Chocolate mint ganache - too runny

Chocolate mint ganache - too runny - From above of appetizing piece of cake decorated chocolate powder and mint leaves served near ceramic creamer and forks with light pink chrysanthemum on top placed on wooden board

I am making moulded chocolates and I followed a recipe to make a mint ganache filling.

I used 175g chocolate, 125ml cream, 10ml mint essence and 100g glucose.

I melted the chocolate slowly and heated the cream and then added the two together and whisked until smooth. Then I added the glucose and mint essence.

My problem is that when the mixture reached room temperature, it was still very runny and I need it to hold its shape so that I can pipe it into the chocolate moulds. Could it maybe be because I didn't use couverture chocolate for the ganache but ordinary shop-bought chocolate?

So I have two questions:

  1. What did I do wrong?
  2. Is there a way to salvage the mixture and thicken it?


Best Answer

I think you've got too much liquid in your ganache, either because the chocolate or the glucose syrup (assuming its syrup). Milk chocolate can be used in a ganache but as it has a lower proportion of cocoa you would want to use less cream in your recipe when using it.

You could try whipping it as the inclusion of air should thicken it, however that will change the consistency so it won't be smooth and glossy. I would suggest you reheat it and melt in another 30 grams of good quality dark chocolate or so. That amount is not exact or based on any sort of science on my part, more instinct from previous ganache making experience. You might need to add more depending on your circumstances.




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What do I do if my ganache is too runny?

According to the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), if you want to thicken a runny ganache, simply add more chocolate. The vice versa is also true: If you want a thinner ganache, just add more heavy cream.

Why is my chocolate ganache not setting?

Reheat the ganache on the stovetop or in the microwave. If the ganache still isn't thick enough after you've chilled it, then it's time to try reheating it and adding more chocolate. If you're using the stovetop, transfer the ganache to a saucepan and put it over low heat, stirring continuously.

Can you whip ganache to make it thicker?

Whip the ganache on high speed using an electric mixer. In this process, we're aerating the ganache and it will also cool down more and thicken.

How do you harden ganache?

The more chocolate the better when it comes to thickening ganache. According to the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), thickening a ganache is as easy as simply adding more chocolate. The consistency of your ganache will depend on the ratio of heavy cream to chocolate.



Anxious Chef: Mint chocolate ganache




More answers regarding chocolate mint ganache - too runny

Answer 2

When your ganache is runny, it is usually a matter of proportion.

Typical ratios of pure (chocolate/cream) ganaches run between 1/1 and 2/1 if you want them non-runny, and 1/1 can be quite soft. When you consider that cream has 60% liquid and 40% solids, that's a ratio of between 2.33/1 and 4/1 pure solids to pure liquids. Your combination, if we don't count the glucose, has a ratio of 225/85=2.64/1, which is very much on the soft side. So the first thing would be to use more chocolate.

Second, ganache assumes pure chocolate. Not necessarily couverture quality, but it should be nothing more than chocolate raw mass, chocolate butter, and sugar. Random chocolate bars from the supermarket tend to have too much sugar, vegetable fats instead of cocoa butter, milk solids, and sometimes also some specific emulgators and other texture-changing agents. So you can use a supermarket bar, but it has to be one with the proper ingredients - Lindt Excellence (not Lindor!) tends to be a globally available brand, but there are other options too, just read the ingredient list. And make sure to use the cocoa percentage required by the recipe. If nothing is mentioned, assume it is pure chocolate - if that is too expensive, you can substitute one with 85% or 90% cocoa content.

Then there is the glucose. I don't know why you are using it for piping ganache - it is added when you need plastic chocolate for sculpting by hand. I have not worked much with it, so cannot say if you need to start out with a thicker base ganache to compensate for the liquid in the syrup, but it is a possible reason why it went wrong.

So, in conclusion, I suggest that you adjust the ratios and ditch the glucose. And use proper chocolate. Try maybe 200 g chocolate, 115 g cream, 10 g mint essence (to approximate a 3/2 ratio) and see how it goes. Then you can adjust the next batch with more or less chocolate.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: ROMAN ODINTSOV, Terje Sollie, Alisha Mishra, ROMAN ODINTSOV