Sharing another simple treat today: a vegan version of cranachan -- a traditional Scottish dessert made up of layers of whipped cream, toasted oats, delicious Scottish raspberries, and some Scotch whiskey (optional).
It's a simple parfait-like pudding dessert, and there are so many possible variations relying on a few flavorful ingredients you likely have at home. Easy! Plus this recipe can double as a fancy breakfast treat too...
Cranachan Variations
This traditional dessert is made in many different ways. The recipe below is just one variant (made dairy-free), but lots of other options you can go with. Here are some ideas:
Oats
Oats: steel cut (or pinhead) oats are classic here. They give this treat a nice nutty and chunky texture. But other hearty oat varieties can be used as well.
In the recipe below I toasted the oats with some coconut sugar to create a slightly more caramely taste and a more cluster-like texture, but that is optional and you can just toast the oats plain if you prefer.
To save time, you can even go with some ready-made granola instead if you prefer.
Fruit
Although raspberries are the classic, you can use other fruit for this treat as well.
Whiskey
Although it's probably a major transgression to take the whiskey out of a traditional Scottish treat, I'm just not a big fan of alcohol in something like this, so I prefer to leave it out. But up to you how you want to roll here, and you can increase the amount to your liking.
Sweetener
In general, if your raspberries are sweet and really flavorful you can cut back on the sweetener in this recipe. However I find North American raspberries to often be on the rather tart side, so I sweeten mine for something like this. Sweeten the raspberries and the whipped cream to your sweetness preference. Cranachan is often flavored with honey, but for a vegan version I used maple syrup instead.
Whipped Cream
Traditional cranachan is often made with either whipped cream or something called crowdie cheese. Since I've never tasted crowdie cheese, I wouldn't know what to imitate here in dairy-free form, so I went with the more common whipped cream option. I used coconut whipped cream here, but if you're looking for for a coconut-free alternative, you can use another vegan whip of your choice. Aquafaba whipped cream makes a nice coconut-free alternative, if you prefer:
Grain-Free and Raw Vegan Cranachan ideas:
- For a grain-free or oat-free version, use raw hemp seeds instead of toasted oats for this dessert. Another idea is to use toasted chopped sunflower seeds, pistachios, or other nuts to your liking. I know it's kind of crazy to take the oats out of a Scottish recipe, but hey, if you can't do oats, whatchagonnado... :)
- For a raw vegan version, you can pre-soak some oats or use them raw in this treat or go with the hemp seeds idea above instead (and use a raw sweetener of your choice).
Last, but not least, keep in mind it's a treat best served freshly made. The good news is that it's super quick to whip up on the spot, and often it's actually served as an assemble-it-yourself-at-the-table sort of a treat so you can always go that classy route if you run out of time ;)
Vegan Cranachan
A vegan take on the lovely Scottish classic cranachan, with layers of sweet raspberries, whipped cream, oats, and a optional hint of whiskey.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Pudding
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: Vegan, Dessert
Ingredients
Oats
- ⅓ cup steel cut oats
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar
Raspberries
- 1 ½ cups fresh sweet raspberries (about 170gr)
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar (or more, to taste)
Whipped Cream
- ⅔ cup coconut cream from can of chilled full fat coconut cream*
- 2 tbsp maple syrup (to taste)
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- optional: ½ tablespoon whiskey (or more, to taste)
Instructions
1. OATS: Spread the oats over a skillet and sprinkle evenly with the coconut sugar. Toast, stirring frequently until the oats are nicely toasted and the coconut sugar begins to melt and lightly cluster some of the oats together. Set aside.
2. RASPBERRIES: Set aside 4 raspberries for garnish. Place all remaining raspberry layer ingredients in a small bowl and mash together with a fork. You want to leave some texture to them, so no need to fully puree. Taste the raspberry mixture and make sure it is sweet, if your raspberries are too tart, add more coconut sugar to taste. Set aside.
3. WHIPPED CREAM: whip the coconut cream with a hand mixed until fluffy, then add in the maple syrup and whiskey (if using) briefly mix again to combine. Reserve about a tablespoon of the toasted oats mixture for garnish, and gently fold the rest of the oats into the whipped cream with a spoon.
4. ASSEMBLY: Use 2 glasses (or 8oz mason jars) to assemble the cranachan. Fill the glasses with alternating layers of the whipped cream and oats mixture and the raspberry mixture, ending with a layer of whipped cream on top. Sprinkle with the oats and fresh raspberries set aside for garnish. Serve immediately.
Notes
*Coconut whipped cream can be made at home from a can of full fat (aka "regular" coconut milk, not "lite"). I like the Thai Kitchen brand best for this purpose, and for this recipe I used two of the small 160 ml can. Chill the cans in the fridge overnight, which will cause the cream to separate in the can and firm up near the top (when you open the can you’ll see firm firm white stuff gathered at the top — you should get about ⅔ cup of it). You want to scoop out this solid white cream only into a mixing bowl, taking care not to scoop any of the coconut water along with it (as it will make your whip runny and not stiff). Note that it’s very important for the full fat coconut milk can to be chilled first so it separates. If the solids aren’t this thick when you open the can, the whip isn’t going to work as well and will be too runny:
Keywords: Vegan Cranachan
Norwegian says
Lovely – I'm having a guest who needs lactose free, so I'll try this. For a Scottish dessert I would say that you should use whisky, though, not whiskey.
Audrey says
Oooh, interesting. I use US spelling on the site (hence "whiskey") but now you've put me in a tough spot because I do see your point haha... Either way, I hope your guests enjoy it! :)
Norwegian says
I know 😃 I was mostly kidding, but the purists would say that whisky is the one made in Scotland; whiskey is the Irish one. I also tend to tease Scottish bartenders making Irish Coffee 🤣 Thank you for a great recipe – that was my main point.
Eliza says
Correct, it is bad form and incorrect to use whiskey did a Scottish whisky or a Scottish recipe, in this case a version of a Scottish recipe
★★★★★
Harmon says
Hi, I am trying to focus on staying away from oils, and sugars. Are there vegan alternatives to the creams as well as alternatives to anything with coconut oil/fat in it.
I love your site and all of the incredible things you do with healthy foods.
Thank you, Melanie
★★★★★
Audrey says
Hi Melanie, you can try an aquafaba-based whipped cream. I linked to a video of one in this recipe: https://www.unconventionalbaker.com/aquafaba-meringue-cookies-with-coconut-sugar/ (mid-way through page).
DANA M KING says
I would LOVE to be able to eat this recipe; however, I must be gluten free and coconut free and raspberry free (can you believe it??--by blood test showing I have these food sensitivities among many others) Any substitutes for the Coconut sugar and coconut and raspberries???
Audrey says
Hi Dana, you can use another sugar in place of coconut. For example: date sugar, brown sugar, golden sugar, raw cane sugar / turbinado, etc. In place of raspberries you can use another berry, something on the tart side like strawberries would work fine. I suppose for the whipped cream part (since that relies on coconut cream) you can just use a different whipped cream alternative (like a cashew-based cream, a store bought vegan whip, or just whip some vegan cream cheese with sugar, or use an aquafaba whip, etc.). Hope that helps :)
Emma says
Hello. Crowdie is a more textural thicker saltier cream cheese. Very rough but creamy
Audrey says
Neat. Sounds delicious :)