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

Invented in 1832 by pastry chef Franz Sacher, Sachertorte is a rich chocolate sponge cake made with layers of apricot jam and a chocolate ganache topping. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2023

Do not substitute with half-and-half or whole milk as your ganache will not set properly. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2023

Uses for Chocolate Ganache Many of our recipes include making a ganache in one form or another. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2023

Shape the ganache: At least 1 hour before making the cookies, remove ganache from refrigerator. —WSJ, 30 Nov. 2022

The rich, high-quality chocolate has a smooth texture, whether it’s paired with an almond and hazelnut praline or a dark chocolate ganache with passionfruit pulp. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 May 2023

Classics like vanilla buttercream or cream cheese frosting pair nicely, or bring that chocolate flavor to the next level with a rich chocolate ganache. —Anna Theoktisto, Southern Living, 5 July 2023

Still, my all-time worst dish was [in Season 2] when Ilan Hall did this beautiful, exquisite, glossy, perfectly dense chocolate ganache with liver inside. —Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2023

Pour the rest of the ganache into the pan and top with the remaining peanuts and more flaky sea salt. —Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2021

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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