Quick Ganache Icing Question

Decorating By azlorri Updated 6 Sep 2006 , 5:28pm by kaurislapsi

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azlorri Posted 4 Sep 2006 , 2:09am
post #1 of 22

Ok, so I'm making chocolate ganache for the first time. I want to cover my chocolate cake smoothly. Do I pour it on the cake when it's warm or do I try to ice with it at room temperature? (I get the part that after it's been chilled for an hour, I can pipe with it....but HOW do I prepare the cake first?)

Many thanks for a quick answer!!!!

21 replies
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imartsy Posted 4 Sep 2006 , 2:12am
post #2 of 22

AH! I was about to try making a ganache for the first time too.... I think you pour it when the cake is cool but the ganache is warm....

MY QUESTION: What type of chocoalte do you use? I have some semi-sweet baking chocolate or I have the 60% cacoa bittersweet ghiradelli chocolate chips......... I'm not quite sure what to use.... I'd appreciate your help with that too!

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kymscakes Posted 4 Sep 2006 , 2:21am
post #3 of 22

doing the same thing for the first time here tonight, hit a snag, my custard filling is taking it's sweet time to set...anyway, I am using the ghiradelli 60% bittersweet chips. I used them to make tons of ganache filling for cakes this weekend and they worked fine, the ganache was a lovely consistancy, I just hope it pours well, good luck to all of us.

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imartsy Posted 4 Sep 2006 , 2:24am
post #4 of 22

oh one more question - when the recipe calls for "cream" is that heavy whipping cream? Or can I use that?

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azlorri Posted 4 Sep 2006 , 2:26am
post #5 of 22

Well, I hope that it's heavy whipping cream....because that's what I got at the store! DD is finally in bed so I can start the decorating. Yippee!! I'm a newbie but having so much fun decorating!!!

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wam Posted 4 Sep 2006 , 2:29am
post #6 of 22

You pour the ganache on while it is warm or it won't be smoothe-also you can basically use any kind of chocolate-I usually use dark chocolate, but have used milk, white and semi-sweet-remember w/milk chocolate to not use as much cream or it will be too runny-and yes it is heavy whipping cream-I LOVE GANACHE!

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mkerton Posted 4 Sep 2006 , 2:30am
post #7 of 22

yes it is heavy whipping cream...and you pour it when its somewhat warm but not too warm or it will melt the buttercream underneith....I tried it for the first time the other day and may have let it cool a bit too long...I was going for the drip down the side look and got impatient with how slow it was moving so i moved it around on top with a spoon....which made it not look smooth...next time i will let it take its own sweet time (my pic is in my photos---but it wasnt a great first try) I am going to try it again this week.

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azlorri Posted 4 Sep 2006 , 2:34am
post #8 of 22

Buttercream underneath?!? Oh no, I didn't know that! Ack.

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mkerton Posted 4 Sep 2006 , 2:45am
post #9 of 22

azlorri, i am not saying you have to have buttercream underneath....I just did cause I wanted my ganache to drip down the sides...not totally cover the cake...still not sure how to totally cover the cake!

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azlorri Posted 4 Sep 2006 , 2:47am
post #10 of 22

Too funny. Here I'm "panicking" over a cake instead of just trying it out. I'm signed off and going INTO THE KITCHEN. (What is there to be afraid of?!?)

Thanks for everyone's help. Glad I'm not the only one trying this tonight!

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german Posted 4 Sep 2006 , 2:53am
post #11 of 22

I love granache.Prefer chiradelli myself and i always use heavy cream. A differant way to use it is : chill for 30min. than use mixer and mix till fluffy.

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imartsy Posted 4 Sep 2006 , 11:13pm
post #12 of 22

Wow the recipe made way much more than I was using for my practice cake - how long will this stuff last??

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Wendoger Posted 4 Sep 2006 , 11:23pm
post #13 of 22

yeah, after it cools a bit I whip mine too....makes it so light and fluffy and yummy...ooohh, jus' talkin' about it makes me want some!!!!

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kettlevalleygirl Posted 5 Sep 2006 , 2:48am
post #14 of 22

I made Ganache last night too, although, I don't think that it worked out right...what recipe did you all use...I used 2 part cream and 1 part chocolate, it wasn't very thick, I used the whisk, should have I whipped it in the mixer..???
But the good part is that everybody ate it anyway..

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ninas09 Posted 5 Sep 2006 , 3:27am
post #16 of 22

I made my first two ganache cakes this past weekend for a couple of friends. I used Hershey's chocolate and heavy whipping cream and they both worked great. I've attached two pictures. On the heart shaped cake, I poured the ganache (room temp) right on top of the cake. It came out very smooth and nice. On the second, two tiered cake I iced it with white buttercream icing first, then poured the ganache over it. You can tell the difference on the two cakes. The first cake is really smooth, but the second is kind of lumpy and you could see some of the white icing underneath. However, the cake that was iced in buttercream first tasted much better than the one that only had ganache.

I wouldn't suggested mixing the ganache with a mixer. I think it would cause air bubbles. When I made my second batch of ganache I whipped it because I thought it was a little lumpy and I had air bubbles in my cake.

Hope this was a little helpful........

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Wendoger Posted 5 Sep 2006 , 3:33am
post #17 of 22

yeah, it just kinda depends on what your gonna or wanna do....I have whipped mine after letting it cool to get the light and fluffy effect...I have also not whipped it, let it cool a bit and pour it on....when I whipped the last batch, I rolled some of it into balls and then rolled them in cocoa powder and made truffles...mmmmmm!!!!!!!! They were soooo good!!!!!!

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nikinimal Posted 5 Sep 2006 , 5:26am
post #18 of 22

Hi,
http://www.ecolechocolat.com/chocolate-recipe.php

Just one place for recipes and how to.

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Wendoger Posted 5 Sep 2006 , 5:31am
post #19 of 22

wow, whatta cool site! Thanks for posting that link!
icon_smile.gif

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nikinimal Posted 6 Sep 2006 , 6:50am
post #20 of 22

Hi,
I google whenevery I want to read about something and there are better chocolate sites too, depending on what you want to read, on tempering or just truffles and things. Easy with chocolate if you dare to try.
But some ganache recipes say add water and please don't do it.

Dark chocolate ganache: 50% chocolate and 50% whipping cream (about 35 - 40% fat content. I heat the cream almost to boiling but do not boil and then add the grated chocolate and stir. When it is cool I knead it on my marble slab or the stainless steel desktop in the kitchen. Both these are cool surfaces. Kneading makes it soft and pliable and easy to roll like sugarpaste when covering cakes.
If I want to make roses I add liquid glucose, about a tablespoon warm liquid glucose to a cup of ganache and knead until well incorporated.

When using milk or white you will have to have more chocolate than cream to get a covering ganache.

White chocolate 70% + Whipping cream 30%

Always grate the chocolate so it melts easily and quickly in hot milk, no trace of water in the bowls please.

Half sugarpaste and half ganache kneaded together gives a tasty cake covering medium and nothing is left on the plate!

Now to clear all misunderstandings...I have my profession in another field and I do not have any intention of advertising someone else or selling my or friends products and I am happy to share some of my knowledge in this hobby.

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Destini Posted 6 Sep 2006 , 10:07am
post #21 of 22

Nikinimal, thanks so much for sharing. I can't wait to try that recipe. It sounds delicious and simple.

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kaurislapsi Posted 6 Sep 2006 , 5:28pm
post #22 of 22

I make my ganache also by bring into boil 200 ml cream (heavy). Then I take my pot away from the stove. Then I add 200 grams of dark chocolate (chopped in pieces) and mix until smooth (I mix by hand with handwhisk). I put 1 teaspoon of butter or margarine and mix (it gives shine). Then I let it cool down about 30 mins, or until it's about room temp. I pour it over a cake when its about 23 - 32 degrees, not much hotter. My cakes are always waiting in fridge, because I only use whipped cream based fillings.

This ganache is very selfsmoothing. If I need to, I smooth it with hot spatula.

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