Hard sauce

Hard sauce, also called brandy butter, is made from butter, sugar and a spirit such as brandy. A standard food dictionary describes it as a hard sauce made from butter, caster sugar and brandy, traditionally served with Christmas pudding and mince pies.

It is not cooked. The butter and sugar are creamed together until pale and smooth, then the flavoring is beaten in and the mixture is chilled until firm. Because it stays solid when cold, it is spooned or shaped onto a hot dessert and slowly melts into a rich, buttery sauce.

Brandy is the classic choice, though rum, whiskey, sherry and vanilla are common alternatives, and grated orange zest is a popular addition. The contrast of cold, sweet butter against a hot steamed pudding is what makes it distinctive.