This whipped salted caramel ganache is a decadent spin on a classic ganache. Pairing both homemade caramel and chocolate to give you the ultimate topping for cupcakes, cakes and more!
What is Chocolate Ganache?
Ganache is a mixture of heavy cream and chocolate heated together until smooth. Chocolate ganache is a sauce that can be used to cover cakes, fill pastries, and pour over desserts.
Why You’ll Love Salted Caramel Ganache
- Only 5 ingredients. This recipe is easy to throw together; you most likely already have these ingredients in your kitchen.
- Sweet & Savory. You get the best of both worlds with this delicious caramel ganache. It adds a unique flavor to your desserts.
What is caramel ganache made of?
Be sure to review the recipe card for full measurements and ingredients.
Chocolate – Choose a chocolate with a high cocoa butter content, such as dark, bittersweet, or semi-sweet chocolate.
Salted Butter – Go for salted butter for this recipe, it helps balance the sweetness of the caramel and chocolate. Feel free to use unsalted butter and add a pinch or so of salt. Check out my homemade caramel recipe that uses unsalted butter.
Sugar
Heavy Cream
Vanilla
Tools Needed For This Caramel Ganache Recipe
Saucepan
Hand or Stand Mixer
How to Make Whipped Salted Caramel Ganache
Step 1: To make the homemade caramel sauce, add sugar and water to a saucepan over medium heat. Allow the sugar to dissolve and caramelize. It will begin to turn into a golden amber color.
Step 2: Once it becomes a golden amber color, add in the cold cubed butter and whisk until fully melted. Then slowly pour in the heavy cream. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
Step 3: Pour the hot caramel sauce over a bowl of chocolate. Let it sit for 1-2 minutes before stirring. Whisk until thoroughly combined and there are no more chunks of chocolate. You can use a blender or immersion blender to make sure the mixture is completely smooth.
Step 4: Cover with plastic wrap, making sure it touches the surface of the ganache. Let the mixture sit out at room temperature overnight or in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours. The mixture should be thick and not runny.
Step 5: Using a hand mixer, whip the ganache until it becomes lighter in color and has a thick and creamy frosting consistency.
Expert Tips for the Best Whipped Salted Caramel Ganache
Use a blender. To get a smooth mixture, I suggest blending the chocolate in a blender or with an immersion blender. This allows the chocolate to completely melt with the caramel and ensures there are no bits of chocolate left behind.
Cool completely. Allow the ganache to cool all the way through to get the right consistency. It’s best to let it sit out at room temperature overnight.
Chopped chocolate. Smaller pieces of chocolate will melt more easily and help achieve a smooth texture.
Storage Instructions
Store the whipped salted caramel ganache in an airtight container or under plastic wrap in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
When ready to use, remove it from the fridge and let it come to room temperature. Rewhip the caramel ganache to restore the frosting texture.
Substitutions & Variations
White Chocolate. Swap the dark chocolate for white chocolate. Use high-quality white chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa butter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does whipped ganache set hard?
No, whipped ganache is prepared by beating the ganache with an electric mixer to get a creamy texture. It will be soft and perfect for piping and frosting cakes.
What’s the difference between whipped ganache and regular ganache?
While prepared the same way, whipped ganache has a higher amount of liquid and is whipped to create a fluffy and creamy texture.
Can you use whipped ganache to cover a cake?
Yes, whipped ganache is perfect to cover and fill a cake. However, the cake needs to remain in a cool environment or in the fridge until ready to serve.
Why is my whipped ganache so runny?
You need to use quality chocolate that has a high percentage of cocoa butter.
If you try this Whipped Salted Caramel Ganache, please let me know what you think! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @itsavemartin so I can see your creations!
xoxo, ave
Whipped Salted Caramel Ganache
This whipped salted caramel ganache is a decadent spin on a classic ganache. Pairing both homemade caramel and chocolate to give you the ultimate topping for cupcakes, cakes and more!
Ingredients
- 200g Sugar
- ¼ cup Water
- 1 stick Salted Butter
- ½ cup Heavy Cream
- 150g Dark Chocolate
- Splash of Vanilla (optional)
Instructions
- To make the homemade caramel sauce, add sugar and water to a saucepan over medium heat. Allow the sugar to dissolve and caramelize. It will begin to turn into a golden amber color.
- Once it becomes a golden amber color, add in the cold cubed butter and whisk until fully melted. Then slowly pour in the heavy cream. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Pour the hot caramel sauce over a bowl of dark chocolate. Let it sit for 1-2 minutes before stirring. Whisk until thoroughly combined and there are no more chunks of chocolate. You can use a blender or immersion blender to make sure the mixture is completely smooth.
- Cover with plastic wrap, making sure it touches the surface of the ganache. Let the mixture sit out at room temperature overnight or in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours. The mixture should be thick and not runny.
- Using a hand mixer, whip the ganache until it becomes lighter in color and has a thick and creamy frosting consistency.