Easy Brandy Butter Recipe - Hard Sauce for Dessert (2024)

If you're after a simple yet absolutely scrumptious addition to your sweet treat, our Easy Brandy Butter recipe is just what you need.

Brandy butter, or hard sauce as it is also known, is a traditional accompaniment to Christmas desserts such as Christmas Pudding and Mince Pies.

It will elevate your festive treats to the next level with its perfect blend of sweetness, creaminess, and a hint of brandy warmth.

Our recipe is straightforward, with clear instructions and handy visuals to help you along the way. See our video below to see how easy it is!

And if you're not a fan of the taste of brandy or it's not readily available in your pantry, don't worry. We have some creative substitutes that will still deliver that rich and creamy goodness we aim for and some optional extras, like vanilla.

Read on for all the information, or dive right in and make homemade brandy butter by clicking on the recipe card link below.

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What is Brandy Butter?

Brandy butter, also known as "hard sauce," is a popular side dish to holiday desserts, with its rich and creamy texture. It's made with just four ingredients: whipped butter, icing sugar, cream and cognac brandy.

The outcome? A sweet and velvety spread with a lovely touch of brandy warmth, perfect to enjoy chilled with hot desserts or alongside cold sweet treats such as mince pies.

Do not be confused with brandy sauce, which is also served with Xmas pudding!

Ingredients

Whipping this up is super easy; chances are you've got everything you need right in your kitchen. Here's what you'll need:

Remember, the best brandy butter recipes start with quality ingredients. So, we recommend using organic butter and high-quality brandy for the tastiest outcome.

Butter

Using unsalted butter allows you to control the sweetness of your brandy butter. If you only have salted butter, it will still work but obviously give a salty taste.

You could substitute it with whipped cream, making a brandy cream sauce rather than butter.

Cream

We like to add double cream when making a brandy butter mixture. It gives a light texture and makes it easier to spread. You can use milk instead.

Or skip it completely and use just three ingredients: butter, sugar and brandy.

Sugar

Icing sugar, also known as confectioners' sugar, or powdered sugar, blends seamlessly with other ingredients to deliver a smooth consistency.

Other sugars will not work for this recipe.

Brandy

Add that distinctive brandy flavour to your brandy butter recipe. Cognac is a well-known variety of brandy that gives the best taste. But you can use others.

If you find yourself without brandy, fear not! You can easily substitute it with other spirits such as rum, bourbon, whisky, or sherry. Just use an equal amount as mentioned in the recipe.

During Christmas time, rum butter is also a popular choice with mince pies. Enjoy experimenting with these delicious brandy butter variations!

Optional Flavouring

You can personalise and add some extra flavor to brandy butter. Options include vanilla extract or other flavoured extracts, a sprinkle of cinnamon to add festive warmth, or orange zest for a citrus note.

Equipment

To make your brandy butter preparation smooth and hassle-free, ensure you have the following kitchen tools:

Mixer

A Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer is your best friend for achieving that perfect, creamy consistency.

An electric hand whisk or mixer is better if making a small quantity, while a cake stand electric mixer with a paddle attachment allows for hands-free mixing if made in bulk, a fantastic gift to the family.

Choose based on the quantity of brandy butter you create and what you have available.

Mixing Bowl

Again, the size of the mixing bowl will depend on the quantity you are making. You'll need a large mixing bowl to blend your ingredients comfortably without any spillage. If halving the recipe, a smaller jug or beaker might be better.

Container

Once your brandy butter is ready, you'll need a clean, airtight container for storage. A Kilner jar or any similar container will keep your butter fresh and ready to serve.

Our recipe given on this page makes two 125ml Kilner pots worth. One to keep and one to give away!

Butter Knife

A butter knife is essential for spreading your brandy butter onto warm mince pies or slices of bread pudding. You can just use a spoon for serving instead.

Instructions

Let's get started making this easy brandy butter recipe

Jump to the recipe for step-by-step with ingredient measurements

Take your unsalted butter out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature until it softens. This usually takes about 30 minutes, cut it into smaller cubes to speed up the process.

Mixing the Ingredients

Place the softened butter in a mixing bowl. Beat with a mixer or whisk until soft

Gradually add the icing sugar and mix with your hand mixer or stand mixer on a low speed.

Increase the speed as the icing sugar gets incorporated into the butter.

Once the butter and sugar are well combined, slowly beat in the cream while continuing to mix. Add any extra flavour, such as vanilla or cinnamon.

Remember, the key here is to gradually add the brandy, mixing well between additions. Adding too much brandy at once will lead to curdling.

Give it a taste, and add extra ingredients as desired. Switch to a spatula and stir until the mixture binds and it becomes light and fluffy.

Transfer the soft, smooth mixture into your clean, airtight Kilner jar or similar container using a spatula or spoon to push it down.

Seal tightly and place in the fridge to firm up before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Once firm, your homemade brandy butter is ready. Serve straight from the jar or transfer smaller amounts to a serving dish.

It's perfect with toasted panettone, puff pastry mince pies or chocolate chip brownies, and spread some brandy butter on toasted bread or freshly baked scones for a delicious breakfast treat.

Perfect with our recipes for British bread pudding or slow cooker Christmas pudding. You could even melt some to pour over vanilla ice cream.

Seen here served with our steamed Christmas pudding. Cut a slice of warm Christmas pud and add the brandy butter on the side. It can also be used as a buttercream cake filling.

📖 Step by Step Recipe

Brandy Butter Storage

Here are some friendly tips for storing your homemade brandy butter correctly. Ensure you use an airtight container to keep the air out and a fresh taste. We suggest a sterilised Kilner jar.

Homemade Brandy butter is best enjoyed within a week and stored in the refrigerator. It will harden slightly but can be easily softened at room temperature before use.

Can I freeze Brandy Butter?

If you're planning to make it ahead of time for an event, you can freeze it. Frozen brandy butter will last up to a month. Defrost overnight in the fridge.

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We think homemade sauces are crucial to bring a meal together. We've got loads of dessert sauce recipes you might wanna give a go next.