AWhat kind of chocolate do you prefer to use for ganaches? Brand? White, dark, milk? How do you flavor your ganaches? What is your stance on using food coloring in your ganache? If so what kind? Has anyone ever made a ganache not using cream?

I prefer to use a good quality eating chocolate , I am of the opinion that if it taste good to eat , it will taste good as ganache. I happen to think melts or cooking chocolate are nasty . Blecccch . ( I have the same opinion about wine too ) 

I like to do  dark ganache the best , I find it sets up and works better as well as being not as sweet and is a nice counterpoint to the cake . 

Flavouring , I always flavour the cream before I add the chocolate to it. I have infused herbal and specialty teas, booze, essences . Flavouring oils. 

I have made ganache using coconut cream and it was lovely. 

ADo you only use your ganachesfor covering and filling cakes? Would you use the same consistency for filling a truffle?

It kind of depends.  More cream and less chocolate makes a smooth creamy filling.  More chocolate and less cream makes a firm base and sets up nicely.  If you have the time to try different ratios, make notes to see what you like for different uses.  Also, it is very forgiving and can be remelted  to add more cream or chocolate if you like.
 

i'm mostly asking to find out other peoples preferences.

My favourite is lindt berne bars for ganache, it's a very smooth dark chocolate, but no bitterness.

I love a piece of really dark, slightly bitter chocolate, but most customers dont :)

I always use high quality eating chocolate, chocolate chips and candy melts have no place in a proper ganache, imo.

Like chellescakes said, I also flavour the cream beforehand. I really like steeping different teas in the cream, and making a white ganache. Earl grey is really yummy.

I also use fruit and berries, oils, etc.

I have made butter ganache, but I prefer tradition 1:1 heavy cream and chocolate. (the ratio changes depending on what type of chocoalte and what I am making it for, though)

AThis won't be popular, but after much trial and error, I have found the Aldi everyday value 52% dark choc brilliant. I bash the choc then pulse it in the kenwood before pouring the cream over. Perfect every time and everyone who tries it loves it. I have used quite a few different brands and this always works the vest. Don't know why, it might be my hob, or the way I whisk, or my expectations! But it is ace. X x x

AI use tesco or morrisons basic! A mixture of dark and some milk so it's not so bitter.

I use Callebaut as I always have it on hand in white, milk and dark.  Tastes great by itself or in anything you might want to use chocolate for.

AI used the Aldi milk choc the other day with slightly higher percentage choc to cream to pipe onto my moist orange and almond cupcakes. They were hoovered up and raved over at work. I was really impressed with just how expensive the ganache tasted. Like I said previously, I have used really expensive high quality choc but apart from the expense I have found it too bitter and a bit 'too much' if that makes sense. It's good if you make something that carries liqueurs like a prinzregenstorte, but anything covering/filling cakes that I believe you are supposed to have a whacking great chunk of as part of a celebration I find the really expensive high cocoa solid content choc makes ganache that is too dense, it sets too hard and is too bitter. Hope I'm making sense. My post was really to say 'yay Aldi value chocolate'!

I really like the Semper ASM Brand Ganaches ( They were just bought out by Callabaut).  They come in a 12lb bucket that I buy from my online store.  They are imported from Sweden and are available in dark, milk, and white.  They add a great shine to my cakes and hold up well.

AOoh it has to be white. It's a bit more of a contemporary taste x

AInfusing ganache with teas and a whole bunch of other stuff is pretty common practice in the world of chocolates.

AUgh! I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.

AWtf? Pigs blood? Why oh why? Never mind sick in my mouth, it came involuntarily down my nose. Clotty aneurism ganache anyone? Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

AThat's just gross.

Please can someone help me

I am making a mans torso cake for a hen do on sat 23rd. I bought the cream for the ganche few days ago and the date for the cream is 23rd, the hen is on the 23rd. so will this be okay to use? will it be safe to eat after 23rd? Please help!!
Thank you!!!

Stephanie xx