Orange Creamsicle Mousse

A dreamy Orange Creamsicle Mousse that is easy to put together and always a crowd pleaser!  These little dessert cups are light and fresh and absolutely perfect for summer!  If you like mousse, be sure to check out my recipe for lemon mousse cups too! (Maybe my Orange Creamsicle Puppy Chow is a fun warm-weather option!)

Orange Creamsicle Mousse

This orange creamsicle mousse is super easy, and with only 7 ingredients it pulls together in under 5 minutes. Let’s talk for a minute about how we achieve that traditional “creamsicle” flavor.  A creamsicle bar that you might find at the grocery store typically has a vanilla ice cream base and is coated with flavored orange ice.  Since we are creating a creamsicle mousse, we wanted that same flavor combination, but in a light and creamy version.  I attempted to get that same flavor by using a combination of REAL orange juice and orange extract, combined with a powdered sugar and cream cheese base.  The results were dreamy!

What is Mousse?

A traditional mousse is similar to a lighter and airier version of pudding. We love pudding so we couldn’t wait to try it!  It is important to note that to get the consistency that you want with a mousse that you really need to start with room temperature ingredients.  To make the mousse light and airy, we fold in whipped topping into a light and fluffy cream cheese. Additionally, you will want to use a hand-held or stand mixer as you won’t be able to get the creamy texture by just mixing by hand.

How to Make Orange Creamsicle Mousse

As I mentioned, making this orange creamsicle mousse is really simple.  There are a few key tips to follow that will make this even easier.

Room Temperature Cream Cheese

You will want to make sure your cream cheese is completely lump-free, which means beating it with an electric hand mixer until it is light and fluffy before adding any other ingredients.  This is what gives it that creamy texture and also, helps blends the flavors perfectly.   In order to do that, you will want to start with cream cheese that is already at room temperature. To quickly get the cream cheese to room temperature I will remove the cream cheese from the box but keep it in the foil packaging. Set the cream cheese in a bowl of hot water and let it warm slowly. This usually takes about 15 minutes. If you use a metal bowl, you can sometimes cut the time down a bit because it will hold the heat in a little longer. Or you can set it out in the morning and let it warm to room temperature on the counter.

Orange Extract

If you don’t have immediate access to orange extract, you can just substitute additional fresh orange juice. Here is a simple equivalency:

1 tablespoon fresh orange juice = 1/2 teaspoon orange extract

Dress it up!

To make this simple dessert look extra pretty, I top it with a bit of whipped cream and a small wedge of fresh orange.  You can also sprinkle with shortbread cookie crumbs and add a spring of fresh mint for an extra fancy touch!

Chill The Mousse

Chilling is a critical step in this recipe.  It helps the mousse form into the light and airy, but firm texture you are looking for.  You have to let it chill for at least one hour.  You can let it go all the way up to 3 days!  However, if you are letting it sit that long, I do not recommend adding the garnish until just before serving, as fresh orange will not look as pretty after sitting out.

This recipe makes 3-4 servings depending on how big your serving dish is, so if you are serving a crowd you may want to double or triple it or make sure your cups are smaller than mine😊

Homemade Whipped Topping

Whenever possible, I recommend making homemade whipped.  It tastes so much better in my opinion.   To make whipped topping from scratch you take 1 cup of heavy whipping cream and add 1-2 tablespoons of confectioners sugar. Whip the heavy whipping cream for a couple of minutes with your hand-held mixer until there are soft peaks. Sprinkle the confectioner’s sugar over top and keep mixing on high until there are stiff peaks. I do recommend using a large bowl to avoid splatter.