How to Make Chocolate Ganache
Learn how make chocolate ganache (hint: it is actually really easy!) and check out these 5 delicious ways to use it for the ultimate chocolate treat.
This chocolate ganache recipe was originally published February 10, 2013. It has been updated from the archives with new photos and additional information.
What is Ganache?
With Valentine’s Day coming up in a few days, many of us probably have chocolate on the brain. There is no simpler or more indulgent chocolate dessert than ganache.
Made of heavy cream and dark chocolate, you would be hard pressed to find a dessert with a shorter ingredient list. Not to mention that many of us probably have these items in the house already.
Depending on how much chocolate or cream you add, you can make chocolate ganache runnier or quite firm. This means you can use it as a sauce, frosting, glaze, and more!
Keep reading to find out my favorite ways to use chocolate ganache.
Chocolate Ganache Ingredients
When I say this is an easy chocolate ganache recipe, I mean it! The only ingredients you need to make chocolate ganache are:
- Dark or Milk Chocolate
- Heavy Cream
That’s it! Chocolate Ganache is only 2 ingredients!
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
How to Make Chocolate Ganache
For a classic ganache, here’s what you need to do:
- Chop the chocolate – Place the chopped dark chocolate into a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
- Heat the cream – In a small saucepan, warm the cream over medium-low heat until bubbles form along the edges and it’s hot. Do not boil.
- Combine – Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate and let it sit for 5 minutes to allow the chocolate to melt.
- Stir until smooth – Using a small whisk or wooden spoon, stir the mixture until fully combined, smooth, and glossy.
- Cool to thicken – Let the ganache sit; it will thicken as it cools. Use as needed.
The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe for chocolate ganache. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
Tips for Making Chocolate Ganache
Here are some of my favorite tips for making the best chocolate ganache:
- Make sure to use a really good quality dark chocolate. Since it’s the star ingredient, you want the flavor to be amazing.
- Also, you’ll want to use an actual chopped up chocolate bar and not chocolate chips. Chocolate chips don’t always melt well, which can affect the texture of this homemade ganache. If you do use chocolate chips, make sure they’re high quality dark chocolate.
- You can also use dark chocolate disks (not the same as chocolate candy melts).
- Use a whisk to mix the chocolate completely into the hot cream.
- Lastly, when heating the cream you do NOT want it to come to a boil. Heat it until almost boiling and then remove it from the heat.
Ways to Use Chocolate Ganache
Not only is ganache easy and delicious, but it is very versatile. One batch of ganache can give you many different options for dessert if you have a little time to be creative. Here are some of my favorite ways to use chocolate ganache:
Chocolate Fondue
Keep the chocolate warm and, if necessary, thin it to your desired dipping consistency with additional heavy cream. It’s perfect for dipping fresh fruit (such as orange sections, raspberries and strawberries), homemade marshmallows, cheesecake bites, pretzels, or whatever else you’d like to eat dipped in warm, silky chocolate.
Chocolate Sauce
Pour or drizzle warm ganache over items like ice cream or crepes.
Coating Chocolate
Dip caramels, homemade marshmallows, fresh or dried fruit, nuts, pretzels, and more. Let the chocolate dipped snacks cool on a parchment paper-covered cookie sheet in the refrigerator until hardened. This will not produce a hard chocolate shell, however. If you are looking for that result, you’ll want to learn How to Temper Chocolate.
Frosting or Glaze for Cakes
For a shiny, chocolate ganache glaze, pour liquid, but slightly cooled, chocolate over cheesecake, bundt cakes, brownies (while still in their pan, but completely cooled), or layer cakes.
For whipped chocolate ganache frosting, chill a metal mixing bowl and mixer’s whisk(s) in your freezer. When the ganache has completely cooled (about an hour) and begun setting, you can remove the bowl and whisk from the freezer and whip the chocolate.
Whip ganache at medium-high speed as you would whip heavy cream until the chocolate has lightened in color and is fluffy (about 2 – 5 minutes). This is perfect for filling layer cakes, like this triple chocolate ganache cake, or piping on top of cupcakes for a fluffy chocolate frosting.
For rich and thick cupcake frosting, allow the ganache to cool completely (about an hour) until it begins to set up but is still soft. Spoon into a pastry bag with a piping tip and pipe as desired for a rich dark chocolate frosting for cupcakes.
Topping for Brownies
Pour over top of a pan of cooled brownies and then let it harden for a delicious, rich chocolate topping for brownies. I’ve used this method in my Espresso Brownie recipe—if you love super rich brownies, give them a try!
Quick Fudge
Pour the ganache into a lined pan and allow it to set. Cut into squares of fudge.
If desired, swirl things like nut butters, dried or freeze dried fruit, coconut, marshmallows, caramel, vanilla bean, extracts or flavorings, or nuts into the fudge before pouring into the pan. If you like, sprinkle the top with sea salt before it hardens.
Try Making Homemade Ganache!
Next time you’re looking for a decadent chocolate treat, give this homemade ganache a try—there are so many fun ways to use it!
Did you think this recipe for chocolate ganache was super easy? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this great recipe.
On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me @goodlifeeats #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of your creation!
More Easy Chocolate Recipes:
Need a quick dessert that everyone will love? Make a pan of these Easy Chocolate Brownies. They’re one of the most popular recipes on my blog, and for good reason!
If you want to make homemade candies or truffles, learning How to Temper Chocolate is crucial. I break it down step by step in this post.
These Dark Chocolate Almond Lava Cake Sundaes are absolutely irresistible. Gooey in the center, and perfectly moist on the outside, I can’t stop eating these once I make them!
Another fun spin on chocolate ganache is this Homemade Magic Shell. When you pour this chocolate sauce over ice cream, it magically hardens!
If you like salt and sweet chocolate desserts, you need to make a batch of these Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Buttercream. Talk about delicious!
Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.
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How to Make Chocolate Ganache
Learn how make chocolate ganache (hint: it is actually really easy!) and check out these 5 delicious ways to use it for the ultimate chocolate treat.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces chopped dark chocolate
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
To Make Ganache
- Place the chopped dark chocolate into a medium mixing bowl.
- Set aside.
- Then, pour the cream into a small saucepan and warm over medium-low heat until bubbles begin to form along the edges and the cream is hot.
- Do not bring to a boil.
- Pour the hot cream into the bowl with the chopped chocolate and allow to sit for about 5 minutes while the chocolate melts.
- Using a small wire whisk or wooden spoon, stir the hot cream and chocolate mixture until smooth and glossy.
- Ganache will become thicker as it cools.
For pourable ganache:
- It is best to allow it to cool until no longer hot, but still a liquid pourable consistency.
- Then you can pour it over a cake as a glaze or on top of brownies as a glaze like frosting
For piped ganache:
- Allow the ganache to cool completely (about an hour) until it begins to set up but is still soft.
- Spoon into a pastry bag with a piping tip and pipe as desired for a rich dark chocolate frosting.
For whipped ganache:
- Place a metal mixing bowl and your stand or hand mixer's whisks in your freezer.
- When the ganache has completely cooled (about an hour) and begun setting, you can remove the bowl and whisk from the freezer and whip the ganache at medium-high speed as you would whip heavy cream until the chocolate has lightened in color and is fluffy - about 2 - 5 minutes.
- This is perfect for filling layer cakes or piping on top of cupcakes for a fluffy chocolate frosting.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 3 tablespoonsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 256Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 15mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 2gSugar: 14gProtein: 2g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
Melanie says
Hi! Can I store any leftover whipped ganache?
Katie says
Yes it stores in the refrigerator.
Nazreen says
To get a shiny effect it is instructed to pour the completely cooled ganache over the cake. Will the ganach set while cooling in room temperature and lose its pouring consistancy while cooling?
Katie says
For a shiny, chocolate glaze: pour liquid, but cooled slightly, chocolate over cheesecake, bundt cakes, brownies (while still in their pan, but completely cooled), or layer cakes.
The ganache needs to be cooled slightly, just so that it is not blazing hot but it should not be cooled past being pourable. The cake is what needs to be completely cooled.Hope that helps!
Tori says
Will this “crisp” up well once cooled? Even if it is at room temperature? Would you recommend this for chocolate covered strawberries? Also, where can i purchase this type of chocolate? I apologize for all the questions! I am trying to learn everything I can about chocolate. =)
Katie says
The chocolate pictured is just this https://www.ghirardelli.com/shop-1/baking-treats/baking/60-cacao-bittersweet-chocolate-baking-chips.html which I am able to find at grocery stores and super centers near me.
Ganache will thicken upon cooling, but it will remain soft to the touch. Ganache is good for dipping strawberries if you are dipping and eating them at the same time (almost like fondue?). You can dip them and then refrigerate it to thicken the coating but it will not be like a candy coating of hard chocolate.
If you want a candy shell, you’ll want to temper chocolate. You can learn how to do that here: http://www.goodlifeeats.com/how-to-temper-chocolate/
For tempering, you cannot have the chocolate get too hot when melting, so I definitely recommend checking out the tutorial as it is a little more finicky than just melting chocolate.
Hope that helps!
Alice says
Can I use evaporated milk instead of cream?
Katie Goodman says
I haven’t tried that before. Let me know if you do and how it works.
Kristin Harris says
Hi, If I wanted to frost cupcakes with buttercream frosting and then dip them in ganache, would I put the frosted cupcakes in the fridge to harden the frosting and then dip them in room temp, pourable ganache? Would this drip down the sides? I am wanting my finished product to look like a chocolate dipped ice cream cone.
Katie says
I would try what you just described. Another option would be to use homemade magic shell. Here is how I did that for popsicles: http://www.goodlifeeats.com/2013/12/chocolate-covered-blood-orange-popsicles.html
Judith Yu says
How long can the ganache stay at room temperature? Thanks
Judith Yu says
Hi! For piped ganache, can I keep it on room temperature? 🙂
Jen says
What brand of chocolate do you use in your ganache?
Katie says
I like ghirardelli or scharffen berger. Sometimes I just use chocolate chips. My favorite are these: http://www.ghirardelli.com/store/shop-products/collections/baking-products.html/
Alley @ Alley's Recipe Book says
I almost always cover my cupcakes with a thin layer of ganache and then top it with frosting. after the ganache hardens, i think it seals the cupcake and keeps it fresh. plus it is a little surprise since the frosting covers it up!
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions says
Great tips and suggestions! I love to eat chocolate ganache and drink it right from the bowl! 😉
TheAvasmommy says
You forgot the best one: Truffles!
Memoria says
I thought the same thing since I just made some yesterday. However, I think #5, the quick fudge one, is the same as truffles…just roll them into balls and add sprinkles or whatever.
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says
LOVE. THIS. You’d think I’d always have an excuse to make chocolate ganache but I never do seem to make it! This will change everything. 🙂