Is there anything I can use in place of brandy in dessert recipes?

Instead of 1/4 cup of brandy, you can use 2 to 3 teaspoons of brandy extract plus 1/4 cup of water or whatever liquid is called for in the dessert recipe.

You can also replace the brandy with the same amount of bourbon or rum, although it will change the flavor of the recipe a bit. You can also replace the brandy with an equal amount of apple juice, but keep in mind that if your recipe is for a flaming dessert, it won't flame without the alcohol.