Dark Chocolate Whipped Ganache Frosting

Jun 27, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Frostings fillings toppings Origin: Ugandan Vanilla: Extract Easy

Cupcakes piped with dark chocolate whipped ganache frosting

A light, airy dark chocolate whipped ganache frosting for cakes and cupcakes. Best with Ugandan vanilla (bold, chocolatey, smoky); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 2 1/2 cups; frosts 12 cupcakes or the top and sides of an 8-inch layer cake.

Prep 15 min

Cook 5 min

Chill 2 hr

Total 2 hr 20 min

Yield 12 cupcakes

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

cupcakes

8.0 oz (227.0 g)dark chocolate, finely chopped
1.0 cup (240.0 ml)heavy cream
2.0 tbsp (15.0 g)confectioners' sugar
⅛ tspfine sea salt
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)VanillaGoods pure vanilla extract

Make it at home

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Instructions

Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream until it just simmers, pour it over the chocolate, and let stand for 3 minutes.
Add the confectioners' sugar, salt, and vanilla and stir gently until smooth and glossy.
Cover and refrigerate until cold and thick, at least 2 hours or overnight.
Whip on medium-high speed until lighter in color and spreadable, 1 to 2 minutes. Stop as soon as it holds soft peaks; overwhipped ganache turns grainy.

Tips

Vanilla swap: use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.
Best vanilla for this: Ugandan (bold, chocolatey, smoky), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.
Storage: Refrigerate for up to 3 days; let stand 20 minutes, then rewhip briefly before using.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make dark chocolate whipped ganache frosting?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 5 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hours to chill. It makes about 2 1/2 cups; frosts 12 cupcakes or the top and sides of an 8-inch layer cake.

How should I store dark chocolate whipped ganache frosting?

Refrigerate for up to 3 days; let stand 20 minutes, then rewhip briefly before using.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

177 Calories / serving

13.0g Fat

13.4g Carbs

1.4g Protein

10.9g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~2124 cal · 156g fat · 161g carbs · 17g protein · 131g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 177 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 33 min·1.9 mi·~3850 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 24 min·1.2 mi·~2400 steps
Moderate cycling 18 min·3.6 mi
Swimming laps 25 min
Jogging 17 min·1.4 mi·~2700 steps
Stair climbing 16 min·~1450 steps
Dancing 29 min
Bodyweight circuit training 18 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 41 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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