Definition

1. Noun:
   • A sweet, creamy sauce made by creaming butter and sugar together, typically flavored with brandy, rum, or vanilla, and served as a topping for rich desserts, especially steamed puddings.

Usage

• Hard sauce is a traditional accompaniment for warm desserts. It is not cooked; the ingredients are simply creamed together. The name "hard" refers to its firm, spreadable consistency when chilled, which softens upon contact with warm pudding.

Examples

• Noun:
  • For Christmas dinner, my grandmother always makes plum pudding with hard sauce.
  • The recipe for hard sauce calls for confectioners' sugar, unsalted butter, and a splash of brandy.

Advanced Usage

• "To serve with hard sauce": This is the standard culinary phrase indicating the proper pairing.
  • The date pudding is best served warm with hard sauce.

Variants and Related Words

• Brandy butter: A very similar, often synonymous, preparation common in British cuisine, specifically flavored with brandy.
  • In the UK, Christmas pudding is traditionally served with brandy butter.

Synonyms

• Brandy butter: (When flavored with brandy)
• Rum butter: (When flavored with rum)

Related Phrases/Idioms

• This is a specific culinary term.

Noun

1. butter and sugar creamed together with brandy or other flavoring and served with rich puddings