Whipped Bittersweet Ganache Frosting Food

GANACHE FROSTING

Steps:

• Place the chopped chocolate into the bowl of a food processor.
• Heat the heavy cream in a quart-sized, microwavable container and microwave for 3 to 4 minutes on high, or until it just begins to simmer; be careful not to allow cream to boil over. Pour the cream over the chocolate and let stand for 2 minutes. Process by pulsing several times until chocolate mixture is smooth. Use as is for glazing. If you wish to make a lighter frosting, allow it to come to room temperature, approximately 2 hours. Once at room temperature, place in the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk on high for 2 to 3 minutes.

WHIPPED GANACHE

Steps:

• Chop chocolate finely using a serrated knife, and place in a large heat-proof bowl.
• Bring cream to a boil over medium-high heat; pour directly over chopped chocolate. Allow to sit for 10 minutes; use a rubber spatula or a small whisk to gently stir chocolate and cream until totally combined.
• Chill ganache; stir every 5 minutes until mixture is cool to the touch. Remove bowl from refrigerator; whip ganache with a wire whisk until it just barely begins to hold its shape and is slightly lighter in color. Do not overwhip, or mixture will become grainy. Ganache will keep thickening after you stop whisking. Use immediately.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE GANACHE - 2 WAYS

Steps:

• To make the ganache, place the chocolate, heavy cream and instant coffee granules in a heat-proof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Melt the chocolate until it's just melted and stir it until it's smooth.
• For whipped ganache, allow the ganache to cool completely and then put it in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and mix on high speed until it is a very light.

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place chopped chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it begins to gently simmer. (Do not let it come to a rapid boil- that's too hot!) Pour over chocolate, then let it sit for 2-3 minutes to gently soften the chocolate.
• With a metal spoon or small rubber spatula, very slowly stir until completely combined and chocolate has melted. The finer you chopped the chocolate, the quicker it will melt with the cream. If it's not melting, do not microwave it. See Troubleshooting Chocolate Ganache in blog post above.
• Ganache can be ready to use as a drizzle or you can let it sit at room temperature to cool and thicken. It will fully cool within 2 hours. Refrigerating speeds this up, but the ganache will not cool evenly. Stir it a few times as it sets in the refrigerator so it remains even and smooth.
• Once completely cool and thick, the ganache can be piped with a piping tip or scooped with a spoon. You can also beat the cooled thickened ganache with a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until light in color and texture, about 4 minutes on medium-high speed.
• Cover tightly and store ganache in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Once ganache cools completely, you can cover it tightly and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator. To rewarm or thin out again, stir constantly over low heat on the stove in either (1) a double boiler or (2) in a heatproof bowl placed over a pot of simmering water. Don't let the bottom of the bowl touch the simmering water.

WHIPPED BITTERSWEET GANACHE FROSTING

Steps:

• Bring cream to a simmer in a saucepan. Pour over chocolate in a medium bowl, and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Let cool completely. Whisk until fluffy. Use immediately.

WHIPPED CHOCOLATE GANACHE FILLING (OR FROSTING)

Steps:

• Place chopped chocolate in a medium-sized bowl.
• Heat heavy cream and sugar (if using) in a large heavy saucepan over med-hi heat until it simmers gently.
• Immediately pour the hot cream over the chocolate and stir gently until the chocolate is mostly melted.
• Let stand for 15mins to be sure all chocolate is melted.
• Stir ganache gently until perfectly smooth, let cool.
• Cover and chill for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight (it must be very cold or it will curdle when it's whipped; ganache can be made up to 4 days ahead).
• When you're ready to assemble the cake (and NOT before), whip ganache until it's stiff enough to hold a nice shape and seems spreadable (Don't overwhip; overwhipped ganache looks granular, so watch carefully).
• Spread whipped ganache immediately, as it will firm as it sits.
• NOTE: if using 50-60% bittersweet chocolate, use 8 oz of chocolate and omit the sugar; if using 60-64% chocolate, use 7 oz of chocolate and omit sugar; if using 66-72% chocolate, use 6 oz and add the optional sugar to give the ganache a bit of'lift'.
• If you're just using this as a filling, halve the recipe.
• If you're glazing the cake with a chocolate glaze, chill the filled cake for at least 1 hour (up to 2 days) before glazing.

WHIPPED GANACHE FROSTING

Steps:

• Put chocolate and cream into a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until smooth. Refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until the consistency of stiff cream cheese, 10 to 15 minutes. Whisk until fluffy and smooth.

SWEET BITTERSWEET GANACHE

Steps:

• Put the dark and milk chocolates in a medium stainless steel bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and heat just until the chocolate melts, then transfer the warm chocolate to the bowl of a food processor. Meanwhile, heat the cream in a small saucepan over low heat just until it starts to simmer. Pour the warm cream into the warm chocolate and wait about 1 minute. Add the corn syrup, honey, and vanilla. Run the food processor. You'll notice that the mixture will look speckled and separated, then will come together as a uniform ganache. Adjust the flavors to taste.

GANACHE

Steps:

• Coarsely chop chocolate. A serrated knife is best for the job; its sawlike teeth grab the chocolate, breaking it up.
• Bring cream just to a boil over medium-high heat. Pour over chocolate, and add salt. Let stand for 10 minutes (don't stir -- doing so will cool the ganache too quickly, making it grainy).
• Stir with a whisk until smooth and shiny to break up any pieces and emulsify cream and chocolate.
• Chocolate will often settle on the bottom or sides of the bowl. Scrape the dish with a rubber spatula to incorporate all of it.
• To make a whipped filling or frosting: Let ganache cool to room temperature, stirring often, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Beat it with a mixer on medium-high speed until paler and fluffy, 2 to 4 minutes. (This will yield about 2 cups.) Transfer to a disposable pastry bag with a large opening and use it as a filling for mini whoopie pies or spread it over cupcakes.

WHIPPED CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place chocolate in large metal mixing bowl.
• Heat cream to boiling, either on the stove, or in the microwave.
• Pour hot cream over chocolate and stir until chocolate is melted.
• Add powdered sugar, sm amt at a time to taste.
• Place the bowl, uncovered, in refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes, but no longer than 1 hour. Also place the electric mixer beaters to chill.
• Remove bowl and beaters from fridge and whip ganache on high for 2-3 minutes, or until it lightens in color and triples in volume.
• Use as desired on cake or cupcakes.