Recipe: Dark Chocolate Ganache

the appetizer:

Learn both the basics and advanced techniques in The Art and Soul of Baking by Sur La Table and Cindy Mushet, with recipes like Croissants; Almond Croissants; and Lemon Mascarpone Layer Cake.

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Dark Chocolate Ganache

Makes 3 cups (1-1/2 pounds), enough for a 2-layer, 9-inch cake or 16 cupcakes

Voluptuously smooth and rich, ganache is nothing more than the combination of chocolate and cream, but it is one of the most useful mixtures in the pastry kitchen. It can be used for frosting cakes, glazing cakes and éclairs, filling tarts and cookies, shaping into truffles, saucing desserts, and more. Take care to chop your chocolate finely—into about 1/4-inch pieces--because big chunks won't melt completely when the hot cream is poured over the top, and your ganache will be dotted with chunks of hard chocolate. If this happens, strain out the chunks, melt them gently in a microwave oven (10 seconds at a time, stirring between each heating) until melted, then stir back into the ganache. Note: If you like to use dark chocolate with a high percentage of cacao, you'll need to add extra cream, or the ganache will break and take on a curdled look. If your chocolate is over 62 percent cacao, add an additional 3/4 cup cream to the recipe below. If your chocolate is 70 percent or higher, add an extra 1 cup cream.

Ingredients

12 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
(up to 60 percent cacao), finely chopped
1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

Equipment

Medium Bowl, Small Saucepan, Whisk

Place the chocolate in the medium bowl. Heat the cream in the small saucepan over medium heat until it begins to boil. Immediately pour the cream over the chocolate. Let the mixture sit for 1 minute, then gently whisk until the ganache is completely smooth and blended. If you are using a high-percentage chocolate and the mixture looks broken or curdled at this point, stir in an extra tablespoon or two of cream, just until the mixture smooths out again. Use as directed.

To use as frosting: Let the ganache cool for 1 hour, then cover with plastic wrap and set aside to finish cooling at room temperature until it has the consistency of frosting, 8 to 10 hours. If you make it the night before, it will be the perfect texture for frosting cakes and cupcakes in the morning.

To use as a glaze: Set the ganache aside until it has cooled to the consistency of pourable honey, 15 to 20 minutes. Pour the ganache over the cake. You can also dip the tops of cupcakes, cream puffs, or éclairs into the ganache for a quick-and-easy icing. To use as a sauce: Spoon the ganache onto the dessert plates or over ice cream while still warm. If it has cooled and is too thick, heat gently over a double boiler until warm and fluid, or simply add additional cream (or water) until the desired sauce consistency is reached.

from:
The Art and Soul of Baking
by Sur La Table and Cindy Mushet
Andrews McMeel Publishing 2008
Hardcover; U.S.: $40.00 Canada: $44.00
ISBN: 0740773348
ISBN-13: 978-0-7407-7334-1
Recipe reprinted by permission.

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