620 brandy recipes

Layers of homemade sponge roll with raspberry jam, sherry-soaked custard, crunchy amaretti, and piped whipped cream make this Scottish trifle a showstopper British dessert.

Bourbon pumpkin pie with a broiled pecan praline topping and apricot glaze on the crust. This showstopper Thanksgiving dessert layers three distinct textures in one unforgettable slice.

Elegant crawfish mousse with cream cheese, sour cream, brandy, and Tabasco set in a decorative mold. A make-ahead Cajun party appetizer that unmolds into a stunning centerpiece.

Lamb loin wrapped in puff pastry with a pistachio and chestnut puree stuffing, served with a juniper-and-thyme red wine reduction. A showstopper main course for special occasions.

Orange beef with sun-dried tomatoes: a Chinese-Italian fusion stir-fry with brandy-marinated flank steak, candied orange zest, sun-dried tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and jalapeno. Restaurant-style technique at home.

Traditional Sicilian fruit-filled pastries stuffed with figs, dates, chocolate chips, nuts, and warm spices, glazed with a lemon icing. A holiday cookie tray showstopper.

Cored apples packed with a savory-sweet filling of ground veal, Parmesan, walnuts, raisins, and sage, then baked until soft and drizzled with a honey-apple brandy butter. An Italian-inspired showstopper that blurs the line between entree and autumn celebration.

Vanilla Irish coffee with hot coffee, Irish whiskey, and a vanilla-sweetened whipped cream float. The classic San Francisco-style cocktail upgraded with a touch of vanilla.

Fresh peach sorbet with Marsala wine and lemon juice in a simple sugar syrup. A dairy-free frozen dessert with just five ingredients, served over fresh berries.

Chocolate chip and almond biscotti are twice-baked Italian cookies built for dunking. Toasted almonds, semi-sweet chips, and a splash of whiskey give these crisp logs serious depth.

I recently came across another way to use up some of those cartons of oats and bags of bran spilling out of my pantry. Brandi of Bran Appetit posted an intriguing recipe for Brandi's Cookie Bars. I used her recipe with a few changes to make cookie bars of my own. Please visit Brandi's blog for the original recipe. And if you're a fan of oatmeal cookies and chocolate, make these now! Oatmeal-Bran Cookie Bars (adapted from Bran Appetit)

If you think zucchini is just not your thing, this moist and chocolaty zucchini rum cake will knock your socks off and you even won't notice that there is zucchini in it. Such a deliciously sweet way to use up some of your seasonal zucchinis.

This is the best "Kahlua" recipe I've found. I added about 1/4 cup brandy to the recipe.

Traditional British whole wheat Christmas cake with rum-soaked dried fruit, walnuts, almonds, stout and citrus zest. Aged dark fruit cake for the holiday season.

Panettone Italian fruitcake with orange zest, dried fruit, and a tender yeast dough. Baked in a coffee can for the classic tall dome shape. Ready in about an hour.

No-starter friendship Bundt cake with brandied fruit, coconut, dates, and a hit of orange and walnut extracts. The classic friendship cake without the 30-day countdown.