Brandy Snaps
Lacy, golden ginger biscuits rolled into tubes while warm and filled with cream: a classic British party treat that is easier than it looks.
AI assistance: the introduction, ingredient list, method, tips and FAQ on this page were drafted with an AI writing tool, working from long-established traditional methods. Named editor who reviewed it: owner to supply How we work
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Makes
- about 12 brandy snaps
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Course
- Biscuit
- Cuisine
- British
Brandy snaps are thin, lacy ginger biscuits that set crisp as they cool. Rolled round a spoon handle while still warm and piped full of whipped cream, they look impressive on a Christmas buffet or tea table.
The only trick is timing: bake four at a time so you can shape them before they set.
Ingredients
Cups use the King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart. Weighing is more accurate.
- 50 g butter
- 50 g caster or demerara sugar
- 50 g golden syrup
- 50 g plain flour (US: all-purpose flour)
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp brandy, optional
- 200 ml double cream (US: heavy cream), whipped, to fill
Equipment
Shop links are affiliate links (disclosure).
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / gas 4 / 350°F and line two baking trays with baking paper. Butter the handles of a few wooden spoons.
- 2
Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup gently in a pan. Take off the heat and stir in the flour, ginger, lemon juice and brandy.
- 3
Drop 4 teaspoonfuls onto each tray, well spaced, as they spread a lot.
- 4
Bake one tray at a time for 8–10 minutes, until lacy and golden.
- 5
Leave for about 1 minute until just firm enough to lift, then roll each one round a spoon handle. Slide off when set. If they harden before shaping, return them to the oven for a few seconds.
- 6
Just before serving, pipe the whipped cream into each end.
Tips
Unfilled brandy snaps keep for a week in an airtight tin; fill them at the last minute so they stay crisp. A piping bag makes filling neat.
If it goes wrong
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Snaps harden before shaping | Left too long | Bake fewer at a time and warm them again for a few seconds |
| Not lacy | Mixture too thick or oven too cool | Measure carefully and check the oven temperature |
| Soft and chewy | Underbaked or stored in damp air | Bake until deep golden; store airtight |
Frequently asked questions
Do brandy snaps contain brandy?
Traditional recipes include only a little, or none. The name probably comes from "branded", meaning burnt or caramelised.
How far ahead can I make brandy snaps?
Up to a week ahead, unfilled, in an airtight tin. Fill them with cream just before serving.
Can I shape them into baskets?
Yes. Drape the warm biscuits over an upturned cup or ramekin to make baskets for ice cream or fruit.
Guides for this recipe
Some of these guides contain shop links, which are affiliate links (disclosure).
More British Food recipes
Recipe · 25 min
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Chestnuts
The recipe that wins over sprout sceptics: crisp-edged sprouts fried with smoky bacon and sweet chestnuts in 15 minutes.
Recipe · 1 hr 30 min
Chocolate Yule Log
A light chocolate sponge rolled round whipped cream and covered in glossy chocolate bark: the Christmas cake for people who do not like fruit cake.
Recipe · 45 min
Pigs in Blankets
Often the first thing to disappear from the Christmas plate: chipolatas wrapped in streaky bacon, roasted until sticky and crisp.
Card photos: Copper pans and a kettle on an old kitchen range, Silar via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped; A small stainless steel saucepan with a lid, Cooks & Kitchens from Darlington, UK via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped; Mince pies baked in a bun tray, Jeremy Keith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped; Brussels sprouts and bacon being fried in a cast-iron pan, Wheeler Cowperthwaite via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped; A chocolate yule log decorated with meringue mushrooms, ChuKat600 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped; Roasted pigs in blankets: chipolatas wrapped in bacon, Valereee via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped. All credits: image credits.