Basic Chocolate Ganache Recipe

Written by Roar Elias

If you love chocolate, then a chocolate ganache recipe is something that you definitely have to get hold of and learn how to make. There are countless things you can make from this once you have a basic recipe. It is the same as a basic white sauce. Once you have that, you can turn it into whatever you want really. For a ganache, probably the first thing that comes to mind is truffles, but there is so much more that we can make than that. We can create the best smooth looking; melt in your mouth icing for your chocolate cake. You can use this as a filling for lovely looking cupcakes. Use it to make your hot chocolate that much more special. Use it in chocolate croissants, to coat fruit or even as a filling for canapés. These are just a few ideas.

Here is a basic chocolate ganache recipe

Ingredients

• 300ml double cream
• 300g good quality dark chocolate, chopped finely

Directions

1. Place the cream over a gentle heat and wait until it starts to simmer. Don't boil the milk.
2. Now you can add the chocolate, but keep on whisking. If you are finding that the mixture is starting to split then just add a tablespoon or two of milk or water and whisk away. The chances of this happening are far less than they would be when you are melting plain chocolate.
3. That's all there is to it.

If you are going to be icing or filling a cake or something where you need the ganache to stay more runny to be able to work with, then just leave it to cool a few minutes and then start spreading it over with a spatula. If you are making truffles, then put the mixture into a little bowl and place this in the refrigerator to set.

Here are a couple of ideas for truffles. They do make a lovely gift, especially if you put them in a nice little box tied with a pretty bow. I would think this makes for a great surprise.

Take the chocolate mixture out of the fridge and give it 30 minutes to get down to room temperature. Now you should have all of your fillings and other ingredients that you want to coat the truffles with ready. Have some helpers with you as well. This is where kids are useful and they could actually have a lot of fun.

Fillings to add:

• orange zest
• some type of liquor like brandy
• white chocolate
• add in nuts
• raspberries with white chocolate

Be careful not to add too much liquid to your fillings or that your fillings are too moist. You only need a drop of flavouring for this to be successful.

Once you have filled them and dipped them in the heated ganache then you can dip them in something like crushed nuts or biscuits or you can maybe roll them in cocoa powder.

Have a little ganache left over which you will warm up and this you can coat the fillings with. You can also use white chocolate for something a little different.

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