Basic Chocolate Ganache Recipes

SUPER SIMPLE PERFECT CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Pour cream into a microwave-safe bowl; heat in microwave on high until very hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Add chocolate chips to heated cream; whisk until smooth.
• Place chocolate-cream mixture in the freezer until ganache is cold and starting to thicken, stirring every 5 minutes, about 10 to 12 minutes.
• Spoon ganache into a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate until completely cooled, 15 to 30 minutes.
• Cut a corner from the plastic bag and pipe ganache.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a large mixing bowl. Pour the cream into a saucepan with the sugar and bring to a simmer, stirring continuously until the sugar is melted. Bring to the boil, then quickly remove from the heat, pour over the chocolate and whisk until smooth and glossy. Use straight away or leave to cool down a little until thick enough to spread on a cake. Alternatively, leave to cool completely, then beat with an electric whisk until light and fluffy and spread on a cake.

BASIC GANACHE

Steps:

• Put chocolate into heavy bowl.
• Heat cream in saucepan over medium heat just until bubbles form around pan.
• Slowly pour hot cream into chocolate, stirring constantly.
• Do not whip--stir until chocolate is melted and you have a creamy emulsion.
• Store in covered container in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

EASY CHOCOLATE GANACHE WITHOUT CREAM

Steps:

• Add MILK to a microwave-safe container.
• Microwave on HIGH in 30-second intervals until steaming, but not boiling over.
• Pour CHOCOLATE CHIPS into the heated liquid and allow to rest at room temperature about 5 minutes.
• Whisk ingredients together until the chocolate dissolves and mixture becomes smooth.
• Bring MILK (or cream) almost to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Pour this over CHOCOLATE CHIPS and allow to rest about 5 minutes.
• Whisk ingredients together until the chocolate dissolves and mixture becomes smooth.
• Serve warm like a chocolate sauce, or cool to room temperature and use for other desserts.
• Allow to cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container up to 14 days.

GANACHE FROSTING

Steps:

• Place the chopped chocolate into the bowl of a food processor.
• Heat the heavy cream in a quart-sized, microwavable container and microwave for 3 to 4 minutes on high, or until it just begins to simmer; be careful not to allow cream to boil over. Pour the cream over the chocolate and let stand for 2 minutes. Process by pulsing several times until chocolate mixture is smooth. Use as is for glazing. If you wish to make a lighter frosting, allow it to come to room temperature, approximately 2 hours. Once at room temperature, place in the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk on high for 2 to 3 minutes.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, watching very carefully because if it boils for a few seconds, it will boil out of the pot. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Stir in the rum if desired.
• Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over a cake. Start at the center of the cake and work outward. For a fluffy frosting or chocolate filling, allow it to cool until thick, then whip with a whisk until light and fluffy.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth., For a pourable ganache, cool, stirring occasionally, until mixture reaches 85°-90° and is slightly thickened, about 40 minutes. Pour over cake, allowing some to drape down the sides. Spread ganache with a spatula if necessary to evenly coat, working quickly before it thickens. Let stand until set., For spreadable ganache, chill, stirring occasionally, until mixture reaches a spreading consistency. Spread over cake.

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place chopped chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it begins to gently simmer. (Do not let it come to a rapid boil- that's too hot!) Pour over chocolate, then let it sit for 2-3 minutes to gently soften the chocolate.
• With a metal spoon or small rubber spatula, very slowly stir until completely combined and chocolate has melted. The finer you chopped the chocolate, the quicker it will melt with the cream. If it's not melting, do not microwave it. See Troubleshooting Chocolate Ganache in blog post above.
• Ganache can be ready to use as a drizzle or you can let it sit at room temperature to cool and thicken. It will fully cool within 2 hours. Refrigerating speeds this up, but the ganache will not cool evenly. Stir it a few times as it sets in the refrigerator so it remains even and smooth.
• Once completely cool and thick, the ganache can be piped with a piping tip or scooped with a spoon. You can also beat the cooled thickened ganache with a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until light in color and texture, about 4 minutes on medium-high speed.
• Cover tightly and store ganache in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Once ganache cools completely, you can cover it tightly and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator. To rewarm or thin out again, stir constantly over low heat on the stove in either (1) a double boiler or (2) in a heatproof bowl placed over a pot of simmering water. Don't let the bottom of the bowl touch the simmering water.

EASY WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Pour heavy cream into a saucepan over medium heat; heat until just boiling. Remove from heat; add white chocolate chips. Whisk gently until white chocolate chips are melted and blended into the cream. Let cool until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes.