Cranachan is one of my favorite summer desserts. This treat delivers a perfect balance of sweetness and texture. I love how its natural ingredients create a refreshing, satisfying indulgence.
Contents
Quick cranachan recipe
Cranachan is a traditional dessert in Britain with Scottish roots. Its name, pronounced cran-akan, means “churn” or “whisk.” The dessert is made with oats, cream, honey, whisky, and raspberries. It is similar to Eton Mess, but Eton Mess uses meringues and strawberries instead of oats and raspberries.
A traditional recipe uses a whole load of double cream. But I used half double cream, half fat-free Greek yogurt for a lighter version. This still gave a wonderfully creamy texture. I also used a much higher fruit-to-cream ratio than is often suggested.
Here is how to make cranachan. You can freeze it to make an ice cream terrine.
Tradition Cranachan
Ingredients
- 150 ml double cream
- 150 ml Greek yogurt
- 250 g raspberries
- 70 g oats
- 1 tbsp caster sugar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp whisky optional
- 1 tsp cinnamon optional
Instructions
- First, lightly toast the oats for 5-10 mins, either in a dry frying pan or under the grill. I added a sprinkling of cinnamon to mine for extra flavor.
- Put 2/3 of the raspberries into a bowl and sprinkle the caster sugar over them. This helps to bring out the juices and make a syrup. Leave to rest.
- Whisk together the cream and yoghurt until it is thick and forms stiff peaks.
- Stir in the honey and whisky and half of the oats.
- Stir the raspberries in the bowl until they begin to break down. Stop while there are still some whole raspberries.
- Stir the raspberries into the cream mixture until just combined.
- In glasses/pots, sprinkle some oats and a couple of whole raspberries. Layer with the cream mixture, then add another layer of oats and raspberries. Continue until the glasses are full and top with raspberries.
- Refrigerate before serving, or freeze to make an ice-cream terrine.
Notes
Nutrition
Pairing suggestions
Cranachan can be served alongside various dishes.
- Food Pairings
- Chocolate desserts, such as mousse or brownies, create an indulgent experience.
- Scottish shortbread complements the creamy texture with its buttery crunch. It creates a delightful contrast.
- Fresh berries, such as blueberries or strawberries, add flavors and vibrant colors.
- The cheese platter balances the sweetness perfectly.
- Drink Pairings
- Raspberry Cranachan cocktail captures the dessert essence with a refreshing twist.
- Ramsay’s cocktail offers a fruity and fizzy complement.
- Scotch whisky is a traditional pairing.
- Rum is an interesting flavor twist.
- Sparkling water cleanses the palate without overpowering the dessert.
- Herbal teas like chamomile or mint complement the flavors.
Variations
While the classic recipe is beloved, there are numerous variations.Â
- Chocolate cranachan adds chocolate chips or cocoa powder.
- Healthy vegan version incorporates coconut milk to make whipped coconut cream, maple syrup, or agave nectar instead of honey.
- Nutty version uses almonds, hazelnuts, or pecans.
- Banana variant uses sliced bananas instead of berries.
- Citrus cranachan adds grated orange or lemon zest to the whipped cream. It also uses citrus segments like orange or grapefruit in place of the berries.
- Tropical version includes mango, pineapple, and passion fruit instead of berries.
- Alcoholic variation adds whisky to the whipped cream or soaks the oats in the whisky before toasting them.
