Scotch Ganache Recipes

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.

MAMA PAT'S CHOCOLATE BROWNIE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line the piecrust shell with parchment paper, and fill it with pie weights, dried beans, or uncooked rice. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the pie weights and parchment paper. Return the pie crust to the oven, and bake until lightly browned, about 5 minutes more. Remove to a wire rack, and cool for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, let the prepared ganache stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle the brownie cubes on the bottom of the pie crust; top with the caramel sauce, drizzling it evenly. Beat the ganache, heavy cream, and espresso with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy. Using a spatula, spread the ganache mixture evenly over the top of the pie.
• Chill the pie, uncovered, for 2 hours. Dust with the confectioners' sugar just before serving.
• Put the chocolate chips in a heatproof mixing bowl. Stir together the cream, corn syrup, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate chips, making sure all the chips are submerged. (Do not stir or touch the chocolate mixture.) Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let it stand for 5 minutes.
• Using a spatula and starting from the bottom of the bowl, gently move the mixture from side to side to begin combining the chocolate with the cream mixture. Gradually and slowly stir from the middle until smooth and blended, 2 to 3 minutes.

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.

SCOTCH GANACHE

Steps:

• Chop chocolate. The finer it is chopped the more smooth the ganache.
• Add star anise to cream in a heavy bottomed pan. Heat cream very slowly over medium-low heat until it just starts to boil. Do not stop stirring.
• Pour the heated cream over the chocolate. Let sit for 20-30 seconds and then stir gently. Once all chocolate is melted, stir more vigorously, but do not beat. Once it is smooth, spoon into four bowls.
• Add one strawberry to each bowl. Note: to fan strawberries, slice from the base to the leaves, but do not cut through. Make four or five slices and "fan" the strawberry. Place bowls in fridge to set for an hour.
• Drizzle scotch over the top of each bowl just before serving. We use 12 year Macallan. Anywhere from a teaspoon for a bit of flavour to a full shot, although I prefer smaller amounts.

CHOCOLATE WHISKEY CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 10-inch springform pan. Dust with 2 tablespoons cocoa powder.
• In a medium saucepan over low heat, warm coffee, Irish whiskey, 12 tablespoons butter and remaining cocoa powder, whisking occasionally, until butter is melted. Whisk in sugars until dissolved. Remove from heat and cool completely.
• In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, pepper and cloves. In another bowl, whisk together eggs and vanilla. Slowly whisk egg mixture into chocolate mixture. Add dry ingredients and whisk to combine. Fold in chocolate chips.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Transfer to oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean, 55 to 65 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack, then remove sides of pan. Dust with powdered sugar before serving, if you like.

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.

CHESTNUT CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE GANACHE AND SINGLE-MALT SCOTCH SYRUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans, and line with parchment paper. Sift confectioners' sugar, almond flour, all-purpose flour and chestnut flour into a bowl.
• In a dry bowl of a mixer fitted with whisk attachment, whip egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar and 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining brown sugar; whip until very stiff and glossy.
• Gently fold sifted dry ingredients into meringue in three stages. Divide batter among pans, and smooth tops. Bake for 17 to 20 minutes, until tops are brown and spring back when lightly pressed. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or a nonstick liner. In a small saucepan, combine granulated sugar with 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Let cool.
• Stir whiskey into syrup. Place walnuts in a bowl, and toss them with 1/4 cup syrup. Pour nuts out onto baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Meanwhile, chop all but four of candied chestnuts, and set aside.
• To assemble cake, cut a piece of cardboard into an 8-inch round or use removable bottom of a springform pan. Place a cake layer upside down on this base. Brush cake with a generous amount of whiskey syrup. Spread about 3/4 cup ganache on top, and sprinkle with half the chopped chestnuts. Lay another upside-down cake layer on top, and brush with more syrup. Spread on another layer of ganache, and sprinkle with remaining chopped chestnuts. Repeat with final layer of cake, more syrup and more ganache. Using a metal spatula, spread a thin layer of ganache onto sides of cake. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Spread another coat onto top and sides of cake, smoothing it well. Press candied walnut halves onto sides, and arrange candied chestnuts on top. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar before serving.