Brandy balls are a popular holiday treat, but many people wonder if they actually contain any alcohol given their name. The short answer is yes, brandy balls do contain a small amount of alcohol from the brandy used in the recipe. However, the amount is usually negligible, especially when eaten in moderation.
In the following article, we’ll take a deeper look at brandy balls and analyze exactly how much alcohol they contain. We’ll review the key ingredients that go into brandy balls and explain how the baking process impacts the alcohol content. We’ll also provide some tips for safely enjoying brandy balls.
What are brandy balls?
Brandy balls, also sometimes called brandy snaps, are a type of truffle or chocolate confection that is associated with Christmas and other winter holidays. They typically contain crushed cookies or biscuits, powdered sugar, butter or margarine, cocoa powder, finely chopped nuts, and of course, brandy.
The brandy is what gives the treats their distinctive flavor and name. Brandy is a spirit made from distilled wine or fermented fruit juice. Common types used in cooking include grape brandy and apple brandy. The brandy soaked into the cookies or biscuits gives brandy balls their unique taste.
Brandy balls can come in a variety of shapes and coatings. Some are rolled into balls and dusted with powdered sugar or cocoa powder. Others may be shaped into logs and enrobed in chocolate. They are often bite-sized for easy serving.
Traditional Ingredients in Brandy Balls
While recipes can vary, traditional brandy balls contain some combination of the following ingredients:
| Ingredient | Role |
|---|---|
| Crushed cookies or biscuits like graham crackers or ginger snaps | Provides the base and bulk for forming the balls |
| Butter or margarine | Binds ingredients and provides moisture |
| Powdered sugar | Sweetens and lightens texture |
| Cocoa powder | Adds chocolate flavor and darkens color |
| Finely chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans | Gives texture and crunch |
| Brandy | Infuses alcohol flavor and moisture |
The crushed cookies soaked in the brandy provide the bulk of the treats. Powdered sugar helps sweeten them and makes them lighter. Cocoa powder gives them a rich chocolatey flavor and darker color. Nuts add nice texture and crunch.
It’s the brandy that really sets these confections apart from regular chocolate truffles though. The alcoholic brandy infuses them with a sophisticated flavor and aroma. Let’s take a closer look at the brandy’s role.
The Role of Brandy in Brandy Balls
Brandy is integral to the flavor of brandy balls. The crushed cookies or biscuits are soaked in brandy before being shaped and coated. This allows the alcohol to fully permeate the cookies.
Enough brandy needs to be used to make the cookies moist and moldable, but not so much that they become soggy. Recipes typically call for around 1-3 tablespoons of brandy per 1 cup of cookie crumbs. The brandy should evenly moisten the crumbs when mixed together.
The alcohol itself adds depth of flavor. Brandy has a rich, warm taste that enhances the other ingredients. It has notes of oak, caramel, honey, dried fruit, and vanilla. This makes a nice complement to the cocoa and nuts.
The brandy also acts as a preservative due to its alcoholic content. It helps the balls retain moisture and texture for several weeks when stored properly in an airtight container.
However, the question remains how much alcohol actually remains in the finished brandy balls. Does the baking process remove most of the brandy? Let’s explore that next.
How Baking Affects the Alcohol Content
When brandy balls are baked, a decent amount of the alcohol from the brandy evaporates away. Alcohol has a much lower boiling point than water, so it vaporizes faster when heated.
However, brandy balls typically don’t require long baking times. Most recipes call for baking them for 10-15 minutes at around 325°F to 350°F.
At these mid-range baking temperatures and shorter time frames, a significant amount of alcohol remains intact. While the alcohol content reduces some during baking, brandy balls can still pack a boozy punch.
For example, one sample analysis found that brandy snap cookies retained around 44% of their original alcohol content after baking.[1] The amount likely varies based on factors like baking time and temperature.
But it’s clear that brandy balls contain far more alcohol than many other baked goods. For comparison, rum cake may retain only 5% to 10% of the rum used after baking. Vodka is also more volatile than brandy, evaporating faster when heated.
So while the alcohol content decreases with baking, brandy balls do still get a meaningful amount of alcohol from the brandy. Let’s analyze exactly how much.
Calculating the Alcohol Content of Brandy Balls
To determine how much alcohol is in a single serving of brandy balls, we need to know three things:
- The amount of brandy used in the recipe
- The percentage of alcohol in the brandy (often around 40% ABV)
- The number of servings the recipe makes
Let’s look at a sample recipe for basic brandy balls:
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Graham cracker crumbs | 1 cup |
| Powdered sugar | 1/2 cup |
| Unsalted butter, softened | 2 Tbsp |
| Brandy | 2 Tbsp |
| Cocoa powder | 1/4 cup |
| Finely chopped walnuts | 1/4 cup |
This makes around 24 (1-inch) balls.
Now let’s plug the numbers into the alcohol calculation:
* Brandy used: 2 Tbsp
* Alcohol content of brandy: 40% ABV
* Number of servings: 24 balls
To calculate the amount of pure alcohol, we take the amount of brandy and multiply it by the ABV percentage.
* 2 Tbsp brandy x 0.4 (40% ABV) = 0.8 Tbsp (or 12 ml) of pure alcohol used
Then we divide this pure alcohol amount by the number of servings:
* 12 ml alcohol / 24 servings = **0.5 ml of pure alcohol per brandy ball**
This is quite a small amount of alcohol per individual serving. For comparison, a standard alcoholic drink is considered:
- 12 oz beer = 14 g alcohol
- 5 oz wine = 15 g alcohol
- 1.5 oz spirit = 14 g alcohol
So each brandy ball contains less than 1 gram of alcohol. Consuming one or two brandy balls would result in very minimal alcohol intake.
However, the density, texture, and taste can make them seem stronger. It’s also easy to consume more than a couple in a sitting. So brandy balls should still be treated with caution.
Tips for Safely Enjoying Brandy Balls
Here are some tips for safely eating and serving brandy balls this holiday season:
Keep servings small
Stick to 1-2 brandy balls per person if serving. Avoid overindulging as it’s easy to lose track of how many you’ve had.
Avoid serving to children
While the alcohol content is low, it’s still best not to serve brandy balls to kids. Choose a kid-friendly alternative instead.
Handle carefully if cooking over a flame
The brandy could ignite if exposed to an open flame. Take care when heating brandy in a pan on the stove.
Store properly
Keep leftover brandy balls tightly sealed in a cool, dark place. The alcohol may dissipate if left uncovered. Consume within 1-2 weeks for best quality.
Make non-alcoholic versions
Replace the brandy with fruit juice or extra extracts to make kid-friendly mock brandy balls.
Don’t drive after overindulging
The small amounts of alcohol can add up. Be responsible if consuming many brandy balls. Arrange alternative transportation if needed.
Conclusion
Brandy balls do contain trace amounts of alcohol from the brandy used to flavor them. However, the quantity of alcohol per ball is quite small, especially compared to a standard alcoholic beverage. Consuming a couple brandy balls should not result in significant intoxication.
That said, they can be easy to overeat so it’s smart to pay attention to portion sizes. Also take care when making, serving to children, or cooking over an open flame. Follow basic precautions and enjoy these nostalgic treats responsibly!