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Smoking Chimney

Recipes from a working kitchen · Cape Town

Brandy Snaps

By Marna Ross Updated 12 August 2026 4.73 from 22 ratings
Brandy snaps is such a lovely dessert snack which can really add beautiful visual effects as well and wonderful taste sensation to your desired dish. I remember brandy snaps in my career mostly used together with winter desserts. Of course this was only in my personal experience, please do whatever you prefer. I remember making the brandy snaps quite a lot at my first job, as well as later on wards. It always bring that something extra to your dessert- and I can recommend making them. You will be pleasantly surprise the difference it makes to touch up your dessert into a pleasant eating feast!  In this recipe I share with you, it is quite easy, because most ingredients are in equal quantity- the sugar, butter, syrup and flour- which of course makes this very easier when measuring your ingredients. I prefer Hullets white sugar and for the ginger, Robertsons Ginger Spice. Brandy snaps works in my opinion best with Malva Pudding. It is easy to make, but if it is your fist time - keep in mind that you have to work really quick after you have taken them off with your palate knife. They set and get hard very quickly. Therefore have your rolling pin or tools and things you need to make the shape you want, nearby. You must bake the brandy snaps until they are golden brown - don't let them go too long in the over, they will get that awful burn-look colour which you really wouldn't like. You must also keep the brandy snaps in an airtight container, you will taste when they are not so fresh anymore. If you have a special function for your fiends, make them the same day. Obvious if you work in a restaurant you will check your stock - but check daily. Nobody likes old brandy snap I suppose.
Crisp and golden lace-like brandy snaps rolled into delicate tubes.
Prep 20 min
Cook 40 min
Total 1 h
Serves 10

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Ingredients

  • 110 g sugar
  • 110 g butter
  • 110 g golden syrup
  • 110 g plain flour
  • juice of ½ lemon
  • 1 pinch Robertsons ground ginger

Method

  1. Grease your baking tray very well

  2. Melt the sugar, butter and golden syrup together on a low heat.Once melted, remove from the heat

  3. Sift the flour and add to the melted mixture, stir well.

  4. Add the lemon juice and the ginger and mix well.The mixture is not ready to be used

  5. Spread drops of the brandy snap mix onto the baking tray, leave good space between each brandy snap as they will rise in seize.Use a teaspoon and spread the drops of mix into circles

  6. Bake for 10-15 minutes at 180° Celsius.Be careful not to bake them too long. They must be golden brown

  7. Once baked , take it out of the oven and leave for a minute or 2 to just cool off a bit. It will make it easier to lift them up with you palate knife.REMEMBER TO WORK QUICKLY NOW TO MAKE THE DESIRED SHAPE

  8. Roll them over a rolling pin to get a curve or use a wooden spoon's length end to roll them into a cigar.You can shape them over a small ramekin as well to get a basket shape.

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