View source for Cranachan

{{Short description|Scottish dessert}}
{{about|the traditional Scottish dessert|the place in Lochaber, Scotland|Cranachan, Lochaber}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name             = Cranachan
| image            = File:Cranachan (4332953688).jpg
| caption          = 
| alternate_name   = Crannachan
| country          = [[Scotland]]
| region           = 
| creator          = 
| course           = [[Dessert]]
| type             = 
| served           = 
| main_ingredient  = [[Whipped cream]], [[whisky]], [[honey]] (preferably heather honey), [[Raspberry|raspberries]], [[oatmeal]]
| variations       = 
| calories         = 
| other            = 
}}

'''Cranachan''' ({{langx|gd|Crannachan}} {{IPA|gd|ˈkʰɾan̪ˠəxan|pron}}) is a traditional Scottish [[dessert]]. It was originally a celebration of harvest,<ref name="Slater">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2010/sep/12/nigel-slater-classic-cranachan-recipe-whisky-oatmeal |title=Nigel Slater's classic cranachan recipe |last=Slater |first=Nigel |author-link=Nigel Slater |date=September 11, 2010 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=June 21, 2020 }}</ref> made following the [[raspberry]] harvest in August. The dessert of cream and fresh seasonal raspberries is bolstered by Scottish oats and whisky. It has been called 'the uncontested king of Scottish desserts'.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/aug/13/how-to-make-perfect-cranachan-scottish-dessert-recipe |title=How to make the perfect cranachan|last=Cloake |first=Felicity |author-link=Felicity Cloake |date=August 13, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=June 21, 2020 }}</ref> Cranachan owes its origins to [[crowdie]], a popular breakfast in which crowdie cheese is combined with lightly toasted oatmeal, cream, and local honey. Raspberries, when in season, might be added to the dish.

Cranachan is now served all year round, and typically on special occasions. A traditional way to serve cranachan is to bring dishes of each ingredient to the table so that each person can assemble their own dessert to taste.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com/recipes/traditional-scottish-recipe-cranachan/ |title=Traditional Scottish recipe: Cranachan|last=Greenaway |first=Mark |date=December 5, 2017 |website=foodanddrink.scotsman.com |publisher=Scotsman.com |access-date=June 21, 2020 }}</ref>

==Recipes ==
There are many versions of this traditional Scottish pudding. Earlier recipes used [[crowdie]] cheese instead of, or in addition to, cream and were sometimes called cream-crowdie. Other earlier recipes are more austere, omitting the whisky and treating the fruit as an optional extra. More modern recipes have swapped the crowdie cheese for a simple whipped cream. Modern recipes usually are made from a mixture of [[double cream]], [[whisky]], [[honey]] and fresh [[raspberries]], with toasted [[oatmeal]] soaked overnight in a little drop of whisky.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/cranachan |title=Cranachan |date=July 2010 |website=www.bbcgoodfood.com |publisher=BBC |access-date=June 21, 2020 }}</ref> Tall dessert glasses are often used to serve.

Alternative versions of the recipe include orange cranachan,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/orange-cranachan |title=Orange Cranachan |date=January 2010 |website=www.bbcgoodfood.com |publisher=BBC |access-date=June 21, 2020 }}</ref> cranachan [[trifle]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/raspberry-cranachan-trifle |title=Raspberry Cranachan Trifle |date=January 2009 |website=www.bbcgoodfood.com |publisher=BBC |access-date=June 21, 2020 }}</ref> spiced rum, and shortbread round. For spiced rum cranachan the rum mixture is folded in with whipped cream and placed on top of the shortbread and then the raspberries are added. Whisky-soaked raisins can be used if raspberries are unavailable. Chocolate cranachan can be made with chopped toasted hazelnuts, light muscovado sugar and chocolate.<ref name="Slater" />

==See also==
*[[Eton mess]], a similar dessert using strawberries and meringue
*[[Syllabub]], a similar dessert

==References==
* ''The Scots Kitchen: Its Lore & Recipes'' by F. Marian McNeill, Blackie, 1929
{{Reflist}}

{{Scottish cuisine}}
{{Whisky}}
 
[[Category:Scottish cuisine]]
[[Category:Scotch whisky]]
[[Category:Scottish desserts]]
[[Category:Foods with alcoholic beverages]]
[[Category:Raspberry dishes]]