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Chocolate Ganache: The Ultimate Guide to Perfect Ganache


  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: About 2 cups 1x

Description

Rich, decadent chocolate ganache for glazing, frosting, truffles, or dipping. Easy, few ingredients!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
  • 12 ounces (340g) semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped (or chocolate chips)
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter, softened (optional, for shine)
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) liqueur (optional, such as Grand Marnier, Frangelico, or rum)
  • Pinch of sea salt (optional, to enhance flavor)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chocolate: Finely chop the chocolate and place it in a heatproof bowl. Ensure the bowl is completely dry.
  2. Heat the Cream: Pour heavy cream into a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, watching carefully. Remove from heat as soon as small bubbles form around the edges and the cream starts to steam. Do not boil.
  3. Make the Ganache: Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate. Let it sit undisturbed for 1 minute.
  4. Gently whisk the mixture, starting from the center and working outwards, until the chocolate is completely melted and the ganache is smooth and homogenous.
  5. Add Butter (Optional): If using, add the softened butter to the ganache and whisk until fully incorporated.
  6. Add Liqueur and Salt (Optional): If using, add the liqueur and salt to the ganache and whisk until evenly distributed.
  7. Cool the Ganache: Cool at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally. For a thicker consistency, cover with plastic wrap (pressing onto the surface) and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. For a lighter texture, refrigerate until solid, then whip with an electric mixer until light and airy.

Notes

  • Use high-quality chocolate for the best flavor.
  • Don’t overheat the cream.
  • Be patient and allow the hot cream to melt the chocolate completely before whisking.
  • Don’t overwhip the ganache.
  • Adjust the ratio of chocolate to cream for different consistencies.
  • Grainy Ganache: Add a tablespoon of hot cream and whisk vigorously. If that doesn’t work, blend the ganache with an immersion blender.
  • Seized Ganache: Start over, making sure that all your equipment is completely dry.
  • Ganache is Too Thin: Refrigerate it for a longer period of time to allow it to thicken. You can also add a small amount of melted chocolate to the ganache and whisk until it’s incorporated.
  • Ganache is Too Thick: Add a tablespoon of hot cream and whisk until it’s smooth. You can also microwave the ganache in short bursts, stirring in between, until it reaches the desired consistency.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes