Cranachan (Scottish Raspberry, Oat and Whisky Cream)
In short: Whipped cream folded with toasted oats, honey and whisky, layered with fresh raspberries. A Scottish dessert for celebrations. It takes about 25 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 295 kcal
Cranachan is a Scottish dessert of whipped cream, toasted oats, raspberries, honey and a splash of whisky, layered in tall glasses. It is simple to make, but the details matter: toast the oats until they smell nutty, keep the cream soft and fold in the whisky gently. Serve soon after assembly so the oats stay crunchy. It is often served at weddings, celebration dinners and summer suppers when raspberries are at their best.
Instructions
- Toast the oats in a dry skillet over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring, until golden and nutty. Tip them onto a plate and cool completely.
- Lightly crush 250 g (9 oz) of the raspberries with the powdered sugar using a fork, leaving some texture. Keep the rest whole.
- Whip the cream in a large bowl to soft peaks. Fold in the yogurt, honey and whisky, then fold in two thirds of the toasted oats.
- Layer the crushed raspberries and the cream mixture into 6 glasses, repeating the layers once.
- Top with the whole raspberries and the remaining oats. Chill for 30 minutes to 2 hours before serving.
Tips
- Save some toasted oats and add them at the last minute. Oats left in the cream soften after a couple of hours.
- For a version without whisky, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a little more honey. In winter, use frozen raspberries, thawed and well drained.
Questions and answers
What is cranachan?
Cranachan is a Scottish dessert of whipped cream layered with toasted oats, raspberries, honey and whisky. It is served in glasses and often appears at celebration meals.
Can I make cranachan ahead of time?
Toast the oats and crush the raspberries up to 6 hours ahead, then whip the cream and layer the glasses shortly before serving. Layered glasses keep for about 2 hours before the oats start to soften.
Can I make cranachan without alcohol?
Yes. Leave out the whisky, or replace it with a teaspoon of vanilla extract or a little orange juice.
How long does it take to make Cranachan (Scottish Raspberry, Oat and Whisky Cream)?
About 25 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 5 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Cranachan (Scottish Raspberry, Oat and Whisky Cream)?
About 295 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 24 g of carbohydrates and 20 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 295 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 24 g |
| Fat | 20 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 14 g |
| Sodium | 25 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
