This publish might comprise affiliate hyperlinks. Please see my full disclosure for particulars.
Hello Daring Bakers!
YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: My homey Finest Cranachan Recipe is creamy, crunchy, and deliciously stunning! Cranachan is sometimes called “The King of Scottish Desserts,” however its appeal lies in its candy simplicity.
- So comforting! Toasty oats and juicy fruit enhanced by smoky whiskey, floral-sweet honey, and a cloud of whipped cream mix to make probably the most scrumptious grown-up model of a childhood dessert.
- Spur of the second deal with: There’s no massive pre-planning essential—I’m certain you have got Cranachan substances in your kitchen now!
- A boozy kick: Heat, easy O’Driscolls whiskey offers an Irish twist to this Scottish dessert.
- Lightning-fast prep: That is the uncommon company-worthy tread that takes solely 10 minutes to arrange.
- Rustic but elegant: It’s layered like a elaborate parfait, however oats and whiskey preserve this dessert splendidly grounded.
Though Cranachan is Scottish, I’m acquainted with this type of dessert as a result of it’s fairly just like a idiot—pureed fruit folded into calmly sweetened whipped cream, simply with out the oats. Cranachan is splendidly simple, and typically a easy dessert made with only a few flavorful substances is precisely what you want. Since honey is the primary sweetener right here, I like to recommend selecting one which’s wealthy and flavorful—it actually shines and pairs fantastically with the whiskey. That mentioned, when you’d desire to skip the whiskey, be at liberty to go away it out.
I’ve talked about my household connection to the famend O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey that’s used on this dessert recipe. This triple-distilled Irish Whiskey is made by Stafford Bonded, and my cousin, Michael J. Stafford, is the managing director. O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey is a mix of golden grain and malted barley and is aged in bourbon casks for at least three years, giving it superior smoothness. Utilizing Irish whiskey in a Scottish recipe is probably not conventional, but it surely’s a scrumptious addition.
Desk of Contents
What’s the Finest Cranachan Recipe?
- Finest Cranachan Recipe is a conventional Scottish dessert.
- It’s usually served in late summer season and at festive events, like Burns Evening supper (January 25) and weddings.
- For a conventional look, serve Cranachan in glass dishes or cups.
- The traditional substances are toasted rolled oats, recent raspberries, honey, whisky, and whipped cream.
- Cranachan is a celebration of iconic Scottish substances, and though we’re making the standard model right here, it’s infinitely customizable. For extra recipes from Scotland, strive Rustic Scottish Bannock, Baps Recipe (Scottish Morning Rolls), and Do-it-yourself Walker’s Scottish Shortbread.
- Cranachan descended from crowdie, an 18th-century breakfast created from delicate cheese, oats, and honey. With the addition of whipped cream and fruit within the 1900s, Cranachan developed right into a dessert that comprises the most effective of Scottish culinary heritage.
Key Substances and Substitutes
Rolled oats
- Old style rolled oats are the hearty, sturdy base of this Scottish dessert.
- Mixing the oats in with the cream makes them soften to only the proper texture.
- Utilizing rolled oats (not fast oats or steel-cut oats) is a should as a result of they’re thick sufficient to maintain their form and retain a satisfying texture even after being combined with the cream.
- We toast the oats in a pan for final taste.
- Substitute: You need to use an equal quantity of pre-made granola.
Heavy cream
- Whipped heavy cream is combined with honey and Irish whiskey to present it a softly candy taste with a satisfying heat.
- Keep in mind to make use of heavy whipping cream, with a fats content material of at the least 36%. Decrease-fat cream or entire milk is not going to whip up accurately.
- Substitute: You may as well use Coconut Whipped Cream or Whipped Crème Fraiche.
Honey
- Honey supplies a sweetness that delivers a style of the countryside.
- Heather honey, which is daring and earthy, is conventional, however any honey can be wonderful right here.
- Lastly, honey supplies moisture to this parfait-like dessert and ensures the deal with doesn’t dry out.
- Substitute: In the event you don’t have honey, you should utilize the identical quantity of golden syrup or agave.
O’Driscolls Irish whiskey
Recent raspberries
- Raspberries’ vibrant, juicy taste makes this dessert pop.
- Use in-season raspberries, if obtainable. However frozen raspberries are an ideal different. Growers harvest and freeze them at peak ripeness, so that they have great taste.
- Substitutes: As an alternative of raspberries, think about using the much less conventional, but equally scrumptious, blackberries or blueberries. Or go in one other route by utilizing whiskey-soaked raisins.
The right way to Make Finest Cranachan Recipe
- Toast the oats: Add the oats to a heavy-bottomed, dry skillet over medium-low warmth and stir continuously for about 3 minutes, or till evenly browned. Switch to a heat-safe plate and let cool utterly.
- Whip cream: Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or in a big bowl utilizing a hand mixer), whip the cream on medium-high pace till it varieties medium peaks.
- Add honey, whiskey, and oats to cream: Add within the honey, whiskey, and toasted oats and whisk briefly to mix. Put aside.
- Put together raspberries: Place 1 ¼ cups (6 ¼ oz/177 g) of the raspberries in a medium bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher till partially crushed. Divide this evenly amongst six glass cups or serving bowls.
- Assemble and chill: High the raspberries with a layer of the whipped cream combination, then cowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at the least 1 hour and as much as 3 hours.
- Garnish: Simply earlier than serving, garnish with a drizzle of honey and the remaining entire raspberries.
FULL (PRINTABLE) RECIPE BELOW!
Gemma’s Professional Chef Suggestions
- Toast rigorously: When toasting the oats, watch and stir continuously to forestall burning.
- Timing counts: Make sure to consider time to let the oats soften within the cream for about an hour earlier than serving, or the dessert can be a bit too chewy.
- Fruit selections: You may exchange the raspberries with some other berry or a ripe and juicy stone fruit, equivalent to peaches or cherries.
- Granola possibility: This isn’t conventional, however you possibly can exchange the oats with premade granola – it’s fairly good.
- Whiskey is non-compulsory: If you want to make this alcohol-free, you possibly can merely depart the whiskey out.
- The best oats: Rolled oats are important for this recipe. Make sure that to not use fast cooking, because the flakes are too small.
Make Forward and Storage Directions
- Make-ahead ideas: This dessert is at its finest while you serve it inside a number of hours of preparation.
- The right way to retailer leftovers: Cowl leftovers with plastic wrap or place in an hermetic container, and refrigerate for as much as sooner or later.
FAQs
Can I make a dairy-free Cranachan recipe?
Is it attainable to make this Scottish Cranachan recipe with out alcohol?
- Sure, you can also make this Scottish Cranachan recipe with out alcohol.
- Merely miss the whiskey.
What are some tweaks I could make to this conventional Cranachan recipe?
- You may make conventional Cranachan, or tweak it anyway you please!
- Make chocolate or strawberry whipped cream, or whip crème fraiche or mascarpone with the whipped cream.
- Use entire raspberries or purée the raspberries.
- Sprinkle some crumbled Scottish shortbread on the whipped cream.
- Moreover, for a dramatic presentation, serve Cranachan in a single giant bowl as an alternative of particular person serving glasses or dishes.
Extra Whiskey-Infused Recipes

My Finest Cranachan Recipe is creamy, crunchy, and boozy—with toasted oats, raspberries, honey, and whiskey. A Scottish traditional in 10 minutes!
Servings: 6 individuals
Substances
- ⅔ cup (2 oz/57 g) rolled oats
- 2 cups (16 fl oz/480 ml) heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon honey , for serving
- 3 tablespoons O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey
- 1 ¼ cups (6 ¼ oz/177 g) plus ¼ cup (1 ¼ oz/35 g) recent raspberries
Directions
-
Add the oats to a heavy bottomed, dry skillet over medium-low warmth and stir continuously for about 3 minutes, or till evenly browned. Switch to a heat-safe plate and let cool utterly.
-
Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or with a big bowl and a hand mixer), whip the cream on medium-high pace till it reaches medium peaks.
-
Add within the honey, whiskey and toasted oats and whisk briefly to mix. Put aside.
-
Place 1 ¼ cups (6 ¼ oz/177 g) of the raspberries in a medium bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher till partially crushed. Divide this evenly amongst 6 glass cups or serving bowls.
-
High the raspberries with a layer of the whipped cream combination, then cowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at the least 1 hour and as much as 3 hours.
-
Simply earlier than serving, garnish with a drizzle of honey and the remaining entire raspberries.
-
That is finest consumed inside a number of hours of being made however leftovers could be saved, coated with plastic wrap, for as much as sooner or later.
Recipe Notes
- Toast rigorously: When toasting the oats, watch and stir continuously to forestall burning.
- Timing counts: Make sure to consider time to let the oats soften within the cream for about an hour earlier than serving, or the dessert can be a bit too chewy.
- Fruit selections: You may exchange the raspberries with some other berry or a ripe and juicy stone fruit, equivalent to peaches or cherries.
- Granola possibility: This isn’t conventional, however you possibly can exchange the oats with premade granola – it’s fairly good.
- Whiskey is non-compulsory: If you want to make this alcohol-free, you possibly can merely depart the whiskey out.
- The best oats: Rolled oats are important for this recipe. Make sure that to not use fast cooking, because the flakes are too small.