ganache

noun ga·nache \ (ˌ)gä-ˈnäsh , gə- \

Definition of ganache

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

Recent Examples of ganache from the Web

Learn how to construct macaron cookies, as well as how to make a variety of fillings including buttercream, ganache and gelee.

— zakiya mccummings, Alaska Dispatch News, "Hot Picks: Curtains for Cyrano’s Playhouse, Iggy Azalea and fun with food," 25 Aug. 2017
The silky chocolate ganache steals the show, while the hazelnut cream adds luxury.

— robin mather, charlotteobserver, "Icebox desserts get you out of the heat," 25 July 2017
Cover and place in the refrigerator until the ganache mixture is set up, about two hours.

— The Courier-Journal, "Xtras recipe of the day: Bourbon balls," 10 July 2017
For dessert, get the chocolate ganache sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Where to eat, drink in Manhattan, Kansas," 30 June 2017
Her carrot cake, with its undulating ribbon of cheesecake ganache (no doubt the inspiration for the foie gras dish) separating squares of cake and two quenelles of carrot-pineapple sorbet, was part of the original menu and is still a hit.

— phil vettel, chicagotribune.com, "Review: 2 years after opening, Cherry Circle Room realizing its considerable potential," 29 June 2017
One of my favorite things to do with these is mix them with ganache and make a chocolate bark.

— priya krishna, GQ, "The Best Organic Olive Oil You Can Buy on Amazon, According to Chef Alex Raij," 23 June 2017
Meanwhile, prepare chocolate ganache frosting: Put chocolate in a bowl.

— cathy thomas, Orange County Register, "Turn the tables on Mom and bake her something on Mother’s Day," 22 June 2017
Next, a tangy peanut butter-cream cheese filling with a hint of vanilla is sandwiched between another blanket of chocolate ganache.

— heather schroering, chicagotribune.com, "Peanut butter-chocolate pie at The General," 9 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ganache.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ganache

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).

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1977

See Words from the same year