Chocolate Ganache

Name: Chocolate Ganache
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: About 1 ¼ cups in liquid form (or 16 heaping 1-tablespoon truffles)
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: ¾ cup heavy cream (you may need more or less depending on how you plan to use the ganache; see variations below); 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate, chopped; 2 teaspoons liquor, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, or 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder

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By Jennifer Segal

Updated April 6, 2025
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Chocolate ganache is a simple mixture of chocolate and cream that can be used as a filling, frosting, glaze, or chocolate fondue.

Person dipping a strawberry in chocolate ganache.

Chocolate ganache (pronounced “guh-nosh”) is a decadent mixture of chocolate and heavy cream. It’s super-simple to make — just heat up the cream and whisk in the chopped chocolate until smooth. The result is a silky chocolate mixture that can be used as a glaze, a cookie or cake filling, a truffle center, or even as chocolate fondue. Depending on how you want to use chocolate ganache, the consistency can be adjusted by using more or less cream, making it an incredibly versatile recipe for professional bakers and chocolate lovers alike.

Uses for Chocolate Ganache

Topping for chocolate cupcakes or vanilla cupcakes
Filling or topping for chocolate cake, yellow cake, or vanilla sheet cake
Topping for Bundt, pound cake, or angel food cake
Topping for cheesecake or flourless chocolate cake
Topping for homemade eclairs, crepes, chocolate peanut butter pie, brownies, or ice cream
Filling for sandwich cookies, like macarons, yo-yos, or chocolate kisses
Dip for strawberries or other fruit (serve with a bowl of whipped cream, too!)
Base for chocolate truffles

What You’ll Need To Make Chocolate Ganache

Bowls of heavy cream and semi-sweet chocolate.

Semi-Sweet Chocolate: Semi-sweet provides a perfect balance between sweet and bitter, making it ideal for fondue. Choose high-quality chocolate for the best melting and flavor. Chop the chocolate into small, uniform pieces to ensure even melting.
Heavy Cream: Adds richness and creates a smooth, silky texture.
Optional Flavorings, such as liquor, vanilla, or espresso powder: Choose a liquor that complements chocolate, such as Grand Marnier for an orange flavor, Bailey’s for a creamy taste, or rum or bourbon. Espresso powder will intensifies the chocolate flavor without necessarily making it taste like coffee.

Find the printable recipe with exact measurements below.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Base Recipe

In a medium pot, heat the cream over medium-high heat, until it just begins to simmer.

Turn off the heat immediately. Add in the optional liquor, vanilla, or espresso powder. In a heatproof bowl, pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate, making sure the chocolate is completely covered by the cream.

Allow it to sit for 5 minutes.

Use a rubber spatula or a whisk to mix together the chocolate and cream until it is evenly combined and completely smooth.

Spatula mixing heavy cream and melted chocolate in a glass bowl.

If for any reason your ganache still has unmelted chocolate chunks, pop the bowl in the microwave and heat for 20 seconds, then stir again until melted. (Alternatively, in a small pot, bring 1 inch of water to a simmer. Place the bowl over the pot, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water, and stir for another minute or so until the remaining chocolate is melted.) Use basic ganache as a fondue or glaze.

Variations

Spreadable Ganache

Make the base ganache recipe and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the bowl with the ganache, pressing it directly against the ganache, to prevent a film from forming on top. Allow the ganache to sit in the bowl at room temperature for 3 hours. Then, spread or pipe it onto your cake or cupcakes, or use it as a cookie filling.

Ganache For Truffles

Make base ganache recipe, but reduce the cream to 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons of cream (or 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon of cream and 1 tablespoon liquor). Allow the ganache to cool for about 10 minutes, then place a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the bowl with the ganache, pressing it directly against the ganache to prevent a film from forming on top, and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Once chilled, divide the ganache in half and put one half back in the refrigerator. Using a small spoon, scoop out generous tablespoon-sized amounts of the ganache and roll into truffles, then, roll them in your favorite coating, such as chopped nuts, confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, sprinkles, etc. Repeat this with the remaining ganache. Work quickly since the ganache softens fast!

Ice cream scoop in a bowl of chocolate ganache.

Ganache Glaze/Fondue

Make basic ganache, but use 1 cup of heavy cream. Allow the ganache to cool for 5 minutes before using as a glaze/drizzle over cakes, cookies, or other desserts.

Person dipping a strawberry in a bowl of chocolate ganache.

Whipped Ganache

Make the base ganache recipe, but increase the heavy cream to 1 cup. Allow the mixture to cool completely at room temperature for 30 minutes. Use an electric handheld mixer or stand mixer with the whisk attachment and beat the ganache on medium speed for 5 to 7 minutes, until it’s thickened like whipped cream. Use right away or store in the fridge for up to 3 days. If storing in the fridge, you may need to rewhip when ready to use for frosting layer cakes or piping onto cupcakes.