Adding Lemon to Ganache

A reader has asked: I make a basic chocolate and cream ganache filling for cakes and I would like to add some lemon flavor to it. Should I just add lemon juice to the finished ganache?

A: No, definitely not. The best way to flavor your chocolate and cream filling with lemon is to use some lemon oil or to use the zest of several lemons and add them to the cream. Bring the cream to a gentle simmer and remove the zest from the lemons in large strips with a vegetable peeler. Add the zests to the hot cream and leave them in for 5 minutes or so, then strain them away and continue with the recipe.