I made ganache the other night and it didn't set up and had some oil sitting on the top. I have ideas on what I did wrong. I ended up using some of the glop (after taking the oil off) to make chocolate icing and will mix some in with the cake crumbs from the cake that I didn't add enough water too to make cake balls.

And while that will use up some of my screw up it doesn't solve my current problem.

Has anyone ever made ganache and used it in the same day? I'm thinking maybe I can make a new batch (would have to go to the store for more chocolate) and maybe give it a short chill time in the fridge or maybe with an ice bath or just some cold water?

Am I asking for trouble and wasting time (would have to go by more chocolate) or could it work??

Cake's for tomorrow and I have to hand paint cheetah print on the fondant, so I really don't have the time to let it sit over night.

It's been a really bad cake day!

I do it all the time. Just let it set up in the fridge for a couple of hours. After that if it's too hard, you can soften it in the microwave for a few seconds. I've never had any problems doing it that way. Good luck!

I have used ganache the same day..after several hours..I ended up beating it with mixer and it got fairly thick.

I think if there's oil then the ganache has separated (maybe from overheating) you can add more whipping cream and whisk together to bring it back.

Texassugar - I've used several different ganache recipes and I seem to always mess up my timing. Good luck and I hope you get the result you're looking for!

Thanks everyone! I headed to Walmart and got more supplies and made it again. This batch already looks much better.

I'm sure I got it to hot last time. I thought about adding more chocolate since it was too thin. In the end instead of risking the doctoring not working I'd scrap it and find other uses for the messed up batch. It worked fine in the buttercream.

1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, heat in microwave till simmering. pour over 1 pound chocolate chip...let it sit without stirring a bout 5 minutes, stir till all combines and smooth. let it cooll till it is the consistency of honey, pour over your cake.
we buttercream our cake first and smooth then ganache.
If you want to do borders like in my last posted cake, place the ganach over a bowl of ice and whip till thick, you can use this as it is or mix it with some good buttercream, mixing with the buttercream allows the whipped ganache to hold up better in warm temp.
never had it fail.
i have a couple ganached cakes in my pictures, take a look.

This was one of those user errors not a bad recipe. I just used the same recipe a month ago with no problem. It also is the thicker ganache that you spread on. Putting it under fondant.

Thank you though.

Hammer, you ganache work is beautiful. I'll have to try it your way, so far ganache and I haven't gotten along very well..thanks

I started spreading on the ganache while it was still softer than the PB consistency because I was getting impatient. I'd made it in a metal bowl and was afraid the fridge would cause the stuff against the bowl to harden too much too fast.

It worked out great and firmed up very quickly on the cake!

Thank y'all for letting me know it could be done. After the morning I was having I wasn't sure the cake would get done. But it did and it looks pretty good.

Has anyone used ganache for an outdoor wedding got one in July. In beautiful, hot, humid North Al. any suggestions?