Terrified of ganache - Page 3

Ok, I'm new at not only this sight but the world of caking! NEVER used ganache before. I like to keep my cakes in the fridge while making and after its made. If I use ganache to crumb coat the cakes before I put fondant on it, can I still keep it in the fridge or will it get rock hard?

Welcome ThreeFifty! This is a great site to learn and share. I got addicted in 2009

 

Ganache+cold = rock hard...but that's the beauty, especially if you intend to smooth fondant over it.

 

It will soften, though,when your finished product is brought to room temp. HTH

 

Just out of curiosity, why do you...?

 "...like to keep my cakes in the fridge while making and after its made".

Stupid question what's HTH?

Mainly because I use buttercream under marshmallow fondant and if I don't keep it cold, it sometimes gets droopy. Also, I like the taste of cold cake!!!

Another Aussie here who uses ganache instead of buttercream under fondant, most of the time.  It just tastes better is really easy and smooths so well. imho.

 

As has already been suggested by a few others, if you are unsure, then use a good quality eating chocolate, like Lindt, NOT a cooking chocolate which I understand is unsweetened in the USA.

 

The better the quality the chocolate, the better the finished product... it is not the cheapest thing, compared to buttercream, but it is so much yummier.

'Hope this helps'

 

Ganache won't get droopy at room temp, so no need to fridge your cake.

 

Ganache gets firm, but not rock hard in the way that chocolate does. As in, it won't crack. It is still able to be bitten through easily, even when cold.

ganache, truly a gift from the gods. i can't think of anything better than cream and chocolate...

 

i use rose's recipe too. i've used it both ways, and i've made it with regular generic chips. it has never failed me.

Good to know, thanks everyone!!

OK, I've been looking for everyting I can find on "ganache" trying to arm myself to make my first layered cake with!  I think I'm almost ready.  Just one last thing that I'm not confident about:

 

If I use buttercream everything I've seen suggests building a "dam" just inside the edge of every layer (similiar to outlining when decorating cookies with royal icing) then filling inside that dam with your chosen filling or slightly thinner buttercream (similar to flooding on cookies). 

 

So If I am using ganache between layers, do I still need to use the "dam" technique? 

 

From my research using a dam helps prevent bulging of the filling when the fondant is added. 

 

Would so appreciate any feedback from those that are experienced with this!

Unless your ganache is super soft then no you shouldn't need it. If you use a soft filling of any kind you should use a dam. A dam made from the same ganache you're covering your cake with (under fondant) will do the job.

HTH!

I have to thank you all for transporting me away from a non-descript office in an industrial park, in Missouri, in winter..to pots of white chocolate ganache and Australia..two things that need no improvement in anyway. I should also thank you for all of the really great information on ganache. I have always been scared to attempt it, in any form, thinking that I would ruin a perfectly good cake with some bastardized version of Magic Shell. I think I am actually going to summon up the courage to try ganache this weekend..on a "for me only" cake.

Ok, I'm attempting this. 

 

Bought some heavy whipping cream, which does not list the amount of fat, so I'm hoping it's the right thing.  Also bought Baker's semi-sweet baking chocolate squares.  I was hoping to use this today as a filling.  Right now it's all melted and stirred.  If I put it in the frig, how long before I can use it?

 

Also, when people say "whip" it.  Do you put it in your kitchenaid, or do you mean just by hand?
 

I don't have heavy cream on hand very often, but one recipe I tried and absolutely love is found here-

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mic8ejTQdIE

 

This woman is awesome. Complete tutorial. Try it for chocolate.

Didn't work for me

 

Mine has been in the frig for 24 hours, and it's still a pourable mess.
 

Thanks for this thread!

I am making a choc mud cake and a caramel mudcake for a wedding cake for my step daughters wedding. the cake was going to be frozen and transported by me in about a month. Can anyone tell me if I can make the cakes now and put ganache on them and the fondant and freeze them or would that effect the cake when they get defrosted . Thanks all