There’s nothing quite like a fun dessert to make someone’s day – and there are only a handful of things that add that extra pop of color and body like our beloved candy-coated Cadbury Gems that has been bringing joy to several generations. It’s definitely a hit with kids who might color-code, swap them and divide them and share (or not) with you and their friends. If they are your child’s favorite then we have some tricks up our sleeve (like the wizards we are) to turn them into the perfect decorative element for the likes of mousses.
Not just any mousse, we are referring to a Mango Mousse with Gems Sprinkles that is elegant and creamy but with the addition of Cadbury Gems, it turns into something fun. Whether you’re hosting a party, looking to entertain kids, or just want to treat yourself to something pretty and playful, here are 5 creative ways to upgrade your dessert game, in particular to mango mousse, with Cadbury Gems.
If you’re serving mousse or pudding in small glass cups or jars, one of the easiest ways to make them look festive is to dress up the rim – just like you would with a cocktail.
To do this, lightly coat the rim of your glass with honey, corn syrup, or melted white chocolate (preferably), you can also try milk chocolate or dark chocolate too. Add a handful of Gems in a plastic bag, crush them with a rolling pin until you have small shards and candy dust. Roll the sticky rim in the crushed Gems until it’s fully coated. Let it set in the fridge before adding the mousse to avoid smudging.
When your dessert is already rich and creamy – like this whipped mango mousse – you don’t always need a heavy garnish. A few whole Gems, spaced artfully on top, give a simple but eye-catching “confetti” effect.
After your mousse has chilled and set, smoothen the surface with the back of a spoon. Add a dollop of whipped cream in the center, then dot the surface of the mousse with Gems. Top off with a sprig of mint or a spiral of citrus peel.
Who says you can’t play with your food? Using Cadbury Gems to create little mosaic designs on the surface of a mousse is a great way to make it more fun. This works especially well if you’re making multiple single-serve mousse cups, especially for kids or a themed party.
Create simple shapes like hearts, stars, letters (great for initials or names), or even basic smiley faces using different colored Gems. You can go a step further and make tiny pixel-like patterns — a rainbow, a flower, or an abstract design.
The contrast of creamy mousse and crunchy chocolate is hard to beat. A layer of Gems hidden at the bottom of your dessert adds a delightful texture surprise, as well as a pop of color that peeks through clear glasses.
Before spooning your mousse mixture into the serving cups, place a generous teaspoon of whole or roughly chopped Gems at the bottom. Pour the mousse over and smoothen the top. Chill as the recipe mentions and when it's served, guests will get that fun crunch with their last few bites.
Whipped cream and chocolate are a match made in heaven and adding Gems inside each whipped cream dollop creates an element of surprise and it feels like something out of a fairy tale candy-filled cotton cloud, like one witness in cartoons. Pipe or spoon whipped cream on top of your mousse once it’s set. Before piping, fold in a few Gems or chopped pieces into the whipped cream mixture. You can instead also press a few Gems into the side or top of each whipped dollop after piping.
Use Gems to match your dessert decor to the season or celebration. Think spring and go for Gems in colors of green and pink, set in floral designs. For summer Parties, pick bright colors like orange and blue. For other occasions like Halloween, pick orange and yellow, arranging them in different shapes.