A ganache recipe, when made correctly, creates a shiny sealant on the cake that is a delight to gaze upon. You can add a variety of flavors to your recipe that will create a simple chocolate ganache to a rich peanut butter ganache. It offers such a tantalizing aroma that even adult fingers can’t help dipping into the frosting when no one’s looking.

Ganache Recipes and Tips
When making ganache, the ratio is usually three parts chocolate to one part cream. Some cooks like to add their own special blend to the mix, often changing the chocolate so that it’s one part semi-sweet and two parts sweetened chocolate. To make a very thin icing or ganche that works well drizzled over dessert, try one part chocolate or peanut butter to one part heavy cream.

Frosting recipes also vary according to need and use, and ganache is one frosting that works well at different thicknesses. Ganache glaze is poured over the cake while still warm, but if you allow ganache to cool to room temperature, it can be spread as a frosting. Ganache that has been whipped with an electric beater will harden enough to be used as a truffle filling.

Since the velvety texture of ganache is dependent on the smoothness of the chocolate, the same holds true of peanut butter. If you want a smooth peanut butter ganache, start with velvety, smooth peanut butter.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Ganache Recipe

Ingredients You Will Need:
1 cup heavy cream
1 ½ cups chocolate chip morsels
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
¾ cup powdered sugar
½ cup smooth peanut butter

In a small saucepan, combine the cream, powdered sugar, chocolate chip morsels and butter over low heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and add the peanut butter at the same time. Stir until smooth.

Ganache will be too hot to spread or pour. Set in the refrigerator for several minutes. Then place the ganache on the counter and stir once or twice over the next ten minutes until it has reached the desired consistency.

Another great peanut butter ganache recipe that will frost a larger cake requires one cup butter, two cups peanut butter pieces, six tablespoons milk and four cups of powdered sugar. Follow the same directions as above, using the milk sparingly.