GANACHE DEFINITION

An emulsion of chocolate and a liquid (usually cream) used to glaze, fill, decorate cakes or roll into truffles.

Process/Method

Scald the milk
Pour over chocolate (ideally in chips, pellets or chopped semi fine).
Wait 1-5 minutes.  
Add 1 -2 Tablespoon of butter. (and essential oils, alcohol)
Stir continuously or use an immersion blender for 1-2 minutes.

Alternatively —
1 Heat chocolate and liquid together (from cold) in a double boiler.  Stir occasionally.

2 Rule of Threes —

  • Incorporate the liquid into the chocolate in thirds.
  • In the first phase, the chocolate doesn’t look pretty (it seizes).  Do not add liquid faster.  Take your time making emulsion.  Stir energetically.

LIQUIDS in GANACHE

cream
half&half
coffee
gran marnier
rosewater
jelly
wine
brandy
cognac
vanilla
coconut milk
nut milks
rice milk

GET CREATIVE

Other Additions:

jelly
peanut butter
pureed fruit
caramel
nutella

NOTES

    •    Different chocolates will have different amounts of sugar, solids, and butter so this will also affect texture and flavor
    •    Professional recipes will tell you what percentage chocolate to use in the recipe and always use weight rather than volume measurement
    •    It’s all a spectrum, it always tastes good with chocolate.