There are 3 types of ganache you can make for macarons: Milk chocolate ganache, Dark chocolate ganache, or White chocolate ganache.

What is chocolate ganache
Chocolate ganache is type of icing that can be used in many ways including:
- fill macarons
- glaze cakes or cupcakes
- dip fruit in
- éclair topping
- filling for crepes
- topping for brownies
- topping for ice cream
- topping for cheesecake
Chocolate ganache is made by heating warm heavy cream to room temperature chocolate.
See video here.
The warm heavy cream gently melts the chocolate. This gives the chocolate ganache a rich flavoring.
Chocolate ganache can be made with several different ratios depending on what the chocolate ganache is used for.
Some chocolate ganache recipes have butter added at the end to create another layer of richness to the chocolate ganache, and make the texture very smooth and shiny.
This is the type of chocolate ganache that will be used for filling macarons.
How is ganache different from frosting?
Ganache is different from frosting because ganache is made with warm heavy cream that melts chocolate. Butter is added at the end of ganache to create more of a smooth and shiny look to it.
Frosting is made with a base of creamed butter and icing sugar. Their compositions are completely different in how they are made, and what they are made of.
The texture of the two are a little different as well. Ganache is much more of a smooth texture, whereas frosting has a little bit of graininess to it.
How to flavor chocolate ganache for macarons
You can add many different extracts or spices to add flavors to chocolate ganache.
- peppermint extract (1/4 tsp)
- almond extract (1/4 tsp)
- vanilla extract (1/4 tsp)
- amaretto extract (1/4 tsp)
- cinnamon (pinch)
- vanilla extract (1/4 tsp)
- coconut extract (1/4 tsp)
- hazelnut extract (1/4 tsp)
- orange extract (1/4)
- raspberry extract (1/4 tsp)
How to add alcoholic flavor to macarons
You can add the following alcoholic flavors to your macaron fillings by adding only 1/4-1/2 tsp of alcohol to either buttercream frosting or ganache.
You can add more as needed. Be sure to taste test as you go.
Ganache can be a bit finicky and become too thin if you add too much alcohol to it. Only add the minimum amount if making ganache and then see if the consistency will be ok when piping. Ganache can become too thin and run over the sides of the macarons if you add too much alcohol.
- spiced rum (1/4-1/2 tsp)
- baileys (1/4-1/2 tsp)
- brandy (1/4-1/2 tsp)
Milk Chocolate Ganache for Macarons
Materials
- 100 g heavy cream
- 120 g milk chocolate wafers
- 20 g butter unsalted
Instructions
- Place heavy cream in a small saucepan on medium heat. Bring the heavy cream to a simmer, just before it starts to boil remove it from the heat source.
- Measure your milk chocolate wafers into a heat proof bowl.
- Pour the boiled cream over the milk chocolate wafers.
- Add butter to the mixture and gently stir with a spatula until all of the chocolate is melted and becomes a smooth mixture.
- Place the mixture into the fridge until it's fully cooled.
- Microwave the ganache in 10 second intervals until you've obtained the consistency you want for piping your macarons.
Dark Chocolate Ganache Filling Recipe for Macarons
Materials
- 100 g whipping cream
- 120 g dark chocolate wafers
- 20 g butter unsalted
Instructions
- Place heavy cream in a small saucepan on medium heat. Bring the heavy cream to a simmer, just before it starts to boil remove it from the heat source.
- Measure your dark chocolate wafers into a heat proof bowl.
- Pour the boiled cream over the dark chocolate wafers.
- Add butter to the mixture and gently stir with a spatula until all of the chocolate is melted and becomes a smooth mixture.
- Place the mixture into the fridge until it's fully cooled.
- Microwave the dark chocolate ganache filling in 10 second intervals until you've obtained the consistency you want for piping your macarons.
White Chocolate Ganache Filling Recipe
Materials
- 100 g heavy cream
- 180 g white chocolate wafers
Instructions
- Place heavy cream in a small saucepan on medium heat. Bring the heavy cream to a simmer, just before it starts to boil remove it from the heat source.
- Measure your white chocolate wafers into a heat proof bowl.
- Pour the hot cream over the white chocolate wafers.
- Gently stir with a spatula until all of the white chocolate is melted and becomes a smooth mixture.
- Let the white chocolate ganache sit until it's fully cooled to room temperature.
- Place the white chocolate ganache into the fridge until it's chilled (1 hour).
- Microwave the white chocolate ganache for your macarons in 10 second intervals until you've obtained the consistency you want for piping your macarons.