Brandy Snap Twirls Recipes

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 oven to 375° F. and butter a heavy baking sheet.
• Into a small bowl sift together flour, ginger, and cloves. In a small saucepan melt butter with sugar, golden syrup, and water over moderate heat, stirring until smooth. Stir in flour mixture until combined well and let stand 2 minutes. Spoon 1 1/4 teaspoons batter onto baking sheet and spread into a 6-inch length. Make 2 or 3 more cookies in same manner, keeping them 2 inches apart. Bake cookies in middle of oven 7 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown, and cool on baking sheet on a rack 30 to 45 seconds, or until firm enough to hold their shape but still pliable.
• Working quickly, wrap hot cookies, 1 at a time, in a spiral around handle of a wooden spoon. (If cookies become too crisp to remove from baking sheet, return baking sheet to oven 1 minute, or until cookies are heated through and pliable.) Cool cookies 20 seconds and slide off spoon handle. Make more cookies with remaining batter in same manner. Brandy snap twirls may be made 2 weeks ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Heat the butter, corn syrup and sugar in the top half of a double boiler over low heat. Stir constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the flour, brandy and ginger until smooth.
• Drop rounded teaspoons of the batter about four inches apart on a well-greased baking sheet. Bake, four or five at a time, until the snaps spread into circles and turn a golden brown (this takes about six to eight minutes).
• Allow the snaps to cool slightly and then loosen then from the baking sheet with a knife or spatula. Working quickly, put them one at a time in the palm of your hand and place a greased wooden handle over the center of the snap. Wrap the snap around the handle to form a cylinder. Hold in place until set, then slide the snap onto a rack. Repeat until all the snaps are finished. If the snaps become too stiff to roll, return the baking sheet briefly to the oven so that they can soften up.
• Whip the cream until stiff and fill each snap with cream at both ends.

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the butter, sugar and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat until butter is melted. Remove from the heat. Stir in the flour, brandy and ginger., Drop by teaspoonfuls, 3 at a time, 3 in. apart onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 7-8 minutes or until golden brown., Cool for 30-45 seconds. Working quickly, loosen each cookie and curl around a thick wooden spoon handle. (If cookies become too cool to shape, return to oven for 1 minute to soften.) Remove to wire rack to cool completely., For filling, in a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and brandy; beat until stiff peaks form. Just before serving, pipe cream mixture into cookies. Sprinkle ends with chocolate if desired.