The Ultimate Brandy Sauce Recipe: Easy Steps to a Great Tasting Sauce! (2024)

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We're spotlighting a festive favourite - Our Easy Brandy Sauce Recipe. This sauce recipe is like liquid gold during Christmas, adding that extra 'oomph' to just about any dessert.

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Its luxurious creamy texture and rich flavour profile make it the perfect companion for your Christmas pudding or any sweet treat that could use a little extra flair. And the best part? It's surprisingly easy to make brandy sauce in your kitchen!

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Finish your christmas dinner in style, serve Christmas pudding with brandy sauce.

Jump to:
  • How to make Brandy Sauce
  • What is Brandy Sauce?
  • Ingredients
  • Caster Sugar
  • Brandy
  • Equipment
  • Instructions
  • Serving Suggestions
  • 📖 Step by Step Recipe
  • Brandy Sauce Storage
  • FAQs
  • More Sauce Recipes
  • 💬 Reviews

How to make Brandy Sauce

Here is a short step-by-step video to show you how to make Brandy Sauce.

So, let's roll up our sleeves and get saucy, shall we?

Jump to Recipe Card to get started or read on for more advice.

What is Brandy Sauce?

Wondering what the white sauce poured over the top of Christmas Pudding is? That is Brandy Sauce.

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A creamy, rich sauce that is often drizzled over desserts to enhance their flavour. It's particularly popular during Christmas as an accompaniment to steamed Christmas pudding (aka plum pudding or figgy pudding.)

Despite their similar names and uses, Brandy Sauce and Brandy Butter differ.

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Also often seen on Christmas Day is Brandy Butter seen in image above, it is a type of hard sauce made from butter, sugar, and brandy, while Brandy Sauce is a creamy sauce made with flour, butter, milk, sugar, and brandy.

Ingredients

Let's take a look at the food ingredients you'll need for this recipe.

  • 50 g Unsalted Butter
  • 50 g Plain Flour
  • 50 g Caster Sugar
  • 400 ml Milk
  • 3 tablespoon Brandy
  • ¼ teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Here is more on what each ingredient brings to this delicious sauce recipe.

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Unsalted Butter

This forms the base of the roux, providing richness and depth. If you only have salted butter on hand, you can use it, but be mindful of the overall saltiness of your sauce.

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Plain Flour

Flour is added to the melted butter to make a roux which thickens the sauce. If necessary, you could substitute with cornflour, you won't need as much, and it will alter the texture.

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Caster Sugar

This adds a touch of sweetness to balance out the flavours. If you don't have caster sugar, granulated sugar will work just fine, it may take longer to dissolve.

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Milk

We use whole milk to add creaminess to the rich brandy sauce. Any kind of dairy or dairy free milk will work in this recipe.

Or you could make a brandy cream sauce using single cream or double as a direct replacement to milk.

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Brandy

Brandy is what gives the this rich brandy sauce its distinctive flavor. Feel free to adjust the amount to taste.

Or if brandy is not your thing you can add other spirts instead. Rum sauce can be made instead just substitute the Brandy with Rum! (I suggest a spiced rum for Christmas!)

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Vanilla Extract

This is optional but adds an extra layer of flavor to the sauce. You can also use a vanilla pod if you prefer.

A sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg can be nice too!

Equipment

Let's gather our tools and get started!

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You'll need a whisk to blend your ingredients smoothly, a medium-sized saucepan for cooking up that luscious sauce.

A measuring jug to keep those ingredient quantities on point, and last but not least, a serving jug to pour your warm homemade brandy sauce over your mouthwatering desserts. It's as simple as that!

Instructions

Alright, let's get down to the fun part - making our Traditional Brandy Sauce!

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Get the butter melting in a saucepan over a medium heat.

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Once it's all melted, sprinkle in your flour and give it a good mix.

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You're looking to form what we call a 'roux'.

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Next up, start adding your milk. Pour it in slowly, while giving it a good whisk until it's smooth.

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Keep adding milk bit by bit, giving it a minutes each time to heat up and thicken whilst stirring. Patience is key here! Do not allow it to boil.

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Now, it's time for the sugar. Sprinkle it in to the saucepan while you continue to whisk, making sure it's fully dissolved.

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Add the brandy to the mixture, adjust the amount to your liking.

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Want to amp up the flavor? Why not stir in a dash of vanilla essence?

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Keep the sauce on the heat and continue whisking until it thickens up and sticks to your whisk.

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Finally, pour your piping hot masterpiece into a serving jug and serve it warm.

You've just made your very own Easy Brandy Sauce.

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Serving Suggestions

This Brandy Sauce pairs wonderfully with our British Bread Pudding, Puff Pastry Mince Pies, and of course Christmas pudding, our Traditional Steamed Christmas Pudding. The possibilities are endless, so feel free to get creative as serve with other desserts!

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We have poured it over our Christmas Pudding, this one in the picture is our Slow Cooker Xmas Pudding recipe. It pours and sets perfectly over the top of the pudding.

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You can also pour it directly over a slice of christmas pudding instead of custard or double cream. It adds a deicious creaminess to the rich dried fruit dessert.

📖 Step by Step Recipe

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Brandy Sauce

Luke and Kay - Flawless Food

We're excited to share a delicious recipe with you today - Brandy Sauce. This creamy, sauce is the perfect addition to any dessert, adding a touch of class and a whole lot of flavour. And the best part? It's incredibly easy to make!

Our Brandy Sauce recipe calls for simple ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.

Drizzle it over warm Christmas pudding or mince pies for a classic Christmas dessert. Why not try something different with a slice of apple pie, bread pudding, or even pancakes? The possibilities are endless, so feel free to get creative!

5 from 31 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Christmas, Dessert, Sauce

Cuisine British, European

Servings 15 Servings

Calories 73 kcal

Ingredients

  • 50 g Unsalted Butter
  • 50 g Plain Flour
  • 50 g Caster Sugar
  • 400 ml Milk
  • 3 tablespoon Brandy
  • ¼ teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Instructions

  • Begin by melting 50 g Unsalted Butter in a saucepan over medium heat

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  • Next, add 50 g Plain Flour to the melted butter.

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  • Mixing it well to form a roux.

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  • Slowly pour in some of the 400 ml Milk.

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  • Whisk in for a minute until it thickens.

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  • Continue to add the milk a bit at a time and whisk for a minute and allow it to thicken between additions until all the milk is added.

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  • Add 50 g Caster Sugar and continue whisking until it's fully dissolved.

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  • Whisk in brandy start with 3 tablespoon Brandy, and try the sauce Add extra if you prefer a stronger taste.

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  • Optional* Add ¼ teaspoon Vanilla Extract essence for extra flavour.

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  • Keep your sauce over the heat and whisk until it thickens and sticks to the whisk. If too thick add extra dashes of milk until right.

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  • Pour into a serving jug.

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  • Serve your brandy sauce warm.

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  • Can be reheated on the hob or in microwave

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Video

Nutrition

Calories: 73kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 11mgPotassium: 46mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 128IUCalcium: 35mgIron: 0.2mg

Keyword Brandy Sauce recipe, christmas brandy butter, christmas pud sauce, christmas pudding sauce, christmas pudding white sauce, christmas sauce, figgy pudding sauce, plum pudding sauce, rich brandy sauce, sweet brandy sauce, traditional brandy sauce, white sauce with brandy, Xmas Pudding sauce

Tried this recipe? Share an image on Facebook / Instagram / PinterestPlease mention @flawlessfooduk or tag #flawlessfooduk!

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Brandy Sauce Storage

You have had enough Christmas Pudding and wondering what to do with left over brandy sauce? Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge.

Can I freeze Brandy Sauce?

I won't recommend freezing this recipe purely because I have not tried it yet! There is some advice on white sauce freezing here but not sure how the added Brandy will affect the freezing. Please let us know if you have tried to freeze it with success.

Reheat

Once cold, the sauce will turn thick and gloopy, but don't worry! To return it back to a liquid state, simply reheat it in a pan or microwave.

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FAQs

Can I make Brandy Sauce Gluten Free?

Yes you can use gluten free flour to make this suitable for people with a gluten free diet.

Can I make this alcohol free or child friendly?

Yes, you can make brandy sauce alcohol free for children. To do this, I suggest making the white sauce as normal, then seperate it into two batches. For one batch, you can add Brandy to the sauce. For the other batch, skip the brandy and just add vanilla extract instead for children to enjoy.

More Sauce Recipes

If you enjoyed this recipe, we have plenty of other sweet sauce recipes you may like to try. Explore our collection and discover your next favourite dessert companion.

  • Easy Brandy Butter
  • Easy Onion Gravy with Ale
  • Salted Caramel Sauce
  • Tartare Sauce Recipe (Seafood Condiment)

See more Sauces →

The Ultimate Brandy Sauce Recipe: Easy Steps to a Great Tasting Sauce! (2024)

FAQs

What is brandy sauce made of? ›

It's deeply rich, made with vanilla pods, caster sugar, cream, whole milk and (yes, you guessed it) a few tablespoons of brandy. It's more festive than serving pudding with simple double cream and can take a supermarket Christmas pudding to the next level or finish off your homemade Christmas pudding perfectly.

How to flavor brandy? ›

The Basics of Infusing Spirits
  1. Sliced fruit and vegetables like oranges, strawberries and cucumbers.
  2. Whole spices like peppercorns, cinnamon sticks or cloves.
  3. Fresh herbs like rosemary, lavender and thyme.
  4. Extracts, flavorings or syrups, like real vanilla extract or loose-leaf tea.
Apr 26, 2023

How long will brandy sauce last in the fridge? ›

Keep refrigerated. Once opened, best within 3 days. Not suitable for freezing.

What's the difference between brandy butter and brandy cream? ›

Brandy butter uses caster sugar, giving the whipped unguent a pleasing graininess that dissolves on the tongue, part of the charm and a foil to the sticky pudding. There's an argument that brandy cream does a slightly better job though, as cream is much higher in milk sugar - lactose - than butter.

What is a substitute for brandy in brandy sauce? ›

Whiskey, rum, cognac, gin, vodka. In some cases lower proof would also work. Wine, vermouth. The taste is a consideration, what goes with the recipe in question.

How do you make brandy? ›

Brandy is created by distilling wine, which can be made at home using any type of fruit. After the fruit has fermented, the liquid is distilled twice to produce a strong, clear spirit with the essence of peaches, plums, pears, or apples.

What makes brandy taste better? ›

The taste of brandy becomes more mellow and complex as it ages—brandy that is less than two years old is considered unaged, while brandies that are more than two years old are considered mature.

What makes brandy taste good? ›

The taste of brandy varies depending on the fruit it's made from and its age, but generally, they are sweeter than whiskey and taste of flowers, fresh and dried fruit, and citrus zest. The flavour of brandy is fruity and somewhat sweet. Additionally, it may have an oak flavour, often aged in wooden barrels.

What is the best mix for brandy? ›

If you have a good-quality brandy on hand, you might like to keep it simple and add a small splash of lemon or lime juice, and a splash of soda – to make the brandy the star of the show. Citrus is a great pairing for brandy – simply adjust to your taste preferences.

How can you tell if brandy has gone bad? ›

You'll know if your liquor has gone bad if you detect any changes in color or smell, although it's uncommon. Is it okay to drink expired alcohol? After a bottle of alcohol has expired, it's okay to drink but the alcohol content will be decreased.

Does brandy ever go bad? ›

Its high alcohol level keeps bacteria from growing in the liquor and protects its integrity when stored in a cool and dark environment. Open brandy won't go bad but it will lose its potency and flavor complexity within 6 months to 2 years of the seal being broken.

Can you eat brandy sauce cold? ›

Delicious hot or cold, our sauce works wonderfully with your own inclusions to make a huge variety of dessert dishes truly shine; from festive Christmas puddings, mince pies and mulled fruit compotes through to crepes, mousses and flummeries.

What are the 4 types of brandy? ›

It can be produced using grapes or other types of fruit, such as apples. Calvados, pisco, armagnac, and applejack are all types of brandy. Unlike cognac, brandy can be made anywhere in the world.

What type of brandy is good for cooking? ›

Nothing but the best cooking brandy
NamePrice
E&J$8.99 per 750 ml
Courvoisier$29.99 per 750 ml
Hennessy$39.99 per 750 ml
Martell$39.99 per 750 ml
Aug 19, 2021

Does brandy sauce contain alcohol? ›

INGREDIENTS:British Skimmed Cows' Milk, British Double Cream (Cows' Milk), Jersey Double Cream (Cows' Milk) (10%), Demerara Sugar, COURVOISIER® VS Cognac (alc 60% vol) (7%) (Contains Colour: Plain Caramel), Cornflour, Stabiliser:Pectin.

What is brandy flavor? ›

The taste of brandy varies depending on the fruit it's made from and its age, but generally, they are sweeter than whiskey and taste of flowers, fresh and dried fruit, and citrus zest. The flavour of brandy is fruity and somewhat sweet. Additionally, it may have an oak flavour, often aged in wooden barrels.

Does birds brandy sauce contain alcohol? ›

Bird's Brandy Flavour Sauce is a delicious seasonal favourite to help you make your desserts and puddings extra special and tasty. Made with real brandy, this carton is ready to pour and best served hot with mince pies, steamed puddings, fruit or mincemeat tarts and Christmas Pudding.

Can you buy brandy sauce? ›

Tesco Finest Brandy Sauce 500Ml - Tesco Groceries.

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