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

Don’t skip the dessert—Fouquet’s is famous for its profiteroles topped with Polignac almonds and cognac ganache, as well a signature millefeuille with creamy vanilla custard between paper-thin layers of golden pastry. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026

One combines passion-fruit jelly, coconut-cream ganache and shortbread; others incorporate raspberry and lime or the molasses warmth of Okinawa black sugar. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026

Vosges Haut-Chocolat is not for those seeking your typical milk or dark chocolate filled with ganache or caramel. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2026

Pour the chocolate ganache onto the top (center) of the cake. —CNN Money, 24 Jan. 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

• attach
• bycatch
• despatch
• detach
• dispatch
• mismatch
• nuthatch
• potlatch
• toothache
• bache
• batch
• brach