ganache

noun

ga·​nache (ˌ)gä-ˈnäsh 

gə-

: a sweet creamy chocolate mixture used especially as a filling or frosting

Examples of ganache in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The technical is to make a vegan chocolate sponge cake and ganache with frosting that seems like it is made out of the leftover slime from a kindergartner’s slumber party. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026

Chill until mousse is completely set (ganache will set in about 30 minutes), at least 4 hours and up to 12 hours (no need to cover unless fridge has other strong smells). — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Nov. 2026

Velvety chocolate runs throughout, with a luscious ganache on top. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Oct. 2026

The S’mores Cup at Columbia Harbour House, with layers of graham cracker pieces, chocolate ganache, popping chocolate candies, milk chocolate panna cotta, and marshmallow cream, is sold during regular park hours only. — Jacqueline Dole, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, originally a kind of bonbon manufactured by the Parisian confectioner Siraudin (probably after Les Ganaches, a play by Victorien sardou first performed in October, 1862), literally, "lower jaw of a horse, jowl, imbecile," borrowed from Italian (Tuscan) ganascia "jaw, jowl," central Italian ganassa, going back to Vulgar Latin (northern and central Italy) *ganassa, re-formation (with gender conformed to the source noun) of Greek gnȧthos "jaw" (attested in Medieval Latin of Italy as ganathos) — more at -gnathous

Note: The French word occurs in a list of bonbon varieties produced by "la maison Siraudin" ("Courrier de la mode," LʼIllustration, journal universel, vol. 44, no. 1139, 24 décembre 1864, p. 415): "Les bonbons preférés sont: le Maltais, la Praline du club, la Praline Livry, au sucre de violette, lʼÉmélie, lʼOrangine, puis les Ganaches, qui eurent presque le succès de la pièce de Victorien Sardou, etc., etc." ("The preferred bonbons are: the Maltese, the Club Praline, the Praline Livry, with violet sugar, the Émélie, the Orangine, then the Ganaches, which had nearly the success of Victorien Sardouʼs play, etc., etc."). The Ganache bonbon is cited in English in a list of popular French bonbons, others of which are named after successful operas and plays of the period ("Bonbons," Every Saturday: A Journal of Choice Reading, vol. 7, nol. 163, February 13, 1869, pp. 220-21).

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ganache

• backwash
• downwash
• mouthwash
• outwash
• panache
• whitewash
• bosh
• frosh
• gosh
• josh
• posh
• quash