Chocolate Ganache

There are two categories of cake eaters: those who eat it for the cake and those who eat it for the frosting. I am most definitely the former. Not a frosting gal. I typically swipe most of it off before eating a slice. In fact, just leave the frosting off completely and I’ll be a happy camper.

Unless you are talking about ganache. That is a different story. Instead of the gloppy, sticky-sweet, Crisco-laden, hyper-color supermarket concoction called cake frosting, ganache is smooth, sleek, rich, flavorful, grown-up – and surprisingly easy to make.


Yes, I licked the bowl. No apologies.

I used this on a chocolate cake I made for my dad’s birthday. He’s more of an Oreo cookie guy, but since it’s hard to put candles in Oreos, he had to settle for this. I don’t think he minded one bit.

Chocolate Ganache
You should use unsalted butter, but I like a little saltiness, so I use salted butter. What can I say? I’m a salty gal. This will be enough to cover a layer cake or 24 cupcakes. If storing your ganache-covered concoction, keep it in the fridge, then take out two hours before serving. Adapted from Fine Cooking, my dear foodie mag love.

16 oz. good quality semi-sweet chocolate chips (about a bag and a half)
2 c. heavy cream (no substitutes!)
2 Tbls. butter, softened

Place chocolate chips in a large bowl. In a medium sized pot, bring cream to a boil over medium-high heat (watch it closely so it doesn’t run over!). Pour hot cream over chocolate and let sit without stirring for five minutes. With a whisk, stir with small, tight circular motion in the middle of the bowl until fully combined. Add butter and continue stirring until fully incorporated. Cover surface of ganache with plastic wrap (not over top of the bowl; set the plastic wrap directly on the surface of the mixture) and let sit at least 8 hours or overnight at room temperature to thicken.

When frosting the cake, put on one thin layer of ganache to seal in crumbs, refrigerate cake for 15 mins to harden, then add another layer of ganache for a picture perfect finish.