While some enjoy brandy in a glass with cola, others prefer to savour the flavour neat. Of course, there are many other things you can use brandy for besides drinking it. You may already know that brandy is a popular ingredient in many cocktail recipes, but it’s also useful in several dishes. So whether you just opened a bottle from a Christmas hamper you received or have something left in a bottle and are looking for culinary inspiration, read on for some great ideas!

Coffee Velvet

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 a cup of brandy
  • 1/4 of a cup of chocolate syrup
  • 1/2 a gallon of vanilla ice cream
  • 2 tablespoons of instant coffee (dissolved in tiny bit of water)

Directions:

  • Combine all of the ingredients for your brandy dessert before placing in the freezer.
  • Before you serve, you can blend the mixture again before pouring into a glass or dessert bowl.
  • Top with whipped cream and decorate with chocolate sprinkles or flakes.

Traditional Trifle

Ingredients:

  • 1 plain yellow, sponge or pound cake
  • 1 to 2 cups of fresh or frozen fruit (thaw out if frozen)
  • 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of jam, jelly or preserves (same flavour as the fruit you choose)
  • 1 to 1 1/2 oz of brandy (alternatively sherry or rum)
  • Custard (packaged or make your own)
  • Whipped cream

Directions:

  • Cut the cake into cubes and sprinkle with brandy.
  • Place a layer of cake at the bottom of your dish.
  • Add a thin layer of jam or jelly.
  • Add fruit on top of this.
  • Next, add a layer of custard.
  • Now top with some whipped cream.
  • Repeat these layers until the dish is full.
  • Finish with whipped cream and decorate this delicious brandy dessert with cherries, chocolate flakes or even nuts.
  • Allow to set in the fridge before serving.

Coffee Brandy Creme

Ingredients:

  • 1 package (.25 oz.) of unflavoured gelatin
  • 2 cups of strong hot coffee
  • 1/4 cup of sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of brandy (optional)

Directions:

  • This is a really easy brandy dessert recipe. Simply combine the gelatin and sugar in a bowl.
  • Add the coffee and brandy.
  • Once mixed, pour this mixture into cups or bowls (this recipe makes 4 servings).
  • Set in the fridge before topping with whipped cream.

Creamy chocolate dessert

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 of a cup of milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 6 oz of semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons of brandy
  • 2 tablespoons of sugar
  • Whipped cream

Directions:

  • Start by scalding the milk.
  • Combine this milk with the chocolate chips, egg, sugar and brandy in a food processor.
  • Process until smooth (approximately 20 seconds).
  • Pour this mixture into dessert bowls or cups and allow to set for three hours in the fridge.
  • Serve with fresh whipped cream.

These are just a few easy and delicious brandy dessert recipes that you can serve after any meal. If you are expecting a larger number of guests, test these recipes out and see which one you enjoy the most. Multiply the recipe according to the number of guests and make sure that you always have a few extra portions.