13 cognac recipes

Brandied chocolate truffles made with bittersweet ganache, Cognac, and a hand-dipped chocolate shell. A classic French confection that holds beautifully in the fridge for up to a week.

Classic Belgian-style truffles with cognac-spiked dark chocolate ganache centers, double-dipped in melted chocolate and rolled in cocoa powder. A fine-dining-grade petit four for celebrations.

Kumquat pecan crepes are filled with a frangipane-style pecan butter and chopped preserved kumquats, baked golden, then flambeed tableside with warm cognac. A grown-up dessert with theatrical presentation.

James Beard's persimmon bread folds ripe persimmon puree into a spiced quick-bread batter with cognac, mace, raisins, and walnuts. Legendary holiday bread adapted for the bread machine.

Prize winning shepherd's pie made with ground roast beef, mushrooms, red wine, and a splash of cognac. Slow-simmered filling under egg-washed mashed potatoes, baked golden. The cottage pie elevated.

Melomakarona are classic Greek Christmas cookies, olive oil dough spiced with orange zest and cognac, soaked in honey-cinnamon syrup, then sprinkled with toasted almonds. Holiday tradition perfected.

Traditional British Christmas plum pudding with cognac-soaked dried fruit, walnuts, suet, and warm spices, steamed in a mold and served with brandy butter sauce. A Victorian holiday classic.

Classic French chicken liver pate with cognac, cream, butter, and fine spices. Marinated in cream overnight, blanched four times, then processed silky smooth.

Serving a crowd, a traditional mincemeat recipe using cost saving cuts of meat capable once used in other recipes of serving up to 50 people. Marinated in cognac and other liqueurs in an old fashioned crock for weeks.

A Moroccan-inspired beef stew marinated overnight in red wine with cinnamon, ginger, saffron, and cloves, then braised for three hours and finished with cognac-soaked prunes, almonds, and sesame seeds.

Fattigmann, a traditional Norwegian fried cookie flavored with cardamom, lemon zest, and brandy. Diamond-shaped, paper-thin, and dusted with sugar.

A scrumptious low-fat cake that is perfect snack to have while enjoying a relaxing night on the couch.

Brandy-spiked pumpkin cheesecake on a buttery pecan crust with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and mace. A rich, spiced holiday dessert worth the overnight chill.