How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (2024)

  • British Desserts
  • Desserts
  • Berry Recipes
  • Christmas Desserts
  • New Year's Desserts

By

Elaine Lemm

How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (1)

Elaine Lemm

Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.

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Updated on 03/11/24

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How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (2)

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How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (3)

Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Chill Time: 60 mins

Total: 75 mins

Servings: 6 servings

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Scotland has a wonderful relationship with desserts and none more so, or more traditional than Scottish cranachan (CRA-neh-kinn). A cranachan is a very quick, easy recipe that includes oats, raspberries, cream, malt whisky, and honey. The ingredients are then layered, as you would with a trifle, for a pretty presentation. It's a festive sweet that is perfect for any celebration, especially Christmas and Hogmanay, and rounds off a Burns Night supper beautifully. The origin of the word cranachan in Scots Gaelic means "churn."

While pinhead oats or steel-cut oats are perhaps more traditional for this dish, rolled oats are perfectly fine to use. The key is toasting the oats until they smell nutty. If you do use pinhead oats, expect the dish to have a bit more texture. However, any variety of oat will soften as the dessert sits.

Scottish cranachan is too good to save just for special occasions and is especially tasty in summer when fresh Scottish raspberries (or any raspberries, for that matter) are in season. Serve along with some Scottish shortbread for the ultimate Scottish dessert.

What You'll Need to Make This Scottish Cranachan Recipe

A Nice Heavy Skillet
A Nifty Food Processor
A Zippy Stand Mixer

How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (7)

"The oats remain a bit crunchy, which is a nice contrast against the smooth whipped cream. The sharp raspberry flavor plays well with the malty notes in the whisky. This dessert is not overly sweet, rather light and refreshing." —Melissa Gray

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup (55 grams) steel-cut oats, pinhead oats, or rolled oats

  • 1 1/2 cups (250 grams) fresh raspberries, Scottish if possible, divided

  • 2 cups (475 milliliters) heavy cream, or double cream

  • 3tablespoonsmalt whisky, good quality, optional

  • 1 tablespoon honey, or Scottish honey, more for serving, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (8)

  2. Heat a large, heavy-bottomed skillet on medium-high heat until hot, but not burning.

    How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (9)

  3. Add theoats and, while stirring constantly, toast until they have a light, nutty smell and begin to change color, about 3 minutes. (Do not leave the oats unattended, as they can quickly burn.)Remove immediately from the pan.

    How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (10)

  4. Remove a handful of the raspberries for later, and place the remainderin a food processor. Pulse once or twice to create a thick purée; do not over-blend it. It's okay if there are a few bigger lumps of berries.

    How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (11)

  5. Alternatively, you can simply crush the raspberries with a fork. This will give you a more rustic-looking dish.

    How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (12)

  6. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the cream along with the whisky to form firm peaks, about 3 minutes. Alternatively, use a hand-held electric mixer. Take care not to overwhip.

    How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (13)

  7. Fold in the honey, if using, followed by the toasted oats.

    How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (14)

  8. Layer the dessert into either a glass bowl (1 1/2 quart or 6 cup capacity) or individual serving glasses, starting with either a layer of the cream or raspberries and finishing with a layer of the cream. If you wish, you can sprinkle a little raw oatmeal on the top for decoration.

    How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (15)

  9. Cover the bowl or glasses with plastic wrap and chill for a minimum of 1 hour.

  10. To serve the cranachan, drizzle over a little extra honey, if desired, top with the reserved whole raspberries, and if you fancy, add a piece or two of Scottish shortbread.

    How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (16)

Tips

  • The dessert does not keepmore than several hours, so plan on serving soon after you make it.
  • The oats can be toasted ahead of time and stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  • The raspberries can be blended ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  • This recipe is easily doubled to serve a larger crowd.

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

  • If serving a younger crowd, feel free to leave out the whisky. You can substitute 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract for the whisky, if desired.
  • You will sometimes hear the dessert called "crowdie," as the cheese of the same name was sometimes used instead of the whipped cream.

How to Store

This recipe doesn't store well, so plan on eating it within several hours of preparing.

Classic Scottish Tipsy Laird Trifle

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
311Calories
29g Fat
10g Carbs
3g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories311
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 29g38%
Saturated Fat 18g92%
Cholesterol 90mg30%
Sodium 22mg1%
Total Carbohydrate 10g4%
Dietary Fiber 3g10%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 9mg43%
Calcium 64mg5%
Iron 1mg3%
Potassium 146mg3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • Berry
  • dessert
  • scottish
  • christmas

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How to Make a Quick and Easy Scottish Cranachan Dessert (2024)

FAQs

What is the most famous Scottish dessert cranachan made of? ›

This traditional Scottish dessert of oats, cream, whisky and raspberries is a delicious alternative to trifle.

What is the most popular dessert in Scotland? ›

Scotland's Most Loved Sweet Treats
  • Shortbread - A Biscuit for All Occasions. Of all the Scottish sweets, shortbread has perhaps the broadest appeal. ...
  • Dundee Cake - Fruitful Scottish Tradition. A rich, fruit-laden spectacle, the Dundee Cake proudly represents its namesake city. ...
  • Cranachan - A Dessert of Layers and Traditions.
Oct 23, 2023

What is Scottish pudding made of? ›

Simple oats form the basis for this easy-to-make dessert. Heady malt whiskey, soothing honey overtones, and rich cream settle into the oats and create a sweet, strong, and sumptuous dessert. Raspberries add a much-needed tangy tart note to this traditional cranachan concoction.

How do you pronounce the Scottish dessert cranachan? ›

Cranachan (Scottish Gaelic: Crannachan pronounced [ˈkʰɾan̪ˠəxan]) is a traditional Scottish dessert.

What does the word cranachan mean? ›

The origin of the word cranachan in Scots Gaelic means "churn." You will sometimes hear the dessert called "crowdie," as the cheese of the same name was sometimes used instead of the whipped cream. While pinhead oats or steel-cut oats are perhaps more traditional for this dish, rolled oats are perfectly fine to use.

What are traditional Scottish sweets? ›

View Range DELICIOUS SCOTTISH SWEETS Include: Boiled Sweets, Caramels, Chocolate Creams, Liquorice, Retro Sweets, Rock, Soft Creams & Soft Rock and Toffee.

What is a trio of Scottish desserts? ›

The trio consists of:
  • Raspberry meringues filled with raspberry cream and served on a canapé spoon, with freeze dried raspberries soaked in Chambord liqueur.
  • A fresh raspberry and pink Prosecco jelly served in a shot glass.
  • A mini Raspberry cranachan, with a twist.

What was Queen Elizabeth's favorite dessert? ›

When we learned that the Queen of England is obsessed with this Chocolate Biscuit Cake, a decadent layering of chocolate and rich tea biscuits (the most dunkable of English cookies), we knew it was the sweet for us.

What is the number one food in Scotland? ›

Traditional food & drink

Scotland's national dish is haggis, a savoury meat pudding, and it's traditionally accompanied by mashed potatoes, turnips (known as 'neeps') and a whisky sauce.

What's a full Scottish breakfast? ›

So, what is a full Scottish breakfast? Usually made up of bacon, link sausages, Lorne sausage (also known as square sausage or slice), black pudding, haggis, baked beans, fried mushrooms and tomatoes, toast, tattie scones and fried eggs, the full Scottish breakfast is a sight to behold.

What is white pudding called in Scottish? ›

White pudding, oatmeal pudding or (in Scotland) mealy pudding is a meat dish popular in the British Isles.

What is Scottish duff? ›

Clootie Dumpling or Duff as we say in Gaelic, is my favourite traditional recipe. And no-one makes it better than my Aunt Bellag. She adds an extra ingredient, a tablespoon of marmalade – which I love. It's distinctive skin sets it apart from other fruit cakes.

What is a Cranachan in Gaelic? ›

Scotland's answer to Eton Mess, the word cranachan is Scottish Gaelic in origin, meaning “churn”.

What is the history of the Scottish Cranachan? ›

The exact origins of the dessert are unclear, but it is thought to have evolved from a dish known as crowdie, which was a mixture of oatmeal, cream, and honey. Over time, other ingredients such as whisky and berries were added to the dish, giving it the name Cranachan.

What is cranaghan? ›

Cranaghan is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Loughtee Lower, County Cavan, Ireland. Slieve Russell Hotel and Golf Course.

What dessert do they eat in Brave? ›

Throughout the movie, Merida's three brothers Hamish, Hubert and Harris are constantly seen trying to steal a dessert bun that is topped with icing. And while the dessert is never mentioned by name in the movie, I'd like to think it's some variation of an Empire biscuit crossed with a honeybun or brioche roll.

What is Scotland's national cake? ›

Dundee Cake is one of the most famous and widespread traditional Scottish cakes. Usually, it is being made using almonds, currants, sultanas and sometimes cherries, alongside a wide range of...

What are the two main ingredients in the Scottish dish? ›

Scotland's iconic national dish known as haggis consists of sausage meat made from the innards of the sheep mixed with onions, oatmeal, suet, stock, dried herbs and other seasonings.

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