Toasted oats, crushed raspberries, honey-sweetened cream, and a kiss of whisky come together in this Cranachan-a traditional Scottish dessert that celebrates the simplicity of summer.
Long before parfaits and trifles made their way to modern tables, there wa Cranachan-a traditional Scottish dessert made with billowy cream, honey, raspberries, whisky, and oats.
The original dish was a farmhouse staple. And, instead of whipped cream, it included crowdie cheese. Difficult to find outside of Scotland, crowdie cheese is like a cross between skyr, mascarpone, and cream cheese. A sort of soft, mild cow's milk cheese.
This practical farmhouse fare evolved into a celebratory sweet, with the fresh whipped cream replacing cheese, honey for sweetness, and a splash of whisky added for warmth.
Whipped cream offers richness, honey provides floral depth, and just a hint of whisky lends warmth and complexity. Toasting the oats brings out their nuttiness, while the raspberries-crushed and barely sweetened-supply a fruit-forward brightness.
Why You'll Love It
No-cook and quick to make. Only the oats need to be toasted-the rest is simple assembly.
Celebrates seasonal produce. Best made in high summer with fresh, ripe raspberries and sweet local honey.
Easily adaptable. Make it with whisky for grown-ups, or almond extract for kids.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Old-fashioned rolled oats give the dessert a toasty warmth and a little texture. After toasting, you fold them into the whipped cream.
Fresh raspberries bring a tart brightness that balances the richness of heavy cream. If you don't have raspberries, you can swap in blackberries, currants, or other summer berries.
Honey lends floral sweetness and depth. Choose a runny honey so it blends easily with the raspberries. Heather honey is traditional, but a wildflower or blackberry honey works well, too.
Heavy cream whipped into soft, billowy peaks lends richness and lightness. For a dairy-free twist, use chilled coconut cream.
Whisky brings warmth and depth. Omit for a kid-friendly version or swap in a little almond or vanilla extract.
Love this recipe? There's more.
Join Nourished Kitchen+ for ad-free browsing, nourishing monthly meal plans, live workshops, and access to all our premium downloads.
4waystoyummy says
This sounds so amazing and fresh and easy. I am making this for my afternoon reward after gardening during these hotter days! I bet mango would be nice too! Thank you!!
Brushjl says
I wanted to love this, it i didn't. Next time I'd use half the amount of cream.