Homemade Clotted Cream (2024)

By: Author Sarah James

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Homemade Clotted Cream is quick and easy to make. Deliciously decadent served with warm scones and homemade jam for a perfect cream tea.

No oven required, no 12 hours of baking and no leftover whey. You can produce a silky, creamy clotted cream with a delicious golden crust in around an hour using your stovetop.

Rich and thick with the consistency of soft butter, clotted cream is inextricably linked with a Devon or Cornish cream tea and there’s nothing quite like it. I’ll leave it to you to decide whether to load your scone with jam first or home made clotted cream first, either way, the result is divine.

I first tried making clotted cream while I was living in France after I promised our French neighbours an authentic Devon Cream tea. I knew it wouldn’t be easy to get hold of clotted cream and creme fraiche, delicious as it is, just wouldn’t do.

As I was trawling through recipes I came across a stovetop method for making clotted cream in an old WI booklet. The minimal effort of stirring cream for 20 minutes seemed much better than a long, slow cooking of cream in a low oven. After working out the ratio of cream to butter and the quantities, I had a go.

The results were far better than I expected and just as good as the pots I used to buy. A cream tea with homemade scones and strawberry jam topped with clotted cream became a regular occasion at the Kitchen Shed. This is the best recipe for homemade clotted cream and has been requested by neighbours and expats alike.

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What do you need ?

  1. Fresh double cream or heavy cream, not UHT or ultra-pasteurized. I used Guernsey cream (regular readers know I love all things Guernsey) as this gives a much richer and creamier flavour but regular double cream works too. Regular double cream will make a buttery pale yellow colour clotted cream.
  2. Unsalted butter. Again, if you can get Guernsey butter I recommend it. Butter helps gives an extra creaminess to the finished clotted cream.
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How to make Homemade Clotted Cream on the stovetop

  • You will need a large, wide heavy bottomed saucepan or a saute pan. This is essential so the water in the cream is able to evaporate, leaving no whey at the end.
  • Place cream and butter in your pan over a low to medium heat. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula until it reaches a simmer.
  • Don’t let it boil and keep stirring until it’s reduced by half. Depending on your stove and how high you have the heat, about 20 minutes or so.
  • Pour into a shallow glass or ceramic dish, the larger the better. A larger surface area will give you more golden, buttery crust – the best bit !
  • Pop in the fridge overnight to firm up. If you’re in a rush, the cream will be ready to eat in a couple of hours but it does thicken more the longer you leave it.
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How long does clotted cream last in the fridge ?

Kept in the fridge in an airtight container it will last for up to 7 days. Once opened use within 3 days.

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Can I freeze clotted cream ?

I wouldn’t recommend it. Like most dairy products clotted cream doesn’t fair well in the freezer. The texture is impaired, it becomes crumbly and doesn’t have the same creamy feel in the mouth.

However, it is safe to freeze clotted cream and it can work well for baking. Freeze fresh clotted cream for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

How to serve Homemade Clotted Cream

Serve with freshly baked scones and jam and a pot of tea.

However, clotted cream isn’t just for an afternoon tea. It’s perfect with a pudding or dessert. We love a dollop of clotted cream with our Nectarine Frangipane Tart or an apple pie or crumble. Oh, I nearly forgot – sticky toffee pudding too !

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Homemade Clotted Cream

Homemade Clotted Cream is quick & easy to make. Deliciously decadent served with warm scones & homemade jam for a perfect cream tea.

Print Pin Rate this Recipe Save Recipe

Course: Afternoon Tea

Cuisine: British

Prep Time: 1 minute minute

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cooling time: 12 hours hours

Total Time: 21 minutes minutes

Servings: 16

Calories: 175kcal

Author: Sarah James

Equipment

  • A large wide heavy based saucepan or saute pan

  • A large shallow glass or ceramic dish

Ingredients

  • 750 ml double / heavy cream Guernsey cream if available
  • 30 g unsalted butter – ideally Guernsey butter

Instructions

  • Put the cream and butter in a large wide heavy based saucepan and place over a low to medium heat. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until it reaches a simmer.

  • Don’t let it boil over and keep stirring so it doesn’t catch on the bottom.

  • Let it reduce by half – about 20 minutes.

  • Once it has reduced, pour into a shallow dish, the more surface area the better !

  • Let it cool, before covering and chilling in the fridge overnight.

  • Keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 7 days. Once opened use within 3 days.

Notes

1 serving = 2 tablespoons

Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.

Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 31mg | Potassium: 36mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 736IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

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Homemade Clotted Cream (2024)

FAQs

What is the American equivalent of clotted cream? ›

To be true clotted cream it has to have a minimum fat content of 55%, although most of the clotted cream made in England leans towards a rich 64%. As you can probably tell from these numbers it is not the healthiest thing in the world. In the U.S, clotted cream would be classed as butter due to its high fat content.

How do they make clotted cream? ›

Clotted cream (Cornish: dehen molys, sometimes called scalded, clouted, Devonshire or Cornish cream) is a thick cream made by heating full-cream cow's milk using steam or a water bath and then leaving it in shallow pans to cool slowly.

Why don t they sell clotted cream in the US? ›

While states are able to make some of their own rules regarding raw and unpasteurized dairy, the distribution of such products is banned by the FDA, so you'll have a hard time finding clotted cream in any U.S. grocery store.

Is clotted cream just whipped butter? ›

With its ultra-thick consistency, clotted cream can even be mistaken for butter. But butter is churned, rather than separated, and while clotted cream may be closer to butter in terms of fat content, its flavour is more milky than buttery.

Why is clotted cream illegal in the United States? ›

Following a 1987 ruling from the Food and Drug Administration, the interstate sale of raw milk was banned in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, raw milk can contain harmful bacteria and germs, which can be especially risky for certain individuals like those who are pregnant or elderly ...

What is a good substitute for clotted cream? ›

Crème fraîche can be used as a clotted cream substitute as a topping for fruit and baked goods as it has a similar thickness and creaminess to that of clotted cream. But considering crème fraîche's more tangy, sour flavour, it will be a better fit for some recipes than others.

What is the point of clotted cream? ›

In the U.K., it's common to serve a dollop of clotted cream with fresh strawberries or other summer berries. You can use clotted cream in place of butter to accompany baked goods such as muffins and quick breads. Additionally, In the U.K., it's used to make confections such as fudge, ice cream and truffles.

What do British eat with clotted cream? ›

Most afternoon teas in southwest England wouldn't be complete without a helping of clotted cream. It's often served on scones with jam, but would be just as delicious spread onto crumpets or quick breads.

What is the difference between Cornish and Devon clotted cream? ›

Differences Between Cornish and Devonshire Clotted Cream

Both Devonshire and Cornish clotted cream is produced using the same or similar methods, the main difference comes from the cows pastures (the better the cows diet the better the clotted cream).

Is mascarpone like clotted cream? ›

Both creams were very similar, but we found that the folded mascarpone cream mixture tasted a bit more like clotted cream. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or large bowl with a handheld electric whisk beat the heavy cream and confectioner sugar until medium to stiff peaks form.

Is clotted cream very unhealthy? ›

Nutritionally, there is nothing particularly “bad” about clotted cream. However, it is worth noting just how rich in calories the cream is. As always, the caloric content of a food has no bearing on how healthy (or not) it is.

Do you refrigerate clotted cream? ›

An average rule of thumb is Clotted cream can be kept in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Once opened it lasts for approximately 4 days, depending on how you refrigerate it. Unopened clotted cream will keep for longer, up to 14 days.

What is clotted cream in the USA? ›

Clotted creams are processed by sitting the cow's milk for 12 to 24 hours in shallow pans, then slowly heating them at low temperatures. This method enables the clots to rise and be skimmed off, making fresh clotted creams to serve on your table. This type of cream has a fat content of 55%.

What is the difference between clotted cream and Devonshire cream? ›

Clotted cream originated in Southwest England (either in Cornwall or Devon, depending on who you ask), and Cornish clotted cream has been awarded the EU's Protection Designation of Origin. It has a minimum of 55% butterfat. Devonshire cream: Clotted cream produced in the county of Devon, England.

Can I put clotted cream in coffee? ›

Can you put clotted cream in coffee? Clotted cream is too heavy for coffee, but single and double cream can be used. To float double cream on top add some sugar to the coffee and lightly whip the cream first.

Is clotted cream the same as heavy whipping cream? ›

Clotted cream is incredibly rich, requiring 55 percent butterfat to be properly classified as clotted cream. For comparison, heavy cream has a mere 36 percent butterfat.

What is the equivalent of double cream in the USA? ›

The British use double cream in recipes the way we use heavy cream or whipping cream here in the US, but they also allow it to accompany dessert the way we might use ice cream.

Can I take clotted cream to the USA? ›

It is absolutely permissable to bring clotted cream into the US from the UK. I've done it multiple times, but not in carry-on, it must go in checked baggage. Wrap it tightly in cling film to prevent leaks, pack in a soft cooler with a freezer block, declare on customs form et voila, clotted cream in the US!

Is extra thick cream like clotted cream? ›

Clotted cream has a much higer fat content than double and extra thick cream.

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