Step 1

Pour chocolate in a medium sized glass or ceramic bowl. Set aside.

Step 2

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add in cream when butter is just about melted.

Step 3

Increase heat slightly and using a whisk, stir constantly, but gently. Heat until mixture just barely comes to a boil.

Step 4

Pour cream over chocolate in the bowl. Cover with a lid (or a plate) for 3-4 minutes. Begin stirring gently, combining the chocolate with the butter-cream mixture. After just a minute or two of stirring, all the chocolate is melted and you've got a smooth chocolate ganache!

Step 5

Let the mixture sit from 5-15 minutes, depending on how "drippy" you want the chocolate. If you're putting the ganache on brownies, it can be pretty cool and still spread well. For cakes, you'll want it to be warmer so that it will run and cover the cake. Feel free to gently pick up your baked goods and tilt them slowly in one direction or another to spread the ganache.