Best Cranachan Recipe

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Hi Bold Bakers!

YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: My homey Best Cranachan Recipe is creamy, crunchy, and deliciously surprising! Cranachan is often referred to as “The King of Scottish Desserts,” but its charm lies in its sweet simplicity. 

• So comforting! Toasty oats and juicy fruit enhanced by smoky whiskey, floral-sweet honey, and a cloud of whipped cream combine to make the most delicious grown-up version of a childhood dessert.
• Spur of the moment treat: There’s no big pre-planning necessary—I’m sure you have Cranachan ingredients in your kitchen now!
• A boozy kick: Warm, smooth O’Driscolls whiskey gives an Irish twist to this Scottish dessert.
• Lightning-fast prep: This is the rare company-worthy tread that takes only 10 minutes to prepare.
• Rustic yet elegant: It’s layered like a fancy parfait, but oats and whiskey keep this dessert wonderfully grounded.

Although Cranachan is Scottish, I’m familiar with this kind of dessert because it’s quite similar to a fool—pureed fruit folded into lightly sweetened whipped cream, just without the oats. Cranachan is wonderfully straightforward, and sometimes a simple dessert made with just a few flavorful ingredients is exactly what you need. Since honey is the main sweetener here, I recommend choosing one that’s rich and flavorful—it really shines and pairs beautifully with the whiskey. That said, if you’d prefer to skip the whiskey, feel free to leave it out.

I’ve mentioned my family connection to the renowned O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey that’s used in 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 blend of golden grain and malted barley and is aged in bourbon casks for a minimum of three years, giving it superior smoothness. Using Irish whiskey in a Scottish recipe may not be traditional, but it’s a delicious addition.

Table of Contents

• What is the Best Cranachan Recipe?
• Tools You Need
• Key Ingredients and Substitutes
• How to Make the Best Cranachan Recipe
• Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips
• Make Ahead and Storage Instructions
• FAQs
• More Whiskey-Infused Recipes

What is the Best Cranachan Recipe?

• Best Cranachan Recipe is a traditional Scottish dessert.
  • It’s typically served in late summer and at festive occasions, like Burns Night supper (January 25) and weddings.
  • For a traditional look, serve Cranachan in glass dishes or cups.
  • The classic ingredients are toasted rolled oats, fresh raspberries, honey, whisky, and whipped cream.
• Cranachan is a celebration of iconic Scottish ingredients, and although we’re making the traditional version here, it’s infinitely customizable. For more recipes from Scotland, try Rustic Scottish Bannock, Baps Recipe (Scottish Morning Rolls), and Homemade Walker’s Scottish Shortbread.
• Cranachan descended from crowdie, an 18th-century breakfast made from soft cheese, oats, and honey. With the addition of whipped cream and fruit in the 1900s, Cranachan evolved into a dessert that contains the best of Scottish culinary heritage.

Tools You Need

• Mixing bowls
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• Glass measuring jug
• Kitchen scale (optional)
• Heavy-bottomed skillet
• Stand mixer (optional) or an electric hand mixer
• Potato masher (optional)
• 6 glass cups or serving bowls

Key Ingredients and Substitutes

Rolled oats

• Old-fashioned rolled oats are the hearty, sturdy base of this Scottish dessert.
• Mixing the oats in with the cream makes them soften to just the right texture.
• Using rolled oats (not quick oats or steel-cut oats) is a must because they’re thick enough to keep their shape and retain a satisfying texture even after being mixed with the cream.
• We toast the oats in a pan for ultimate flavor.
• Substitute: You can use an equal amount of pre-made granola.

Heavy cream

• Whipped heavy cream is mixed with honey and Irish whiskey to give it a softly sweet flavor with a satisfying warmth.
• Remember to use heavy whipping cream, with a fat content of at least 36%. Lower-fat cream or whole milk will not whip up correctly.
• Substitute: You can also use Coconut Whipped Cream or Whipped Crème Fraiche.

Honey

• Honey provides a sweetness that delivers a taste of the countryside.
• Heather honey, which is bold and earthy, is traditional, but any honey will be excellent here.
• Lastly, honey provides moisture to this parfait-like dessert and ensures the treat doesn’t dry out.
• Substitute: If you don’t have honey, you can use the same amount of golden syrup or agave.

O’Driscolls Irish whiskey

• O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey provides a balance to the dessert’s sweetness, and is a delectable complement to the nutty, toasty oats.
• Irish whiskey is renowned for its unparalleled smooth flavor, which pairs well with desserts.
• O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey elevates all types of Bigger Bolder Baking recipes such O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Chocolate Mousse, Sweet and Boozy Peach Whiskey Jam Recipe, and Boozy Apple Crisp.

Fresh raspberries

• Raspberries’ bright, juicy flavor makes this dessert pop.
• Use in-season raspberries, if available. But frozen raspberries are a great alternative. Growers harvest and freeze them at peak ripeness, so they have wonderful flavor.
• Substitutes: Instead of raspberries, consider using the less traditional, yet equally delicious, blackberries or blueberries. Or go in another direction by using whiskey-soaked raisins.

How to Make Best Cranachan Recipe

1. Toast the oats: Add the oats to a heavy-bottomed, dry skillet over medium-low heat and stir constantly for about 3 minutes, or until evenly browned. Transfer to a heat-safe plate and let cool completely.

2. Whip cream: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or in a large bowl using a hand mixer), whip the cream on medium-high speed until it forms medium peaks.

3. Add honey, whiskey, and oats to cream: Add in the honey, whiskey, and toasted oats and whisk briefly to combine. Set aside.

4. Prepare 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 until partially crushed. Divide this evenly among six glass cups or serving bowls.

5. Assemble and chill: Top the raspberries with a layer of the whipped cream mixture, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours.

6. Garnish: Just before serving, garnish with a drizzle of honey and the remaining whole raspberries.

FULL (PRINTABLE) RECIPE BELOW! 

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips

• Toast carefully: When toasting the oats, watch and stir constantly to prevent burning.
• Timing counts: Be sure to factor in time to let the oats soften in the cream for about an hour before serving, or the dessert will be a bit too chewy.
• Fruit choices: You can replace the raspberries with any other berry or a ripe and juicy stone fruit, such as peaches or cherries.
• Granola option: This is not traditional, but you can replace the oats with premade granola – it is quite good.
• Whiskey is optional: If you would like to make this alcohol-free, you can simply leave the whiskey out.
• The right oats: Rolled oats are essential for this recipe. Make sure not to use quick cooking, as the flakes are too small.

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

• Make-ahead tips: This dessert is at its best when you serve it within several hours of preparation.
• How to store leftovers: Cover leftovers with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to one day.

FAQs

Can I make a dairy-free Cranachan recipe?

• Yes, you can make a dairy-free Cranachan.
• Instead of dairy cream, you can use Coconut Whipped Cream.

Is it possible to make this Scottish Cranachan recipe without alcohol?

• Yes, you can make this Scottish Cranachan recipe without alcohol.
• Simply leave out the whiskey.

What are some tweaks I can make to this traditional Cranachan recipe?

• You can make traditional Cranachan, or tweak it anyway you please!
• Make chocolate or strawberry whipped cream, or whip crème fraiche or mascarpone with the whipped cream.
• Use whole raspberries or purée the raspberries.
• Sprinkle some crumbled Scottish shortbread on the whipped cream.
• Additionally, for a dramatic presentation, serve Cranachan in one large bowl instead of individual serving glasses or dishes.

More Whiskey-Infused Recipes

• Irresistible Whiskey Butterscotch Pie
• Irish Whiskey Ice Cream
• O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Chocolate Mousse
• Brown Bread Ice Cream
• O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Crème Brûlée

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