Iced Cranachan for Best of British – The Scottish Challenge!
We are lucky that New World Appliances as proud BRITISH manufacturers
of kitchen appliances are sponsoring this event for the first six
months. Each month, one entrant will be picked AT RANDOM to receive a
£50 Amazon voucher. And, at the end of the six month period we will
have a regional showdown, with a judge to pick the best entry (we are
still working on who that will be and should be able to announce it
shortly). New World Appliances have kindly offered £300 of Amazon
vouchers for the overall winner, so if you enter every month you have 6
chances to win the grand prize!
We’ll be showcasing the entries both on the Face of New World blog
and on host blogs and promoting the recipes through Facebook and
Twitter, with all your entries fully credited back to your blogs.
So, why not show what you think is the Best of British and join our challenge.
Rules:
The full rules are posted on The Face of New World Appliances. However, here is a summary of what you have to do to enter:
- Post your recipe on your blog with a link back to The Face of New World Appliances AND to this post.
- Add the Best of British badge to your post.
- Add “Best of British” to your post or as a tag.
- E-mail [email protected] with your recipe title, a link to your post and a photograph by Midnight of 15th July.
- If you post on Twitter, you can use #BestofBritish and if you
mention @fionamaclean or @serialcrafter or @newworldapps, we will try and
retweet. - The round-up of entries will be posted on or before the 20th July on The Face of New World Appliances and here on my blog too.
The Best of British Challenge has been organised by Karen Burns Booth of Lavender and Lovage and Fiona McLean of London Unattached. Many thanks to them both for all their hard work and to Choclette at Chocolate Log Blog for hosting the first month featuring recipes from Cornwall. Remember to check the round up on the 20th June.
Scotland’s Food
There are so many fantastic food producers in Scotland. We have high quality beef and lamb and game, incredible seafood and delicious dairy produce. The varied landscape of Scotland has the right conditions to for all of these products and, despite some of the ‘deep fried Mars Bar’ anti-food propaganda, Scotland has an excellent reputation for good food.
I thought long and hard about what I should showcase for Best of British and toyed with a smoked venison salad or maybe some traditional baking. In the end I decided to put a bit of a twist on a dish that is full of Scottish products and is popular in restaurants and at home for entertaining: Cranachan.
I’m not sure what that bottle says about us, there doesn’t seem to be much Auchentoshan malt whisky left! In my defence, we have had that bottle for quite a while… oh yes and some lovely Scottish Heather Honey, thick and fragrant.
It’s also the start of the Scottish soft fruit season. I visited a fruit farm in Fife last weekend, no raspberries there, but plenty of strawberries. These raspberries come from Perthshire, the cooler summers in Scotland are ideal for raspberry growing.
Scottish Cranachan Ice Cream
Ingredients
For the ice-cream
- 300 millilitres (1.3 cups) milk
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
- 3 (3) egg yolks
- 25 grams (1 oz) caster sugar
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) Scottish Heather Honey
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) Scottish Malt Whisky
- 300 millilitres (1.3 cups) half-fat creme fraiche
For the Oat Crumble
- 100 grams (3.5 oz) Scottish medium oatmeal
- 30 grams (1 oz) Scottish butter
- 50 grams (2 oz) demerara sugar
- 200 grams (2 cups) Scottish raspberries
Instructions
To make the ice cream
- Pour milk into a heavy based saucepan, add the honey and heat until almost boiling.
- Take off the heat and let it cool slightly.
- Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a bowl until thick and creamy. Gradually whisk in the hot milk, then strain back into the pan.
- Cook over a low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.
- Do not allow to boil!
- Pour into a chilled bowl and leave to cool in the fridge
- Whisk the creme fraiche into the cold custard until evenly blended.
- Pour into an ice cream maker and churn until frozen, alternatively freeze in a shallow container, whisking 2 or 3 times during freezing to break down the ice crystals and ensure an even-textured ice-cream.
To make the oat crumble
- Rub together the medium oatmeal and the butter until combined and resembling rough breadcrumbs.
- Add the demerara sugar and stir through.
- Heat the oven to 180C and spread the mixture on a baking tray.
- Bake for 15 - 20 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Let the crumble cool.
- When the ice-cream is still soft, add half the oat crumble and mix well.
For the Raspberry Coulis
- 100g Scottish raspberries
- 25g icing sugar, sieved
- Push 100g of raspberries through a sieve, collecting the juice in a bowl.
- Stir in the icing sugar until dissolved.
- Chill until ready to use.
To present
- If wished you can fill the ice cream and crumble mix into small dariole moulds or teacups and refreeze.
- Unmould by dipping the dariole moulds or cups into hot water then turn over. Serve with the coulis, fresh raspberries and some of the retained crumble.
Nutrition
I used some old fashioned Tala Castle Cake tins, lined with clingfilm, to make my little ices, but you could use a small glass or just add a scoop of ice cream to your plate. You need to take the ice-cream out of the freezer about half an hour before eating. Place the ice cream on the plate, using a dessert spoon add a pool of raspberry coulis on one side and place three raspberries in the coulis. Add a little ‘stream’ of oat crumble on the opposite side of the plate.
This is not an over sweet dessert, there is only a very subtle taste of whisky, but you could leave it out if you don’t have it or don’t like it. They honey taste is to the fore and the different textures of the crunchy oat crumble and smooth raspberry coulis are delicious with the ice-cream.
I hope you will join us in the Best of British Challenge and make something from Scotland, it can be a traditional Scottish dish or a dish using Scottish produce. I look forward to seeing what you make and good luck with the prize draw.
Scottish Cooking
Scottish Recipes
STV Scotland Food and Drink
Scottish Recipes Food and Culture
Fiona Maclean says
What a stunning dish Janice. Who knows I may even try making ice-cream soon!
xx
Choclette says
Ooh lovely Janice. I've been meaning to make Cranachan for ever, but not managed it. Iced Cranachan is a completely new one on me and looks even more delicious. Great start to the Scottish challenge.
Jacqueline says
I love cranachan Janice and it is one of the best dishes from Scotland to be sure. Well in my opinion anyway. I never thought of turning it into an ice cream, that was inspired!
Working london mummy says
Beautiful recipe! Am bookmarking this x
laura@howtocookgoodfood says
I do love cranachan and think you made the right choice. You have managed to make it look so good and highlights lots of wonderful Scottish produce. Such a delicious dessert!x
Dom at Belleau Kitchen says
brilliant combo here, I love the recipe… I can imagine it has a bit of a punch to it!… Now I need to get my thinking caps on for this brilliant challenge!
A Little Bit of Heaven on a Plate says
You've started with a high standard there Janice, it looks delicious. x
Caroline says
That sounds and looks delicious. I'm such a big fan of raspberries – I much prefer them to strawberries!
Baking Addict says
Hurrah! Best of British goes to Scotland. The first thing that came to my mind was shortbread 🙂 Your cranachan looks gorgeous and I love how it's served.
Karen S Booth says
A BEAUTIFUL recipe to start us off of our Scottish journey Janice! I CAN'T wait to make something for one of my favourite regions of Britain! Karen
Jacqueline @Howtobeagourmand says
What a fabulous dish Janice. Need to get my thinking cap on for this challenge!
Scottish Mum says
That Cranachan looks gorgeous. Much much better than mine ever does.
hungryhinny says
Only just seen this post but that looks delish! Need to get my thinking cap on for this challenge as the deadline is creeping up rather quickly!
Karen S Booth says
Just posted my first entry here: http://wp.me/p287Dn-1V7
Karen
Becca (playdohandpoo) says
wow great recipe! thanks. will try to get an entry in Best of British this week. B
Gloria says
This look amazing I love britain desserts!!
David Crichton says
Hi Janice,
I don't know how I've missed the first two months of The Best of British. Do you have a link for this months competition.
I wondered why it had taken someone so long to create a cranachan ice cream. Looks great.
Dave