ganache

noun ga·nache \ (ˌ)gä-ˈnäsh , gə- \

Updated on: 15 May 2018

Definition of ganache

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

Recent Examples of ganache from the Web

Almonds from Ghouta were ground and blended with chocolate for ganache, or flavoured with rose water to make marzipan roses.

— The Economist, "Bassam Ghraoui died on May 1st," 10 May 2018
The candy is usually formed into balls, squares or other shapes and filled with ganache.

— cassie armstrong, OrlandoSentinel.com, "National Truffle Day: How to celebrate in Central Florida," 2 May 2018
Rounds of chocolate filled with ganache may well define the truffle, but not in the hands of Wendy-Dawn Wintcentsen.

— florence fabricant, New York Times, "The Shape of Truffles: Square," 23 Apr. 2018
Spread ganache on flat side of one cookie and top with another cookie.

— florence steinberger, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Mimouna sweets, a Moroccan tradition, herald the end of Passover," 3 Apr. 2018
More like a French pastry, the confection comes with a variety of toppings — candied bacon, Fruity Pebbles cereal, butter crunch made with ground pecans, glazed with Callebaut chocolate ganache, or oozing jelly ($3 each).

— ann trieger kurland, BostonGlobe.com, "If you score an ANGRY donut, you’ll leave happy," 9 Apr. 2018
To make chocolate ganache filling: Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl.

— florence steinberger, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Mimouna sweets, a Moroccan tradition, herald the end of Passover," 3 Apr. 2018
Stir with a heatproof spatula until ganache is smooth, about 5 minutes.

— claire saffitz, Bon Appetit, "Salted Caramel–Chocolate Tart," 19 Mar. 2018
Her stunning desserts range from a late-winter Pavlova with yuzu, candied Buddha hand, and bergamot ice cream to milk chocolate ganache with miso, banana pudding, sesame nougatine, and pine-nut ice cream.

— devra first, BostonGlobe.com, "10 women pastry chefs you should know in the Boston area," 22 Mar. 2018

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

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year