Hard Sauce or brandy butter is served with mince pies or christmas pudding.  It is best straight from the fridge and served in a big dollop over a hot mince pie or hot christmas pudding.  If there is no pie or pudding to hand, it is fantastic spread on bread or just eaten straight from the spoon.  Yum.

Beat 1/4 pound of unsalted butter with 1 cup of icing sugar and add rum or brandy to taste.