiday treat that hits my health goals (for most days before and after the holiday), and I have the full-fat full-sugar real-chocolate treats ON the holiday itself. That’s how I like to balance it and maintain my healthy weight-range going forward.

This Is Not a Traditional Irish Dessert

Let’s be clear: this mousse is in no way, shape, or form a traditional Irish dessert. It happens to have some green whipped cream and sprinkles. That’s about as far as the connection goes. I’m at least three generations removed from any ancestors who actually lived in Ireland, so my St. Patrick’s Day celebrations tend to be very American. That means corned beef, beer, Irish Slammers, and any dessert I can make green. If that offends anyone’s Irish sensibilities—well, just know that I fully respect traditional Irish cuisine, but this green and sprinkly Minted Chocolate Mousse is just plain delicious American nonsense.

What About the Protein Powder?

This recipe works beautifully with or without protein powder. I personally like to add a bit to bump the protein from around 16g up to 20g per serving, which makes it even more filling and satisfying. If you’re using protein powder, I recommend a vanilla, chocolate, or unflavored option that you already enjoy. Just keep in mind that different brands have different sweetness levels, so if yours is particularly sweet, you may want to omit the powdered sugar in the mousse mixture.

Planning for Fun Foods Makes Weight Loss Easier

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in maintaining my weight loss is that having a plan for fun foods makes everything easier. That includes real, full-fat, full-sugar chocolate desserts, true holiday classics, and anything else that feels special. The key is intentionally deciding when and how you’ll enjoy them, so it’s something to savor—not something that sneaks up on you and makes you feel guilty. I make sure to balance my days with high-protein, veggie-packed meals and plan ahead for the treats I love, so my diet is desinged to avoid those restrictive feelings. A mousse like this? It fits right in, alongside the desserts I choose to enjoy in their classic form.

How to Make Minted Chocolate Mousse (Step-by-Step)

Making this mousse is incredibly simple. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll do:

1. Chill your equipment. Pop your beaters and a mixing bowl into the freezer for a few minutes before making the whipped cream.

2. Melt the chocolate. Microwave in short bursts, stirring in between to prevent burning.

3. Make the whipped cream. Whip the chilled heavy cream until thick, then add powdered sugar, peppermint extract, and food coloring. Whip again until fluffy.

4. Blend the mousse. In a small food processor, blend the cottage cheese, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, espresso powder, salt, and protein powder (if using) until smooth.

5. Incorporate the chocolate. Add the melted chocolate and blend again until completely silky.

6. Assemble. Divide the mousse into two bowls, top with whipped cream, and finish with a sprinkle of festive green sprinkles!

Important Notes for Success

✅ Don’t overdo the peppermint extract. A little goes a long way! Stick to just 1–2 drops, or you’ll end up with toothpaste-flavored whippe cream.

✅ Use a small food processor. If your food processor is too big, the cottage cheese won’t blend smoothly, and you might end up with a grainy texture. A 2-cup capacity works best.

Frequently Asked Questions About This Recipe

Can I use a different sweetener?

Yes! If you prefer a sugar substitute, use one that measures like powdered sugar for the best texture.

Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! The mousse stores well in the fridge for a day or two. Just add the whipped cream right before serving.

What if I don’t like mint?
You can skip the peppermint extract and enjoy a classic chocolate mousse instead!

How Else Can I Support My Weight Loss Goal?

I’m glad you asked! My name is Megan Gaul. I’m an online wellness coach specializing in weight-loss and food freedom. My 100-lb weight loss journey, which began in 2018 here in Staten Island, New York (I’ve been maintaining my healthy weight range since then), was the catalyst I needed to start my coaching career in 2021. I have a number of resources that can help you:

• Book your free Journey-Day-1 coaching call

• Attend live Meal Planning classes every week, taught by yours-truly (join free here)

• Enroll in your 1-1 coaching program to get out of your negative cycle and actually lose weight for good

• Follow my instagram for more recipes and strategies, and all about Messy Life after Losing 100 lbs (find me at @partake_foodie )

Final Thoughts

I have so many variations of this cottage cheese mousse, and I’d love to share more! Let me know if you want another version, and I’ll happily post it.

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Minted Chocolate Mousse with a Protein Boost - Early Exclusive Release for Partake Members Only

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Author: Megan Gaul from Partake Meal Planning

Indulge in this Minted Chocolate Mousse with a Protein Boost—a rich, creamy dessert that blends dark chocolate with silky cottage cheese for a high-protein twist. Topped with fluffy mint whipped cream and a sprinkle of green, it’s the perfect festive treat for St. Patrick’s Day or any time you crave a refreshing chocolate fix. With 20g of protein per serving, this mousse is both delicious and satisfying!

Ingredients

For the Minted Whipped Cream

• 2 tbsp (30 g) heavy cream
• 2 drops green food coloring
• 1-2 drops peppermint extract (no more!)
• 1 tbsp + 1 tsp (about 9 g) confectioners' sugar

For the Chocolate Mousse

• 1/4 cup (56 g) dark chocolate morsels - I like 60% cacao from Ghirardelli
• 2 cups (224 g) cottage cheese - I use 1% fat, but you can use any you like
• 1 tbsp (7 g) powdered sugar
• 1 scant tbsp (8 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp instant espresso powder
• 1 pinch of kosher salt
• 8 g (1/4 scoop) vanilla, chocolate, or unflavored protein powder - this is optional, but it helps bring the total protein to 20 g instead of 14 g. I like the flavor Vanilla Ice Cream from Optimum Nutrition.

To Top

• 1 - 2 tsp green sprinkles - optional, but fun!

Equipment Needed

• Small metal bowl (glass or ceramic is fine too)
• Electric hand mixer with metal beater attachments
• Small food processor (around 2 cup capacity)

Instructions

To Prep:

1. Place the 2 metal beaters from your electric mixer and a medium-sized bowl (preferably metal, but glass or ceramic is fine) in the freezer to chill.

To make the minted whipped cream

1. Add the heavy cream to your chilled bowl.
2. Using your electric hand mixer, mix the cream on low until frothy, then turn the mixer up to medium. Once it starts looking thicker, you can turn it up to high. Whip the cream until medium peaks (see picture in blog post above, if needed).
3. Add the green food coloring, peppermint extract, and powdered sugar.
4. Whip once more until fully combined and medium or stiff peaks (your preference). Do not overwhip; it will start to clump up and turn into sweet green butter😃
5. Place in the fridge while you make the chocolate mousse.

To make the chocolate mousse

1. Melt your chocolate morsels in the microwave at 30 second bursts (watch carefully so it doesn't burn). Set aside.
2. Add the cottage cheese, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, instant espresso powder, pinch of salt, and protein powder (if using) to your small food processor.
3. Blend on high until smooth.
4. Add the melted chocolate to the cottage cheese mixture.
5. Blend again on high until smooth once more.
6. Divide into 2 bowls, top with 1/2 the whipped cream, and add sprinkles. Enjoy!

Notes

✅ Don’t overdo the peppermint extract. A little goes a long way! Stick to just 1–2 drops, or you’ll end up with toothpaste-flavored whippe cream.

✅ Use a small food processor. If your food processor is too big, the cottage cheese won’t blend smoothly, and you might end up with a grainy texture. A 2-cup capacity works best. If you only have a really big food processor, don't make this recipe unless you double it (so that the blades can reach all the cottage cheese mixture. Make sense?)

Nutrition Facts

Calories

346

Fat

18.8 g

Sat. Fat

11.3 g

Carbs

31 g

Fiber

3.3 g

Net carbs

27.7 g

Sugar

23.9 g

Protein

20 g

Sodium

545.5 mg

Cholesterol

24.8 mg

This wepbage provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online nutrition data from manufacturer and food retailer websites. By accessing or using this recipe, you are acknowledging and agreeing to the full nutrition information disclaimer for this website, which you can read in its entirety here.