By Krista Teigen
Published Dec 19, 2023
Ganache is the perfect finish for cakes and all kinds of desserts, so I’m going to show you how to make chocolate ganache with this easy recipe. All you need is chocolate and heavy cream, and a couple of quick steps!
Why We Love This Chocolate Ganache Recipe
Ganache may sound intimidating, but I’m here to tell you it’s way easier than you think and takes only 20 minutes! It’s silky smooth, gorgeous, and so versatile. Drizzle it over top of a cake, pipe it as frosting or filling, or make chocolate truffles! I used it on my favorite chocolate cupcakes here.
Variations on Ganache
You can make this velvety smooth ganache with any kind of chocolate you love–milk, semisweet, dark, or white chocolate all work! You can also flavor it with extracts like vanilla or peppermint, liqueurs like Kahlua or Baileys , spices like cinnamon or nutmeg, or nut butters. Yum!
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover chocolate ganache with plastic wrap tightly pressed onto the surface to prevent it from drying out. It will keep at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Let it come to room temperature before enjoying.
How to Freeze
Freeze homemade ganache in a Ziplock bag with the air pressed out for up to 1 month. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then let come to room temperature before using.
How to Use Ganache
This chocolate ganache makes a beautiful icing for a chocolate cake , glaze for chocolate donuts , filling for a layer cake , or base for chocolate truffles . Use it as the chocolate layer in my favorite s’mores bars or as a dipping sauce for brownie bites for an extra bit of decadence.
More Frosting Recipes To Try
- Vanilla Frosting
- Chocolate Fudge Frosting
- Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 8 ounces semisweet baking chocolate 227 grams, chopped (substitute good quality chocolate chips)
- ▢ 1 cup heavy cream 227 grams
Video
Instructions
- Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. 8 ounces semisweet baking chocolate
- Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan set over medium heat. Once it starts to simmer, take off the heat. 1 cup heavy cream
- Pour the heavy cream over the chocolate, stirring until the chocolate is melted and incorporated, and the ganache is smooth in texture.
- Use the ganache immediately as a drizzle or dip. Or, let the ganache cool and thicken to use as a frosting or piping.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Becky’s Tips
- Feel free to use any kind of chocolate– milk, semisweet, dark, and white all work.
- Add 1 teaspoon of extract or liqueur, a pinch of spice, or a tablespoon of nut butter to flavor.
- If your ganache splits, don’t fret! Place the mixture on a double boiler, add a small amount of room temperature cream, and slowly vigorously until it comes back together.
- Let the ganache cool for at least 15 minutes before pouring over a cooled cake/cupcake/donut.
- Chill the ganache for a pipeable consistency or to make truffles.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Chocolate Ganache Step by Step
Prep the Ingredients: Place 8 ounces of chopped semisweet baking chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Heat 1 cup of heavy cream in a saucepan set over medium heat.
Pour the Cream: Once it starts to simmer, take the cream off the heat. Pour the warm heavy cream over the chocolate.
Stir the Ganache: Whisk until the chocolate is fully melted and incorporated, and the ganache is smooth in texture. Use the ganache immediately as a drizzle or dip. Or, let the ganache cool and thicken to use as a frosting or piping.
Chocolate ganache is a type of icing made from melted chocolate mixed with heavy cream. It has a thinner consistency than frosting, but a thicker consistency than glaze, and it sets up quickly at room temperature.
You can swap out the heavy cream for milk, but the final product will remain soft at room temperature. You can also add a little bit of butter for a richer consistency, or try using half-and-half.
Yes, ganache will harden up significantly in the fridge, so make sure to give it time to come to room temperature before attempting to pipe or spread it.
If your ganache splits, don’t fret! Place the mixture on a double boiler, add a small amount of room temperature cream, and slowly vigorously until it comes back together.
You should let your chocolate ganache cool for about 15 minutes before pouring it. If it is too hot (or is poured over a hot/warm cake), it will turn thin and run off.
You’ll want to prepare it a day in advance and chill it overnight in the refrigerator before attempting to whip your ganache. Once it’s nice and cold, use a hand mixer, and take care not to overbeat it. It should have a buttercream-like consistency when it is properly whipped.
Chocolate Ganache Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Ingredients
- 8 ounces semisweet baking chocolate 227 grams, chopped (substitute good quality chocolate chips)
- 1 cup heavy cream 227 grams
Instructions
- Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. 8 ounces semisweet baking chocolate
- Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan set over medium heat. Once it starts to simmer, take off the heat. 1 cup heavy cream
- Pour the heavy cream over the chocolate, stirring until the chocolate is melted and incorporated, and the ganache is smooth in texture.
- Use the ganache immediately as a drizzle or dip. Or, let the ganache cool and thicken to use as a frosting or piping.
Video
Notes
- Feel free to use any kind of chocolate– milk, semisweet, dark, and white all work.
- Add 1 teaspoon of extract or liqueur, a pinch of spice, or a tablespoon of nut butter to flavor.
- If your ganache splits, don’t fret! Place the mixture on a double boiler, add a small amount of room temperature cream, and slowly vigorously until it comes back together.
- Let the ganache cool for at least 15 minutes before pouring over a cooled cake/cupcake/donut.
- Chill the ganache for a pipeable consistency or to make truffles.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
