ganache

American  

[guh-nahsh] / gəˈnɑʃ /

noun

1. a whipped frosting or filling made with semisweet chocolate and cream, used for cakes, pastries, and candies.

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ganache British  

/ ɡəˈnæʃ /

noun

1. a smooth mixture of chocolate and cream, used in cakes, truffles, and chocolates

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Etymology

Origin of ganache

First recorded in 1810–15; from French “jaw; fool, unintelligent person,” from Italian ganascia “jaw,” from Greek gnáthos (compare gnathic ( def. ) )

Explanation

Ganache is a specific type of chocolate frosting or filling for pastries. To make ganache, pour heated cream over chopped chocolate and stir gently until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth and shiny. Warm ganache can be spread, dripped, or poured over cakes, into pie crusts, or even over ice cream. Cooled ganache can be rolled into balls to make chocolate truffles, a type of candy. The creamy mixture is said to have been created in France around 1850. According to the story, a chef's apprentice accidentally poured hot cream over chocolate and stirred it to hide his mistake. The chef called the apprentice — and the chocolate mixture — ganache, a French word meaning "imbecile."

Example Sentences

Pumpkin cake layered with a tart cream-cheese ganache, dipped in white chocolate and painted in orange sugar, from a celebrated confectioner.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 15, 2025

The cake contains a double chocolate ganache, dark chocolate sponge and a layer of dulce de leche - a caramel made of butter, milk and sugar with extra cream which is popular in Latin America.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2025

Salted caramel pistachio cake under a layer of matcha ganache.

From Seattle Times • May 21, 2024

However, if contestants attempt to refrigerate the cake and ganache due to being short on time, the texture of the chocolate will likely become chalky and the ganache will take on a dull, matte appearance.

From Salon • Sep. 30, 2023

I look it over: Sacher torte, pink champagne, crème de menthe, chocolate ganache.

From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson