As much as I love shiny new cookbooks (and oh, I do!) my shelf of mid-century cookbooks is my sentimental favorite. I especially love those purchased second-hand with notes and recipe clippings tucked in the pages. I’ll admit, reading through the oddball “Tuna Surprise” and congealed salad recipes is a weird form of entertainment for me, but there are other recipes in those pages that are still relevant today.
In 1956 General Mills published the second edition of the Betty Crocker Picture Cook Book. In this revised and enlarged version, special menus and recipes were included from celebrities of the time – Jimmy Durante, Ed Sullivan and Eleanor Roosevelt to name a few. Among those esteemed contributors was French fashion designer Christian Dior. His suggested menu for “Dinner in Paris” included apricot mousse for dessert. I have a copy of this book, and when I read the recipe’s simple ingredients and preparation, it struck me that it would be at home in the pages of any newly published cookbook today. One might say it is as timeless as his design.
The original recipe calls for the mousse to be frozen, but I like it just fine chilled in the refrigerator. It’s light and refreshing – not at all heavy – and “the Dior treatment” as it is referred to in the text, is the addition of Kirsch cherry liqueur. In that case, the Sprinkle Bakes treatment (heh) would be the addition of whipped cream and fresh berries. Apricots aren’t quite in season here, so I reluctantly used frozen. The mousse turned out delicious and fruity nonetheless, but you can bet that I’ll be making this again in summer when apricots are at their peak.
In 1957, just one year after this recipe was published, Mr. Dior passed away at the age of 52. Lucky for us, House of Dior lives on, as does this last course of “Dinner in Paris”. I hope you’ll give it a try because it’s so simple to make and absolutely delicious. Best of all, you don’t have to be a fashionista to appreciate it.
Christian Dior’s Apricot Mousse
Yield: 6 servings
Source: Betty Crocker’s Picture Cook Book second edition circa 1957
Prep: 25 minutes, total time with chilling about 3 hours
I’ve re-written this recipe with greater detail in case you’re not sure how to make the cooked apricots called for in the original text. “The Dior treatment” is mentioned as the addition of Kirsch liqueur to the mousse, but it gives no instruction as to when or where to add it. I’ve added this information along with my own addition of whipped cream and fresh berries.
Mousse
1 cup/250g cooked apricot puree *
1 teaspoon powdered gelatin
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons Kirsch liqueur
2 cups/464g heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup/64g confectioners’ sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 drop of each: red and yellow food color (optional)
Whipped cream and garnish
1 cup/232g heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
6 fresh strawberries stemmed and cut into vertical slices
dragees, if desired
*Cooked apricot puree can be made by placing 6 peeled and sliced apricots (36 grams each) in a medium saucepan with 3 tablespoons sugar and 1/2 cup of water. Cook over medium-high heat until the fruit starts to come apart, about 20-30 minutes (less time for frozen apricots). Sieve the mixture and puree it in a food processor or blender. Measure 1 cup/250g apricot puree and let cool to room temperature for the mousse recipe.
Sprinkle the gelatin evenly over 1 tablespoon water in a small microwave-safe condiment cup. Let stand for 5 minutes. When the gelatin is firm heat it in the microwave for 10 seconds or until liquefied. Add the gelatin to the apricot puree. Stir in the kirsch liqueur.
In a separate large bowl, beat the 2 cups heavy whipping cream to soft peaks, then gradually add in the confectioners’ sugar and salt. Whip to stiff peaks. Fold the apricot mixture into the whipped cream using a rubber spatula. Add the food color, if using. Use gentle strokes as to not deflate the mixture. When the apricot mixture is fully dispersed into the cream, pour the mousse into footed dessert glasses or ramekins. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until set. For a frozen treat, freeze the mousse for 3-4 hours before serving.
For the topping, whip the heavy cream in a large bowl and gradually add in the sugar. Whip to stiff peaks. Top each mousse cup with the whipped cream and add fresh berries to garnish. Add dragees, if using. If fresh apricots are in season, garnish each cup with a fresh apricot slice.
No doubt about it. Classics are quite classy on our "modern" palates! Love the midcentury modernn recipes as much as I'm falling in love with the vintage furnishings again! YAY for bringing this one back!
How elegant! Love the silver dragees, I must get those someday.
I really love the feel of old clippings and recipes as well–there's something about them that newer cookbooks (or dare I say it, stellar online recipes) just can't beat! There's something wistful about knowing that you don't have to check *all* of the commenters' reviews to know this one will definitely work. Loving this mousse, just in time for the spring!
Divine and refined-tasting! A lovely recipe.
Cheers,
Rosa
I love the glamorous story behind this mousse! It looks so pretty and perfect for springtime.
Dior and simple. two words I would NOT think go together but am deliriously glad they do. this looks divine.
I love Dior. This mousse is yumm!
beautiful!! love this whole post!
Wow it looks so light and lovely. There is nothing like a vintage recipe. Beautiful!
In the instructions for the whipped cream, 3 tablespoons of what? I assume confectioner's sugar, but I'm a wee bit confused.
Looks just lovely. I can picture myself sipping on of these in Paris 🙂
Old and vintage cookbooks are my favorite too. As usual your images are so beautiful, Love this !!!
@thepeanut oops! 3 tbsp granulated sugar!
oooh that looks and sounds soooo yummy! i bookmarked this for when i do run across some apricots!
looks classy
I love the mousse!!!The presentation is great!! Like all your posts and recipes!!!
xoxo
I love the idea of a fashionable dessert! I need to do some thrift store shopping for old cookbooks! You always seem to find the most delicious things!
This mousse looks like a pink cloud!
So pretty!
Whipped cream and garnish
1 cup/232g heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoon – ???
6 fresh strawberries stemmed and cut into vertical slices
dragees, if desire
3 Tablespoons of what? Or am I misreading this?
I wonder if you could use dried apricots and cook them down into preserves…
Looks amazing! And so delighful. Saludos desde México!
This is just too pretty! Do you think it could be done with tinned apricots? Or would they be too sweet? I don't know if I can wait a whole year to try this
How exciting. I had no idea C.Dior had a fav recipe. I love your presentation in various glasses against the Dior-style fabric. So lovely, Heather.
I made this beautiful recipe with ingredients I had on hand last night – fresh strawberries for the apricots, and port wine for the kirsch. Delicious!
Just made this for the second time. First experiment was in winter so I used dried sulphured (to keep the orange color) apricots. The apricot essence was stronger and the concoction a bit heavier than I got today using fresh apricots. This one came out light and fluffy like the pictures! I did take extra care in the folding in step as directed. My adjustments — I found it impossible to peel the fruit without losing a lot and messing it up. Steamed them for a couple of minutes, then washed in cold water. The skins came off easily and… Read more »