Lakeside Lime Mousse – An Easy, No-Bake Summer Dessert
Lakeside Lime Mousse is one of the easiest and most refreshing no-bake summer desserts you’ll ever make. Cool, creamy, and bursting with bright citrus flavor, it’s my go-to treat during the hottest months at the lake. This mousse comes together in minutes and feels elegant with garnishes like white chocolate shavings, lime zest, and buttery graham cracker crumbles.
Originally inspired by a dear friend who made a version of this in a tiny galley kitchen during a Caribbean sailing trip, this recipe has become a nostalgic favorite that now fits perfectly into our lakeside summers. Serve it in individual dishes or spoon it into a graham cracker crust for a quick, crowd-pleasing pie.
Key Ingredients
- FRESH LIMES : about 8-10. You will need them for juice, zest and garnish
- WHIPPED TOPPING: One 8 oz container. I use regular Cool Whip. I haven’t tried low fat with this recipe.
- SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK: One 14 oz container
- GOOD QUALITY WHITE CHOCOLATE: About 1/2 a bar used for garnish
- GRAHAM CRACKERS: About 6 large crackers used for garnish
How to Make Lakeside Lime Mousse
Ready for the simplest recipe you’ve ever made? This recipe is a one-bowl wonder, mixing all of the ingredients together and chilling them before serving.
- 1.) Combine whipped topping, sweetened condensed milk, lime juice and 1 TBSP of lime zest in a large bowl.
- 2.) Using a rubber spatula, gently mix together to incorporate ingredients. Chill in individual serving cups or in a large bowl if you wish to pipe the mousse into bowls with a pastry bag and star tip after it sets.
- 3.) Prepare garnishes/toppings. Cut graham crackers, shave white chocolate using a peeler and prepare additional lime zest. I like to use a zester for the garnish, as it creates longer, more decorative curls.
- 4) Garnish the mousse just before serving – – especially with the graham cracker crumbs, so they don’t get soggy.
Lakeside Lime Mousse – An Easy, No-Bake Summer Dessert
Cool off with this creamy, bright Lakeside Lime Mousse—an easy no-bake dessert made with just a few simple ingredients. Perfect served in cups or as a graham cracker crust filling, and elevated with zesty lime, white chocolate, and crunchy graham toppings.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 TBSP of lime zest (a little more for optional garnish)
- 1 container of sweetened condensed milk
- 1 container of whipped topping (I use regular Cool Whip)
- 1/2 bar of good quality white chocolate
- About 6 large graham crackers for garnish
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix whipped topping with condensed milk and 1 TBSP of lime zest with a rubber spatula until completely incorporated.
- Pour into small dessert dishes and chill for at least an hour or even overnight. Mousse will firm up considerably when chilled.
- Garnish just before serving with shaved white chocolate, crushed graham crackers and lime zest.
Notes
- If you want to get fancy, you can put the whole bowl of prepared mousse in the refrigerator for several hours and once chilled, pipe it, using a pastry bag and star tip, into dessert dishes.
- For the lime zest, I use a zester for the garnish vs. a grater to create longer curled pieces of zest.