Dark Chocolate-Cherry Ganache Bars

Dark Chocolate-Cherry Ganache Bars
Ghazalle Badiozamani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
Total Time
1 hour, plus chilling time
Rating
5(358)
Comments
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Homemade ganache is just about the easiest chocolate recipe out there, a dead-simple mixture of melted chocolate and hot cream, whisked until smooth, then chilled until fudgy.

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Ingredients

Yield:18 bars
  • 150grams all-purpose flour (about 1½ cups)
  • 90grams confectioners’ sugar (about ¾ cup)
  • 26grams unsweetened cocoa powder (about ¼ cup)
  • ½teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 12tablespoons cold unsalted butter
  • 1teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 52grams cherry jam (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 340grams bittersweet chocolate, at least 62 percent, chopped (12 ounces)
  • cup heavy cream
  • 3tablespoons kirsch, rum, brandy or other spirit
  • ½teaspoon fleur de sel, for sprinkling
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (18 servings)

261 calories; 17 grams fat; 10 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 28 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 17 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 124 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder and fine sea salt. Pulse in the butter and vanilla until the mixture just comes together into a smooth mass. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment or wax paper. Press the dough into the pan. Prick all over with a fork. Chill for at least 20 minutes and up to 3 days.

  2. Step 2

    Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Bake the shortbread until firm to the touch and just beginning to pull away from the sides, 35 to 40 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Cool in the pan for 20 minutes on a wire rack. Brush jam over shortbread’s surface and let cool thoroughly.

  4. Step 4

    Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl. In a saucepan, bring the cream to a simmer. Pour over the chocolate and whisk until smooth. Whisk in the kirsch. Spread over shortbread. Sprinkle fleur de sel on. Cool to room temperature; cover and chill until firm. Slice and serve.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
358 user ratings
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Comments

I made this with high quality orange marmalade and Grand Marnier liqueur. Sensational!

I was wondering this too! Watched the video and she says 2/3 cup heavy cream. Strange typo in the recipe.

Made this with orange marmalade and Cointreau. Used 6 tbsp of the marmalade. Gave them to a friend who told me her husband is "swooning" over them. They are good swooning material, I have to say.

I used an extra tbsp of black cherry jam and black cherry juice in place of kirsch and, it worked beautifully. It's a pretty decadent recipe- I'll definitely be doing it again.

Why does the video not mention pricking the dough with a fork and chilling it before baking it? How important is that to this recipe? And my dough is REALLY loose. It didn't bind at ALL and doesn't look dark - it looks like a graham cracker color. Dang. Probably too much flour and powdered sugar. Anyway - did anyone NOT chill before baking and have success?

Can you freeze these bars - too much for just one couple to eat!

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