Lacy Brandy Snaps Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a small bowl, combine flour and ginger with a whisk. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add sugar and golden syrup; cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; stir in flour mixture.
• Using a 2/3-ounce ice cream scoop, drop three level scoops of batter onto prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake until flat and golden brown, about 10 minutes, rotating halfway through.
• Remove from oven and let cookies cool just slightly until firm, about 2 minutes; place each cookie over an inverted drinking glass or wrap around the handle of a whisk, using your hands to press and gently shape. Let set 30 seconds. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Repeat process with remaining batter.

Steps:

• For the brandy snaps: Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. You'll need 2 wooden spoons with 3/4-inch-thick handles to roll the brandy snaps around. If the handles are too thin, tightly wrap foil around them until they are the right thickness.
• Combine the butter, granulated sugar, golden syrup and salt in a small saucepan. Heat over medium low, stirring occasionally, until the butter is melted and the sugar is mostly dissolved (it should never come to a simmer), about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly for 2 minutes, then sift the flour and ginger directly into the saucepan through a fine-mesh sieve. Stir until combined and a smooth, fluid paste.
• Place 5 to 6 separate heaping teaspoons at least 4 inches apart from each other on the prepared baking sheets. Gently spread each mound into an even 2-inch circle with the back of a spoon. Bake one sheet at a time for 6 minutes, then rotate the baking sheet and continue baking until caramel to toffee brown in color, 2 to 3 minutes. (If too pale, the brandy snaps will not get crisp enough.)
• Let cool briefly for about 2 minutes on the baking sheet until you can slide a small offset spatula underneath a brandy snap and lift it off (it should still be warm and flexible). Place on a cutting board rough-side down and roll around the wooden spoon handle, pressing down on the seam to seal. Working quickly, repeat with the remaining brandy snaps, alternating with the 2 wooden spoons and removing the rolled brandy snaps to a rack to cool completely. (If too stiff to roll, return the brandy snaps to the oven for 1 to 2 minutes until flexible again.)
• Bake and roll the brandy snaps on the second baking sheet, then continue the process of spooning, baking and rolling with the remaining batter, alternating the baking sheets.
• For the filling: When ready to serve, whip the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, brandy if using, and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a piping bag or large resealable plastic bag. Cut the tip and pipe the whipped cream into the rolled brandy snaps. Serve within 2 hours.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C/ 160 fan/ gas mark 4 and two baking trays with baking parchment.
• Put the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a saucepan and heat gently until the butter and sugar have melted. Put the flour and ginger in a bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the lemon zest and juice and the brandy. Pour in the butter mixture and gradually beat it into the flour until the mixture is thoroughly combined.
• Use a teaspoon to dollop 3 - 4 heaps of mixture onto the prepared baking tray. A heaped tsp is enough for a cigar and two heaped teaspoons is enough for a basket. Space them well apart as they will spread. Cook in batches for 8 - 10 mins until set, golden brown and lacy in appearance. Do not allow to go too dark as they will taste bitter. Leave for a minute before shaping - the snaps should still be pliable but set enough to move without tearing.
• You can shape the brandy snaps into cigars or baskets. To make cigars, oil the handle of a wooden spoon and wrap the brandy snap around. If you have a long handle or more than one spoon, you can do a few at a time. The base of the biscuits should be the bit that touches the spoon so that the top 'presentation' side of the biscuit is seen. Transfer to a cooling rack. To make baskets, oil the base of small ramekins or narrow tumblers and drape the biscuits over them. The top of the biscuit should touch the base this time as this is the bit you'll see.
• Pipe whipped cream into the cigars or use the baskets or cones for ice cream and berries. If not using straightway, store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.