Sweet Bittersweet Ganache Recipes

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE GANACHE - 2 WAYS

Steps:

• To make the ganache, place the chocolate, heavy cream and instant coffee granules in a heat-proof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Melt the chocolate until it's just melted and stir it until it's smooth.
• For whipped ganache, allow the ganache to cool completely and then put it in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and mix on high speed until it is a very light.

BITTERSWEET GANACHE

Steps:

• Combine chocolate, cocoa powder, espresso powder (if using), vanilla, and salt in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over low heat; pour over chocolate mixture. Let sit until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth; let cool.
• Using an electric mixer, beat ganache until light and fluffy (it should be the consistency of whipped cream).
• Ganache can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.

SWEET BITTERSWEET GANACHE

Steps:

• Put the dark and milk chocolates in a medium stainless steel bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and heat just until the chocolate melts, then transfer the warm chocolate to the bowl of a food processor. Meanwhile, heat the cream in a small saucepan over low heat just until it starts to simmer. Pour the warm cream into the warm chocolate and wait about 1 minute. Add the corn syrup, honey, and vanilla. Run the food processor. You'll notice that the mixture will look speckled and separated, then will come together as a uniform ganache. Adjust the flavors to taste.

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.

WHIPPED BITTERSWEET GANACHE FROSTING

Steps:

• Bring cream to a simmer in a saucepan. Pour over chocolate in a medium bowl, and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Let cool completely. Whisk until fluffy. Use immediately.

GANACHE I

Steps:

• Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place it in a large stainless steel bowl.
• In a large, high sided saucepan, heat cream over medium high heat, stirring frequently, until it starts to boil. At this point, the cream will want to boil over, so keep an eye on it! Immediately remove from heat and pour over chopped chocolate.
• Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is smooth. Cool completely and then store in refrigerator. Ganache can be reheated in a stainless steel bowl over hot, but not boiling, water.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE FOR TRUFFLES AND CAKE ICING

Steps:

• Place the chocolate in a large bowl.
• Put cream and cinnamon stick (if using) in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring just to the boiling point. Add the butter and stir. Pour the cream mixture through a fine mesh sieve over the chocolate. Rotate the bowl a bit so all the chocolate is covered in cream. Let stand for two minutes. With a rubber or silicone spatula gently stir the mixture working all the cream into the chocolate until all the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth and creamy. If using chocolate chips break up any little lumps with the back of the spatula. Add vanilla, coffee and grey salt if using and stir.
• If using as cake filling and icing: Cool the ganache to room temperature. If desired, you can take out about one cup of ganache and refrigerate it to decorate the cake with a pastry bag after it's been filled and frosted. Use about half the mixture to fill your cake. To frost the cake use a lazy susan if you have one. Put four strips of parchment or wax paper under the cake all around. This is so that any extra ganache will fall on the paper and you can gently pull them out. Use the rest of the ganache to frost the cake. Use a flat metal spatula to smooth the ganache around the top and sides of the cake.
• If using for truffles: Chill ganache for at least two hours. To make this as mess free as possible use food grade vinyl or silicone gloves and a cookie scoop. Scoop out the ganache, roll in your choice of toppings to coat evenly and set aside. Truffles can be stored in the refrigerator but should be served at room temperature.
• Suggested toppings for truffles: Cocoa powder (preferably Dutch process), finely chopped nuts, finely crushed toffee bits, finely crushed peppermint candy, cookie crumbs.
• Truffles can also be coated in dark, milk or white chocolate but that's another recipe.