Scottish Cranachan Recipe - Something Sweet Something Savoury (2024)

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Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert that’s very quick and easy to make.

Fresh raspberries are folded into whisky and heather honey spiked whipped cream with crunchy toasted oats. This Scottish Cranachan recipe is simplicity at its finest!

Scottish Cranachan Recipe - Something Sweet Something Savoury (1)

I have a confession to make. Up until quite recently, I have never made Cranachan before. I’ve certainly eaten my fair share in restaurants across Scotland in my life, but I had never made it at home.

This is slightly embarrassing for me to admit, considering I was born and bred in the Highlands of Scotland!

Goodness knows what took me so long, because it really is one of the most delicious and easy desserts around.

The most strenuous task is toasting the oats, which is hardly difficult – you just need to keep a close eye on them so they don’t burn.

Scottish Cranachan Recipe - Something Sweet Something Savoury (2)

what is cranachan?

Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert made with Scottish berries, toasted oatmeal and whipped double cream flavoured with Whisky and heather honey.

In the old days, Crowdie (a soft Scottish cheese) would have been used instead of cream. There wasn’t a strict recipe for Cranachan – bowls of freshly picked Summer raspberries, Crowdie and toasted oats were laid out on the table for everyone to help themselves.

Did you know it wasn’t actually served as a dessert? Cranachan was originally served for breakfast!

However, as the years passed it evolved into the popular dessert we all know and love. No wonder it has been referred to as “The King of the Scottish dessert!”

England has Eton Mess, and Scotland has Cranachan. Both simple but fabulous desserts for any special occasion.

Scottish Cranachan Recipe - Something Sweet Something Savoury (3)

how to make SCOTTISH cranachan

toast the oats

  • Use a heavy bottomed pan for toasting the oats. It will take about 5-8 minutes for the oats to turn golden. Keep an eye on them – they can burn very, very quickly. When the oats are ready, transfer to a bowl and allow them to cool down.
  • As much as I usually like to stick to tradition, I couldn’t resist trying the Scottish food writer and 1991 Masterchef winner Sue Lawrence’s little twist of adding grated chocolate and finely chopped nuts to the hot oats. It was delicious – but then again, chocolate and raspberries are a match made in heaven, aren’t they? My chocolate and raspberry brownies are proof of this! but of course if you prefer, you can absolutely leave out the chocolate.
Scottish Cranachan Recipe - Something Sweet Something Savoury (4)
Scottish Cranachan Recipe - Something Sweet Something Savoury (5)

whip the cream

  • Whip the double cream to very soft peaks – don’t overwhip, you need the cream to be nice and soft. If it holds a soft peak on the end of the whisk, perfect.
  • Using a metal spoon, gently fold in the honey and whisky. At this point, it’s probably a good idea to taste the cream to see if you want to add more honey or whisky.
Scottish Cranachan Recipe - Something Sweet Something Savoury (6)
Scottish Cranachan Recipe - Something Sweet Something Savoury (7)

assembling the cranachan

  • Grab your serving bowls or glasses and start to layer up the dessert. Begin with a layer of the toasted nutty oats, followed by a few raspberries, then a spoonful of the honey whisky cream.
  • Repeat layering until you reach the top of the glasses, then finish off with a light sprinkling of toasted oats and a couple of raspberries. Serve immediately or place in the fridge if you’re making in advance.
Scottish Cranachan Recipe - Something Sweet Something Savoury (8)
Scottish Cranachan Recipe - Something Sweet Something Savoury (9)

recipe tips

  • Using a good quality whisky will make all the difference here. I’m not much of a drinker so I don’t tend to keep much alcohol in the house, but one drink I usually have in my cupboard is Drambuie. It’s pretty fabulous folded into whipped cream – and I need to share my recipe for Drumbuie soaked oranges with you soon – so easy but SO good.
  • Cranachan was originally made to celebrate the arrival of the raspberry harvest in the Summer, but Cranachan has been served as part of Burns Night celebrations in Scotland for many years now – which of course is in January! If for whatever reason fresh raspberries aren’t available, blackberries could be used instead.

can you make cranachan in advance?

Cranachan can be made a few hours in advance if you want to get ahead of the game, but it’s also lovely to take all the individual ingredients to the table and let everyone make their own, just like they used to do all those years ago!

more scottish recipes to try

  • treacle scones
  • Dropped scones (Scotch pancakes)
  • Dundee cake
  • Empire Biscuits
  • Giant Empire Biscuit
  • Scottish shortbread
  • Scottish tablet

Looking for some savoury Scottish recipes?

Take a look at my Scottish recipes archive!

did you make this recipe?

Let me know what you thought by leaving a comment below – and don’t forget to rate the recipe by clicking on the stars in the recipe card.

Scottish Cranachan Recipe - Something Sweet Something Savoury (10)

Scottish Cranachan

Yield: serves 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

This Scottish Cranachan recipe is very quick and easy to make and tastes absolutely delicious. Softly whipped cream with honey, whisky, fresh raspberries and toasted oats with a nutty crunch are layered together to make a simple but spectacular dessert.

Ingredients

  • 75g rolled jumbo oats
  • 25g chopped walnuts (optional)
  • 25g dark chocolate, grated (optional)
  • 400ml double (heavy) cream
  • 2 tablespoons Scottish heather honey
  • 2 tablespoons Drambuie (or any good quality whisky)
  • 200g fresh raspberries or blackberries

Instructions

  1. Toast the oats and finely chopped walnuts, if using, in a heavy bottomed frying pan on a low-medium heat until lightly browned. This can take up to 5-10 minutes depending on your heat source. Just keep a close eye on them as they can turn from perfectly golden to burned and ruined in a matter of seconds. Transfer the nutty oats to a heatproof bowl, immediately add the grated chocolate and give the oats a good stir. The chocolate should melt pretty much straight away. Allow the oats to cool down.
  2. Whip the double cream to soft peaks, then fold in the honey and whisky.
  3. Get your serving glasses and begin to build the Cranachan in layers - start off with a thin layer of toasted oats, followed by a few raspberries, then some of the whisky cream. Repeat the layers until you reach the top of the serving glass. Finish off with a light sprinkling of toasted oats and a couple of raspberries. Serve immediately, or place in the fridge if you're making it ahead of time. It's best eaten within a few hours.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 172Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 3mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 5gSugar: 14gProtein: 3g

Calories and nutritional information are provided by a third party application and should be viewed as indicative figures only.

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Scottish Cranachan Recipe - Something Sweet Something Savoury (2024)

FAQs

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

Cranachan (Scottish Gaelic: Crannachan pronounced [ˈkʰɾan̪ˠəxan]) is a traditional Scottish dessert. It was originally a celebration of harvest, made following the raspberry harvest in August. The dessert of cream and fresh seasonal raspberries is bolstered by Scottish oats and whisky.

What is a traditional Scottish sweet? ›

Scotland has a wonderful relationship with desserts and traditional Scottish cranachan (CRA-neh-kinn) is a classic. 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.

What is the dessert for Burns Night Mary Berry? ›

Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert made of cream, raspberries, oats and whisky. Try a classic cranachan recipe, or experiment with a more modern take on the sweet treat. Great for Burns Night, great for every other night! It's super easy to whip up Mary Berry's classic Scottish cranachan.

What is Scotland's national cake? ›

Today, Dundee cake remains one of the most popular Scottish food and drink specialties – alongside shortbread, whisky and black pudding. It is said that the cake was originally made for Mary Queen of Scots in the 16th century.

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.

What is a Scottish sweetie? ›

A sweet, confection, sugar lozenge, caramel, etc. ( Sc.

What is Scottish slang for sweet? ›

Bonnie is maybe my favorite Scottish word. You know, you say; Bonnie Scotland, or; A bonnie wee lass. It means lovely, beautiful, sweet.

What is the signature food of Scotland? ›

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 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'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 Jimmy Carter dessert? ›

What Is Jimmy Carter Cake? This dessert is crunchy, creamy, chocolaty, and full of peanut flavor. The graham cracker crust incorporates dry-roasted peanuts for more crunch. Loads of peanut butter flavor comes through in the cream cheese layer and is matched by the richness of the chocolate pudding layer.

What dessert has alcohol and fire? ›

A majestic way to end a meal, a flambé (“flamed” in French) is any dish that is doused in alcohol and lit on fire—usually sweets, though the technique can be applied to savory items and sauces as well.

What is the name of the meal that is eaten at Burns Night? ›

Burns suppers may be formal or informal. Both typically include haggis (a traditional Scottish dish celebrated by Burns in Address to a Haggis), Scotch whisky and the recitation of Burns's poetry.

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.

Where does cranachan originate from? ›

Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert that has been enjoyed for centuries, particularly in the Scottish Highlands.

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