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A shiny Chocolate Glaze is the ultimate finishing touch for any homemade cake or cookie, full of deep, dark chocolate flavor. And it only takes 3 ingredients and 10 minutes!
Smooth as silk and easy as pie to make, this versatile chocolate glaze transforms any simple dessert into a black-tie affair.
Spread it over muffins or sheet cakes. Or pour it over your fanciest bundt cakes so that the glaze can hug every curve and ripple. It sets up firm, but still melts in your mouth when you take a bite.
Recipe ingredients:
Ingredient notes:
- Bittersweet chocolate: Since this glaze is all about the chocolate, use the best quality chocolate you can find. You can also use high-quality chocolate chips.
- Corn syrup: A small amount of corn syrup helps the glaze flow, and makes it gorgeously glossy.
Step-by-step instructions:
This simple chocolate glaze only takes a few minutes (as long as it takes to gently melt the chocolate) and three ingredients.
- Place a glass or metal bowl over a pot of gently simmering water (make sure the bowl is very dry and out of direct contact with any water). Add the chocolate and butter to the bowl to melt.
- Whisk until smooth and blended.
- Add the corn syrup and whisk the glaze until very smooth and glossy.
- Your glaze is now ready to pour over a cake, torte, or anything you like. It will set up and become smooth and shiny.
Recipe tips and variations:
- Yield: One recipe makes a tiny bit more than 12 ounces of glaze, which should be enough for a bundt cake or a batch of cupcakes.
- Make ahead: I recommend using this glaze immediately, but you can make it a couple of days ahead of time and gently rewarm it when it’s time to glaze.
- Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator, and I bet you’ll find a way to eat it up.
- The best chocolate to use:Â One look at the recipe will tell you that this glaze is all about the chocolate; it takes center stage. Therefore, find the best quality chocolate you possibly can. Bittersweet or semi-sweet is perfectly fine, so try to buy chocolate that is at least 60% cacao. Brands like Ghirardelli, Valrhona, Cacao Barry, or Callebaut are excellent choices, but if you can’t find them, buy your favorite.
- Microwave: You can make the glaze in the microwave, too. Use a microwave-safe bowl and heat the chocolate (cut into uniform pieces) in 15 to 20-second intervals, stirring with a rubber spatula between each interval. Make sure you stir each time, or the chocolate could scorch. Once completely melted, add the butter and corn syrup.
Sweets to glaze:
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Chocolate Glaze
A shiny Chocolate Glaze is the ultimate finishing touch for any homemade cake or cookie, full of deep, dark chocolate flavor. Think of this recipe as the little black dress of the pastry world; it always looks good, it's easy to make (only 3 basic ingredients!) and no dessert should be without it.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter cut into pieces (1 stick)
- 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped (see note 1)
- 2 tablespoons corn syrup (see note 2)
Instructions
- Set a glass or metal bowl over a pot of gently simmering water to create a double boiler (do not let the water touch the bowl). To the bowl, add chocolate and butter to melt, whisking until smooth and blended.
- Remove from heat and whisk in corn syrup until smooth and glossy. Pour over your favorite cakes, cookies, and candy or use as a coating for fruit and nuts. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Bittersweet chocolate: Since this glaze is all about the chocolate, use the best quality chocolate you can find. You can also use high-quality chocolate chips.
- Corn syrup: A small amount of corn syrup helps the glaze flow, and makes it gorgeously glossy.
- Yield: One recipe makes a tiny bit more than 12 ounces of glaze, which should be enough for a bundt cake or a batch of cupcakes.
- Make ahead: I recommend using this glaze immediately, but you can make it a couple of days ahead of time and gently rewarm it when it's time to glaze.
- Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator, and I bet you'll find a way to eat it up.
- The best chocolate to use:Â One look at the recipe will tell you that this glaze is all about the chocolate; it takes center stage. Therefore, find the best quality chocolate you possibly can. Bittersweet or semi-sweet is perfectly fine, so try to buy chocolate that is at least 60% cacao. Brands like Ghirardelli, Valrhona, Cacao Barry, or Callebaut are excellent choices, but if you can't find them, buy your favorite.
- Microwave: You can make the glaze in the microwave, too. Use a microwave-safe bowl and heat the chocolate (cut into uniform pieces) in 15 to 20-second intervals, stirring with a rubber spatula between each interval. Make sure you stir each time, or the chocolate could scorch. Once completely melted, add the butter and corn syrup.
Nutrition
Calories: 188kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 1gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 72mgPotassium: 107mgFiber: 2gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 246IUCalcium: 14mgIron: 1mg
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
Hi I am baking a groom’s cake next week. On my most recent test cake, I used this glaze instead of modeling chocolate and it was amazing!l For the final cake next weekend, I will have to make it a day in advance. If I refrigerate it, do I have to worry about condensation, blooming? Or should I keep it at room temp?
Hi Elizabeth, thank you so much for your questions! Since the glaze has butter, I recommend storing it in the refrigerator. Condensation and blooming could be a concern. I recommend making sure the cake is cooled completely before glazing, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and bring the cake back to room temperature with the cover on, it will help control and minimize temperature changes. Make sure the cake stays in a cool area, if possible, to help minimize blooming. I’m so glad you loved this glaze! – Meggan
Hi there, I’m wondering if I could make the cupcakes ahead of time with glaze and either freeze them or refrigerate them?
Hi Dorrie, thank you so much for your question! Yes, you’ll want to make sure the glaze has cooled and hardened before refrigerating or freezing. – Meggan
hi there! I have a flourless torte in the freezer that I want to keep frozen but use the glaze on t and put it back in freezer until I need the torte. would that work? thanks Suzanne
Hi Suzanne, thank you so much for your question. I haven’t tried it myself, but I cannot say for sure. Sources say a glazed cooled torte can be placed in the refrigerator until the glaze sets, then frozen. It might be possible to do it without defrosting the torte, but I’m not sure. Sorry about that. – Meggan
Omg I just made this and it was absolutely fantastic!!! 😋
Hi Pattycake 860, glad you loved it! Take care! – Meggan
I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, but it keeps separating and I end up with a bowl of chocolate porridge with butterfat sitting on top. I’ve used Ghirardelli and store brand chocolate, and both did the same thing.
Hi Libby, I’m so sorry your glaze is separating. It seems like the heat might be too high. The water should just be simmering. Whisking while the chocolate is melting will also help the glaze come together. I hope this helps! – Meggan
What if I don’t have corn syrup? Could I substitute another oil or omit it?
Hi Beth, I haven’t tested this myself but brown rice syrup should work! Hope this helps. – Meggan
Came out very good, though I used Espresso chocolate chips. They worked out well.
Hi Lynn, sounds delicious! Glad you enjoyed. – Meggan
Used this recipe twice now! So easy and great and yummy! Question can any leftover chocolate be stored? How? Remelt?
Hi Michelle, great, I love it! If I were storing leftover glaze, I would cover it with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator, but have the plastic wrap touching the surface of the glaze so the air doesn’t get to the glaze. To reheat, I would suggest heating over a double broiler. The glaze should store for about a week. – Meggan
A fantastic glaze. Used it to top a chocolate mousse cake and it glides perfectly on. Satiny smooth and sets beautifully.
That’s so great! Thank you! I love it too. I hope you have a great week. Thanks Farah! -Meggan