Replacement for brandy in recipe

Frith

Does anyone know what I could use instead of brandy in a recipe?

Its a pastry case with a chocolate, prune and brandy filling.

I swap cider and white wine in recipes for apple juice but cannot imagine what brandy tastes like so don't know what to choose!

Thanks.

meritaten

choc and prunes are quite strong tastes - so I would think the brandy is there for 'alcohol content'. could swap for sherry or if no alcohol wanted leave it out altogether.

Frith

Could leave it out. The recipe asks for 4 fl oz so I suppose a drop of water would be OK? Or a mix of orange juice and water?

FairyPrincessk

You can also substitute vanilla in some cases.

Chris25

Personally, I wouldn't use orange, I don't think it would complement the chocolate & prune but then I don't tend to like chocolate & orange mix since I made a pig of myself with some Terry's chocolate

If you don't want to use alcohol, you could use just water or an Earl Grey or delicate flavoured, weak tea mix. Or a coffee mix might be nice too.

samejh

you could use apple juice if wanting non alcoholic or if you have no brandy but have whisky or Bourbon goes great with chocolate, Armagnac or Calvados you could use that instead.

Frith

Ooo, I did think of tea! I've got some nice Jasmine tea leaves so will try those, I think.

Nicki

As there are only 3 ingredients, I'd have thought the taste of the brandy is integral to the recipe. Jasmine tea with chocolate and prunes doesn't sound at all appealing to me.

Rather than trying to find a non alcoholic version of brandy if you are an alcohol free household, why not instead look for a recipe which doesn't require it in the first place? This one for example, is a chocolate and prune tart but is alcohol free:

http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/tv-show-recipes/sunday-brunch-recipes/chocolate-and-prune-tart-recipe

Chris25

Frith :wave: - how did the tart turn out & what did you use?