Chocolate Cabernet Sauvignon Ganache

Ganache…is a French term. It is used for glazes, fillings, and icings and made from chocolate and heavy cream. The most popular way of making it is heating the heavy cream and then pouring it directly on top of the chocolate. Now you can “wow” your friends with this on top of a cake or in a cupcake as a surprise!

With LOVE from Texas,
The Pint-Sized Mayo

Chocolate Cabernet Sauvignon Ganache

Yields enough filling for 6 cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
• 1/6 cup (or 8 teaspoons) heavy cream
• 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon cabernet sauvignon wine

Directions:

Place the chocolate chips in a bowl and set aside.

Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan until simmering and then pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit for one minute and then stir until smooth. Next add the butter and wine.

Let the ganache cool until it’s thick but still soft enough to be piped.

Enjoy (on or in some cake)!!

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” – Charles M. Schulz

Cinnilla Mascarpone Cake Filling

Cake filling…it can give your cake the extra oomph. The filling can include fruits, custards, chocolate, cream cheese, nuts, mousse, and even candy. You can think of a filling in terms of your outfit accessories. After you dress yourself, you add items to compliment your clothes such as jewelry, hair clips, shoes, etc. And thus this is the same as a filling perfectly pairing with a cake to make it even better.

In the cake decorating class I am currently taking, I am learning the proper technique to layer cake filling. This was made to accompany a carrot cake I made for the class. I named it “cinnilla” because it’s cinnamon and vanilla!

With LOVE from Texas,
The Pint-Sized Mayo

Cinnilla Mascarpone Cake Filling

Yields about 1.5 cups

Ingredients:

• 1.5 tablespoons white granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 8 ounces mascarpone cheese
• 1/4 cup half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.

Using a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, combine the mascarpone cheese, half-and-half, sugar mixture, and vanilla.

Whip until the mixture thickens.

Enjoy!!

“Tigers LOVE pepper. They HATE cinnamon.” – Alan Garner, The Hangover