Cream Ganache vs Water Ganache: Which is Best for Covering Cakes?
If you've ever wondered whether to use cream ganache or water ganache for your cake decorating projects, you're not alone. Both are popular choices for creating beautifully smooth cakes, sharp edges, and delicious fillings, but they each have their own advantages.
Whether you're looking for the best ganache for covering cakes, want to learn more about water ganache, or need a dairy-free alternative, this guide will help you decide which ganache is right for your next bake.
What is Cream Ganache?
Cream ganache is the traditional choice used by professional cake decorators and bakers. It's made by combining chocolate and double cream, creating a rich, silky mixture that can be poured, whipped, spread, or left to set.
Cream ganache is incredibly versatile and is commonly used for:
- Covering celebration cakes
- Creating sharp edges beneath fondant
- Filling layer cakes
- Drip cakes
- Truffles and desserts
Benefits of Cream Ganache
✔ Rich, luxurious chocolate flavour
✔ Smooth, creamy texture
✔ Easy to spread and achieve sharp edges
✔ Works beautifully as both a filling and cake covering
✔ Can be whipped into a light, fluffy frosting
Because cream contains dairy, cream ganache has a shorter shelf life than some alternatives and should be stored appropriately.
What is Water Ganache?
Water ganache replaces cream with water while still creating a smooth, stable chocolate ganache.
Although it sounds surprising, chocolate naturally contains cocoa butter, meaning it doesn't require dairy to emulsify successfully. The result is a lighter ganache that has become increasingly popular among cake decorators.
White chocolate water ganache is especially loved because it creates a brighter white finish than traditional cream ganache, making it perfect for modern wedding cakes and white fondant designs.
Benefits of Water Ganache
✔ Dairy-free when made with dairy-free chocolate
✔ Produces a brighter white finish
✔ Lighter flavour that lets the chocolate shine
✔ Ideal for colouring with oil-based food colours
✔ Great alternative for decorators avoiding dairy
Different brands of chocolate contain varying amounts of cocoa butter, so you may need to adjust your chocolate-to-water ratio slightly to achieve the perfect consistency.
Cream Ganache vs Water Ganache: What's the Difference?
|
Cream Ganache |
Water Ganache |
|
Made with double cream |
Made with water |
|
Rich, creamy flavour |
Cleaner chocolate flavour |
|
Slight ivory colour |
Brighter white finish (for white chocolate) |
|
Can be whipped |
Not ideal for whipping |
|
Traditional decorating choice |
Popular dairy-free alternative (when dairy free chocolate is used) |
|
Excellent under fondant |
Excellent under fondant |
Both create a stable surface for decorating and can produce beautifully smooth cakes when made correctly.
Which Ganache is Best for Covering Cakes?
The answer depends on your project.
Choose Cream Ganache if you want:
- Rich flavour
- Traditional decorating results
- Whipped ganache fillings
- A forgiving recipe that's easy to work with
Choose Water Ganache if you want:
- A brighter white finish (with white chocolate)
- Dairy-free cakes (with dairy free chocolate)
- Less yellow undertones under white fondant
- A lighter chocolate flavour
Many professional cake decorators use both, selecting the one that best suits each design.
Does Water Ganache Set as Hard as Cream Ganache?
Yes. When made using the correct chocolate-to-liquid ratio, both cream ganache and water ganache set firmly enough for stacking, carving and covering cakes.
The firmness depends more on:
- Whether you're using dark, milk or white chocolate
- The cocoa butter content of your chocolate
- The recipe ratio
Rather than whether you use cream or water.
Can You Flavour Ganache?
Absolutely!
Both cream ganache and water ganache can be flavoured to suit your cake.
Popular flavour ideas include:
- Vanilla
- Coffee
- Orange
- Mint
- Caramel
- Raspberry
- Lemon
- Hazelnut
Just be careful when adding extra liquid ingredients, as they may alter the consistency of your ganache.
Cream Ganache vs Water Ganache: Which Should You Choose?
Both recipes deserve a place in every cake decorator's toolkit.
Choose cream ganache if you love a rich, indulgent finish and want a classic decorating medium that's perfect for fillings, covering cakes and creating sharp edges.
Choose water ganache if you're looking for a dairy-free option, want a brighter white finish for wedding cakes, or simply want to experiment with a lighter style of ganache.
Whichever you choose, using good-quality chocolate, following the correct ratios, and allowing your ganache to rest before decorating will help you achieve a smooth, professional finish every time.