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.

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.

You can enjoy this summer dessert with rich chocolate mousse, brownies, Scottish shortbread, fresh berries like blueberries or strawberries, and a cheese platter.

This dessert goes well with a raspberry cocktail, Ramsay’s cocktail, Scotch whisky, rum, and sparkling water. Herbal teas, such as chamomile or mint, offer a soothing finish.

Here is how to make cranachan. You can freeze it to make an ice cream terrine.

Tradition Cranachan

A traditional Scottish summer dessert made with whipped cream, whisky, honey, raspberries, and toasted oats.

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Total Time 20

Course Dessert

Cuisine British

Servings

Nutrition

Calories: 263kcalCarbohydrates: 26.3gProtein: 4.8gFat: 14.5gSaturated Fat: 8.5gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 23mgFiber: 4.3gSugar: 16.5g

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

– On a gluten-free note: oats do not naturally contain gluten so are safe to eat, however, they can be easily contaminated by other grains so it is important to buy oats certified as gluten-free if you are following a gluten-free diet.

– Remember that cranachan is a versatile dessert, and you can get creative with your ingredients to suit your preferences. Whether you stick to the classic recipe or try one of these variations, this is sure to be a delightful treat.

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Keyword British cuisine, cranachan, gluten-free recipe, homemade dessert, summer desserts, vegetarian recipe

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Variations

While the classic recipe is beloved, there are numerous variations.

Chocolate cranachan adds chocolate chips or cocoa powder.
Vegan versions incorporate coconut milk to make whipped coconut cream, maple syrup, or agave nectar instead of honey.
Nutty versions use almonds, hazelnuts, or pecans.
Banana variants use 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 versions include mango, pineapple, and passion fruit instead of berries.
Alcoholic variations add whisky to the whipped cream or soak the oats in the whisky before toasting them.

Contents

Quick cranachan recipe