ganache

noun ga·nache \ (ˌ)gä-ˈnäsh , gə- \

|Updated on: 10 Jul 2018

Definition of ganache

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

Recent Examples of ganache from the Web

The culinary pièce de résistance was a five-tier cake, each layer a different Cardi-favorite flavor: Dominican pineapple, strawberry, red velvet, chocolate ganache, and honey bun.

— elise taylor, Vogue, "See Exclusive Photos From Cardi B’s Bronx Fairy-Tale Baby Shower," 28 June 2018
Vellante says that his version is creamier, using Bavarian cream and sponge cake, topped with chocolate ganache.

— kara baskin, BostonGlobe.com, "Has Boston cream pie been manipulated beyond recognition? It’s a question with many layers.," 21 May 2018
Our quick chocolate sauce is more like ganache, the 50/50 mix of cream and chocolate that firms up at room temperature.

— alex delany, Bon Appetit, "This 2-Ingredient Chocolate Sauce Will Make You Feel Like Willy Wonka," 19 Jan. 2018
Pour ganache over cooled cake, coating cake completely.

— daniel neman, charlotteobserver, "Cooking from scratch faces off with semi-homemade | Charlotte Observer," 20 Mar. 2018
Remove tart from refrigerator and scrape ganache over caramel.

— claire saffitz, Bon Appetit, "Salted Caramel–Chocolate Tart," 19 Mar. 2018
This vanilla milkshake comes in a mug dipped in royal blue white chocolate ganache, adorned with red, white and blue sour gummy stars and sprinkles.

— shelbie lynn bostedt, RedEye Chicago, "Red, white and booze: Celebrate the Fourth of July with these patriotic cocktails," 29 June 2017
And the churros arrived perfectly fried and cinnamon-y, with an elegant chocolate mole ganache on the side.

— tim smith, baltimoresun.com, "High marks for Topside in food, drink and view," 22 May 2018
Dessert choices are golden chocolate cake with peanut butter ganache or mascarpone cheesecake with lavender mint.

— julie giuffrida, latimes.com, "Where to eat out for Valentine's Day dinner," 5 Feb. 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