Steel Cut My Cranachan
I love steel cut oats, as you may recall in my ode to ye olde pinhead a while back. So, when a traditional Scottish dessert containing said oats was being dreamily described by an equally dreamy Scotsman, I knew I had to make it.
Now, some of you might conjure up visions of haggis and Scotch eggs when thinking of traditional Scottish cuisine, but there really is a lot more to it than innards and fried egg balls. (oh but check this out if you want to play the Haggis Hurl.)
Cranachan (the name of which, to my American ears, sounds like a creaky old basement door or a cranky old man), also commonly referred to as “cream crowdie,” is an ethereal mixture of whipped cream, toasted oats, whisky, and fresh raspberries. Most are well aware that Scotland is a top contender in the whisky arena, but did you know that it is also revered for its raspberries?
The following recipe for “cranky man crowdie” (yeah, that’s my new pet name for it) comes directly from said Scotsman’s (um, or as I like to call him: Keith) stepmother Dorothy who lives in Edinburgh. To be noted, I took a few liberties with it in order to standardize the measurements to American cups and to satisfy my American prediliction for abundance (i.e. I like loads of raspberries in my cranachan). I also have the annoying habit of not being able to follow a recipe. Even my own freaking recipes. Regardless, please enjoy.
Dot’s Absolutely Gorgeous Cranachen
1/3 cup (1 1/2 oz) steel cut oats
4 tablespoons scotch whisky, plus additional for drinking*
3 tablespoons honey
1 cup (8 oz) plain Greek yogurt**
1 cup (8 fl oz) whipping cream
1-2 pints (punnets) fresh raspberries
Preheat the oven to 350F. Place the oats on a small baking sheet or in a baking dish and roast, stirring often so they don’t burn, for about 20 minutes or until toasty and golden. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
Pour yourself a glass of whisky. Straight or on the rocks, however you like it. Sip it while you wait for the oats to toast, but don’t sip so much of it that you burn the oats.
In a bowl, whisk together the 4 tablespoons whisky and the honey until the honey is dissolved. Stir in the yogurt.
In another bowl, whip the cream to almost-but-not-too stiff peaks. Fold the yogurt-whisky mixture into the whipped cream. Take a sip of whisky. Gently fold in the toasted oats.
Divide the raspberries between 6 cups or small bowls. Top each with a hefty dollop of the cranachen. Cover and refrigerate for about 20 minutes to set slightly. Devour.
*Use a smooth and fairly light Scotch whisky, not one that is overly peaty or it will overwhelm the delicate dessert. I used Glenfiddich. mmmmmmmmm.
**If you can’t find Greek yogurt, you can use whole milk plain yogurt, preferably organic. Line a strainer or colander with cheesecloth and set over a bowl. Spoon the yogurt into the strainer and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight to drain and thicken the yogurt.
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Category: Bay Area Bites Food + Drink
About the Author (Author Archive)
My life is, in a lot of ways, devoted to food. I've been a baker, a cook, a bartender, a waiter, a restaurant host, a restaurant critic, a food writer, a caterer, a food stylist, a prop stylist, a hand model, a food photographer, and an editor (all with varying degrees of success). I currently make my living as a cookbook editor and a writer. I'm addicted to cookbooks. I even have a (small) room nearly devoted to them. Well that and my baking table. I love British chefs. They are so where it's at. And they make gorgeous cookbooks. I love Fergus Henderson, Nigel Slater, Jamie Oliver, and Anthony Bourdain (even though he's not a Brit). I cannot wait to eat at Kitchin in Edinburgh. Someday I'd love to meet Ferran Adria. I'm incredibly opinionated about food, and probably a wee bit arrogant (about food that is). I am a huge believer in local, seasonal, sustainable, organic food and a big supporter of small farms and artisan producers. I love farmers' markets, and not just the one at the Ferry Building. I feel very lucky to be able to live in San Francisco, and have access to such an incredible array of artisan foodstuffs, produce, meats and seafoods. I like culinary adventures and I'll try (just about) anything once. Some of my more memorable food adventures: digging a deep BBQ pit and burying a whole pig; roasting a whole pig on a spit; making a paella for 150 people over an open fire on the hottest day of the summer, but really enjoying the frozen margaritas that were handed to me; clam digging on Puget Sound; the Pig Dinner at Manresa; curing my own charcuterie; making beer that was actually quite good; and slinging spirits at St. George. (I'm finally starting to learn more about wine and spirits, in particular, Italian wine and Scotch whisky, two new loves in my life.)Subscribe
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Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic
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