Please Help With My Chocolate Ganache.

Baking By karukaru Updated 15 Jun 2014 , 11:35am by Sugar Merchant

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karukaru Posted 1 Dec 2012 , 12:58pm
post #1 of 16

I made it Last night and put it in the fridge but it did not harden. It just got a little bit thicker. I can't remember the recipe but I think I used this one: 

 

  • 8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate (we like 61 percent cacao)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/8 teaspoon coarse salt

Also, my ganache is grainy so I guess the chocolate didn't completely melt. What should I do? this is for a fondant covered round cake. Show I reheated? Should I whip it to form a mousse? Should I make buttercream and then fold in the chocolate? I have to be done before noon so any advice would be appreciated. BTW, my friend is not expecting ganache. I just though it would go well with chocolate cake filled with cookies n cream whipped filling. TIA.

15 replies
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mrayne Posted 1 Dec 2012 , 1:04pm
post #2 of 16

ACan you carefully scrape it off?

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Dani1081 Posted 1 Dec 2012 , 1:07pm
post #3 of 16

If the chocolate didn't all melt, that would explain why it didn't set up properly.  I would try heating it in the microwave slowly and using a whisk to completely mix the chocolate into the cream. 

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karukaru Posted 1 Dec 2012 , 1:10pm
post #4 of 16

Thanks! I need to use it today. Should I whip it or should I make indydebie's buttercream and fold it in? I need to cover it in fondant and do not have time to let it sit

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Dani1081 Posted 1 Dec 2012 , 1:16pm
post #5 of 16


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Dani1081 Posted 1 Dec 2012 , 1:19pm
post #6 of 16

After you get all the chocolate melted and incorporated into the cream, you can hurry the cooling process by putting it in the fridge and stirring it every 5 - 10  minutes til it's the right consistency.  Shouldn't take too long.  You can add ganache to buttercream, but it makes chocolate buttercream  - a totally different thing that is delicious but NOTHING like ganache. 

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karukaru Posted 1 Dec 2012 , 1:21pm
post #7 of 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dani1081 

After you get all the chocolate melted and incorporated into the cream, you can hurry the cooling process by putting it in the fridge and stirring it every 5 - 10  minutes til it's the right consistency.  Shouldn't take too long.  You can add ganache to buttercream, but it makes chocolate buttercream  - a totally different thing that is delicious but NOTHING like ganache. 

I think It is ok because my friend is not expecting ganache. it is for a one year old's birthday so maybe buttercream is better.

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leah_s Posted 1 Dec 2012 , 1:28pm
post #8 of 16

AEqual partake chocolate and cream, like is your recipe make a pouring ganache, not a spreadable ganache.

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Dani1081 Posted 1 Dec 2012 , 6:08pm
post #9 of 16

"Classic ganache frosting usually has equal weights of chocolate and cream.  Since I find this consistency is just a shade too stiff to adhere well to cakes, I have very slightly increased the amount of cream so that the frosting is fudgy and thick while still able to cling to the cake."  Direct quote from The Cake Bible, Rose Levy Beranbaum

 

The recipe I use is from this book.  The longer it sets (cools) the stiffer it gets. 

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leah_s Posted 1 Dec 2012 , 6:30pm
post #10 of 16

AHuh. I usually do 1.5 parts chocolate to one part cream. Oh well.

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mcaulir Posted 1 Dec 2012 , 9:01pm
post #11 of 16

I use two parts chocolate to cream and in the heat we've had here in the last couple of days, even that didn't set up enough. Ganache depends a lot on the weather.

 

Oops- came back to say, you can add more chocolate, OP. Just heat it up again and stir through whatever amount of melted chocolate you think is enough. Probably the same amount you have already put in. Ganache used for spreading should come to a spreading consistency at room temp overnight - in the fridge it goes rock hard.

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Danilou Posted 1 Dec 2012 , 11:33pm
post #12 of 16


 

I use these ratios all the time. It works great!!

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fcakes Posted 2 Dec 2012 , 2:14am
post #13 of 16

AJust made a ton of ganache :) Heat the cream till its slightly hot, add choc chips or chopped choc...equal ratios. Let it sit for 5 mins then mix with a whisk.

If the choc isn't melted yet, microwave it at 20 sec intervals until the whisk is able to incorporate it all well. Let it sit out overnight and it should harden to a spreadable consistency.

I read that you shouldn't refrigerate it because the variance in temps as it comes back to room temp can cause it lose the thick consistency.

Also, if it's grainy, just warm it a bit, whisk then add a little cream if needed. It should repair itself that way.

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noahsmummy Posted 6 Dec 2012 , 12:13am
post #14 of 16

i also find it depends on the weather. Have had to up my chocolate ratio massively with the heat we have been having lately. Also, to avoid grainy ganache, I find using a metal whisk does the trick. Not sure why it works so much better, perhaps because the whisk heats up too and melts the chocolate as it contacts it? (I make my ganache on the stove top =))  and dont be scared to reheat ganache.. its one of the beauties of it.. it wont hurt it to reheat it. 

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urbangrl2007 Posted 25 Oct 2013 , 6:31pm
post #15 of 16

Looking at the recipe, and other comments that I agree with, this is more of a pouring ganache, so I'm not surprised it didn't set. I usually to a 2:1 chocolate to cream ratio (but it also depends on the kind of chocolate I'm using) for ganache. It also depends on what you're doing with it. If you're piping with it, it obviously needs to be thicker. What you *could* try doing, is whipping it. It should act like a chantilly at this point. Fillings that I use every week are this way. Cream and chocolate, but thin enough to whip up into a whipped cream type product. Put it on the mixer, medium to low speed and whip until it's just before a stiff peak. Finish it off by hand. You *should* have a nice, thick and creamy chocolate filling for the cake. 

Hope something works out.

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Sugar Merchant Posted 15 Jun 2014 , 11:35am
post #16 of 16

I found this thread because I have a problem. I usually make equal parts cream/choc ganache, then cool overnight and whip. Lately though it won't whip. It takes only seconds before it separates, goes grainy, as "if" i have over whipped it. But i haven't over whipped it. I think it might have something to do with the cream fats and chocolate fats not amalgamating at some point? or is my fridge too cold, and its freezing it, which could make this happen?

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