Whipped Chocolate Ganache Food

WHIPPED CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Bring cream to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add chocolate; let stand for 10 minutes without stirring. Add coffee, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir slowly in concentric circles until ganache is smooth and glossy.
• Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Refrigerate until chilled through, 1 to 2 hours.
• Whip ganache with an electric mixer until soft, fluffy, and lighter in color. Be careful not to overwhip, or you'll end up with stiff, grainy chocolate 'butter' that's hard to pipe.

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 CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Chop the chocolate and place it in a medium bowl.
• Heat the cream steamy, and until small bubbles start to form around the outer edges (this can be done in a small pot on the stove, or in the microwave). Be careful it doesn't boil over!
• Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate, and allow it to stand for about 5 minutes.
• Whisk the ganache until smooth, then allow it to set. (This can be done at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Whisk it every 10 minutes to keep it smooth and lump-free.)
• When the ganache is firm but still soft, transfer it to a mixing bowl and whip it on high speed until fluffy (about 3 to 4 minutes).

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Cook the chocolate chips, heavy cream, and instant coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally.

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.

GANACHE I

Steps:

• Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place it in a large stainless steel bowl.
• In a large, high sided saucepan, heat cream over medium high heat, stirring frequently, until it starts to boil. At this point, the cream will want to boil over, so keep an eye on it! Immediately remove from heat and pour over chopped chocolate.
• Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is smooth. Cool completely and then store in refrigerator. Ganache can be reheated in a stainless steel bowl over hot, but not boiling, water.

GINGERBREAD SHEET CAKE WITH WHIPPED CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Set a rack in the center of the oven and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch light colored metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and line it with a piece of parchment that hangs over the 2 long sides.
• In a large bowl, combine the sugar and eggs, and use an electric mixer on medium or a whisk to beat the mixture until light and foamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the buttermilk, molasses, butter and oil, and mix until combined and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the fresh ginger, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt, and mix to incorporate.
• Add the flour, baking powder and baking soda, and mix until no streaks of dry ingredients remain, about 1 minute.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, and tap on the counter a few times to release any large bubbles. Bake until puffed and set, and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 28 to 34 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan set on a rack for 15 minutes, then use the parchment paper overhang to lift the cake out of the pan. Set it on a rack to cool completely.
• While the cake is cooling, make the ganache: Add the chocolate and butter to a large bowl or to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a simmer.
• Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and butter in the bowl, and whisk until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and salt, and whisk until incorporated. Let the mixture sit until slightly thickened, about 1 hour.
• When the cake is cool and the ganache is thickened, whip the ganache on high speed until it's lighter in both texture and color, fluffy, and holds soft peaks, about 10 minutes.
• Dollop the ganache over the cooled cake, and use a spoon to spread it over the cake in swoops and swirls. Top with chopped crystallized ginger or shaved chocolate if desired. Store leftover cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

ESPRESSO-INFUSED WHIPPED CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place your chopped chocolate into the bowl of your stand mixer.
• Place the espresso beans in a sealable gallon-size bag (or between two pieces of parchment) and crush them with a rolling pin. Combine the heavy cream and espresso beans in a small pot and heat over medium-low heat until simmering. Remove from the heat, cover the pot and allow the cream to infuse for 10 minutes. Strain the cream through a cheesecloth-lined sieve into a clean pot. Return the cream to medium-low heat and bring back to a simmer.
• Pour the warm cream into the bowl of chocolate. Add the coffee liqueur if using and the salt. Gently stir the mixture with a spatula until smooth. Allow your ganache to cool until the outer edge of the ganache is a spreadable consistency; the center of the ganache may still be a bit loose.
• Fit your stand mixer with the whip attachment and whip the ganache on medium-high speed until the ganache lightens in color, 2 to 3 minutes. Don't over whip or you run the risk of breaking your ganache. Use immediately as a filling or frosting.
• Once the whipped ganache sets up it can be rewarmed in the microwave in 20 second bursts. Rewarmed ganache can be re-whipped or poured.

WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Melt the white chocolate chips and heavy cream in a large heat-safe bowl in the microwave at 1 to 2 minute intervals, stirring well in between melts, just until the ganache is smooth.
• Allow to rest, covered, overnight at room temp.
• For a fluffier texture, whip the set ganache in a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment.

THE ULTIMATE DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans. Line bottoms with parchment rounds; butter parchment. Stir together boiling water, cocoa, and chocolate in a bowl. Let cool 10 minutes. Whisk together flour, baking powder and soda, and salt in another bowl.
• In a mixing bowl, beat butter with sugar on medium-high until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down sides of bowl. Beat in vanilla, then chocolate mixture. Reduce speed to low; beat in flour mixture in two additions, alternating with sour cream, until just combined.
• Divide batter evenly between prepared pans, smoothing tops with an offset spatula. Bake until a tester inserted in centers comes out with moist crumbs attached, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Let cakes cool in pans on a wire rack 20 minutes. Turn out onto rack, top-sides up; let cool completely. With a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes so they're level.
• Line the edges of a cake stand or plate with strips of parchment. Place one cake layer on stand, trimmed-side up, and spread 1 1/2 cups buttercream evenly over top. Top with remaining cake layer, trimmed-side down.
• Spread a thin layer of buttercream over top and sides. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes (this ensures a crumb-free finish). Spread remaining frosting evenly over top and sides. Cake can be stored in refrigerator up to 1 day; bring to room temperature before serving.

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 WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Heat cream in a saucepan until nearly boiling; pour over white chocolate chips in a bowl. Let sit for 3 minutes. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Cover and refrigerate until cool, about 4 hours.
• Beat ganache with electric mixer until stiff peaks form.

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.