A mousse is best described as which of the following?

• A. A light, airy dessert set with gelatin
• B. A thick custard
• C. A dense cake
• D. A frozen dessert

Answer: (A)

A mousse is a light, airy dessert stabilized to hold its shape. It’s made by folding air into a base—such as chocolate, fruit purée, or a custard-like mixture—and then adding whipped cream or beaten egg whites. A stabilizer like gelatin helps the mixture set so it keeps a soft, delicate structure instead of collapsing. This texture sets it apart from a thick custard, which is denser and spoonable; a dense cake, which relies on a baked, firm crumb; and a frozen dessert, which is churned and frozen to create ice crystals. The defining trait is its combination of lightness and a gentle, holdable set.