Devonshire Cream (Clotted Cream Recipe) (2024)

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Devonshire Cream is a thick, rich cream traditionally used in England to top scones. Also known as clotted cream or cornish cream, this heavy cream is so easy to make at home you’ll wonder why you never made it before.

Devonshire Cream (Clotted Cream Recipe) (1)

Living in the United States, you might not have ever heard of Devonshire Cream. My first experience with it was when a Mom of another boy in my oldest son’s preschool used to host these elaborate afternoon tea parties. She served it with her Chocolate Bliss Cake and it was perfect because it’s not super sweet and goes well with a rich chocolate dessert, instead of the sweet taste of ice cream or sweetened whipped cream.

Devonshire Cream

This recipe for Devonshire cream comes from Andi, the hostess of those tea parties. Now we can have a taste of England in our house. This easy homemade clotted cream recipe comes together quickly and with just a few ingredients. Once you try it atop your favorite desserts you’ll be wanting to keep a supply in the fridge at all times.

Made with just whipping cream, sour cream, and a touch of sugar and vanilla, it really can’t be any simpler to whip up this dessert topping. You’ll find this thick cream will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container, though I don’t recommend freezing it.

You will want to top all of your desserts with Devonshire Cream and they taste so good that now we pull the clotted cream out of the fridge to top all our desserts.

Speaking of dessert toppings – you’ll want to check out this Honey Bourbon Sauce and my Homemade Raspberry Sauce while you’re here today.

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Ingredients Needed

For complete measurements and instructions please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  • Heavy whipping cream – I used 8 ounces of heavy whipping cream. Do not substitute a lower-fat-content cream.
  • Sour cream – I used full-fat sour cream, low fat sour cream won’t give you the same taste and texture so make sure to choose full-fat.
  • Powdered Sugar – or confectioners’ sugar as it is also called – I added a few tablespoons of powdered sugar to sweeten up the cream just a bit.
  • Vanilla – I used pure vanilla extract. I much prefer real vanilla to imitation so if you can try not to use imitation vanilla.

How to make Devonshire Cream

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First: Whip whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form.

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Second: Fold in the sour cream and mix until combined.

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Third: Keep cold until ready to serve.

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If you love this Devonshire Cream recipe make sure that you don’t lose it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!

FAQs

What is clotted cream? Clotted cream is a thick cream that is prepared in a way that it develops ‘clots.’ It is thought to have originated in southwest England. Clotted cream is traditionally served on top of scones in England.

How to make clotted cream? Clotted cream is a cream made by heating full-fat dairy milk, usually from Jersey cows, over a water bath or steam. The cream is then left to cool in the pan where it, in turn, forms clots that rise to the surface.

What is Devonshire cream used for? Devonshire cream like clotted cream is used as a topping for desserts, much like we, in the US, use whipping cream. Most people use Devonshire cream or clotted cream for scones. I suppose British tea and scones just wouldn’t be the same without it.

What is the difference between clotted cream and Devonshire cream? Clotted cream and Devonshire cream are the same thing however Devonshire cream is cream that is made in Devon, England.

What does Devonshire cream taste like? Devonshire cream tastes similar to traditional cream but does not have as much of a sour taste.

What is the difference between Devonshire cream and double cream? Turns out there are lots of variations of ‘cream’ out there! While Devonshire and clotted cream are the same, double cream is more similar to what we in the US call whipping cream. Double cream is much thicker, more decadent, and higher in fat content. Most often double cream is sweetened while Devonshire cream may not be.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

When I was developing this recipe I came across so many variations of Devonshire cream and clotted cream it was quite surprising. You can also use a combination of the following:

  • Mascarpone or full-fat cream cheese can be substituted for whipping cream.
  • Full-fat yogurt or Greek yogurt can be used instead of sour cream

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Tips & Tricks

  • To facilitate the whipping of the cream, place the bowl you’ll be using in the fridge a few hours before you start to prepare the cream.
  • Make sure the whipped cream is cold, use it straight from the fridge.

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What to serve with Devonshire Cream

A Clotted Cream Cookie Served with fresh fruit, strawberry jam, or lemon curd for a special treat!

Homemade Scones – Fresh warm scones are the most common way to serve Devonshire cream.

This thick, rich homemade version of Devonshire cream will take any dessert to the next level. I guarantee it will completely change the way you top your favorite treats. Now get your tea on and give it a try!

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Devonshire Cream (Clotted Cream Recipe) (10)

4.50 from 24 votes

Print Recipe

Devonshire Cream (Homemade Clotted Cream Recipe)

Devonshire Creamis a thick, rich cream traditionally used in England to top scones. Also known as clotted cream or cornish cream, this heavy cream is so easy to make at home you’ll wonder why you never made it before.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

Cuisine: English

Keyword: British, clotted cream, cornish cream, cream, dessert topping, devonshire cream, English, sour cream, vanilla, whipped cream

Calories: 145kcal

Author: Michaela Kenkel

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup of sour cream
  • 3-6 Tablespoons of Powdered Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  • Whip whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form.

  • Fold in the sour cream.

  • Keep cold until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 14mg | Sugar: 6g

Devonshire Cream (Clotted Cream Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

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

Clotted cream originated in southwest England and has become a traditional British topping for baked goods at afternoon teas. Depending on which county the product was made in, it's also sometimes called Devonshire/Devon cream or Cornish cream.

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 much clotted cream do you need per scone? ›

The key to a perfect scone is to follow the weight ratio of 2:1:1 – in other words, a 70 gram scone needs 35 grams of jam and 35 grams of cream. Cheng's research – unsurprisingly, as it was sponsored by Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream – concludes that clotted cream is better than whipped cream.

How is Devon clotted cream made? ›

Wikipedia describes clotted cream as: a thick cream made by indirectly heating full-cream cow's milk using steam or a water bath and then leaving it in shallow pans to cool slowly. During this time, the cream content rises to the surface and forms "clots" or "clouts".

What is the closest thing to clotted cream? ›

A Worthwhile Substitute

Crème fraîche is a cultured cream similar to sour cream, but it's thicker, richer, and much less tangy. Look for one with a high fat content to get the closest thing to clotted cream in both texture and flavor.

Can I buy clotted cream in the US? ›

While you're unlikely to find authentic clotted cream in America, you can still purchase it online and at some major U.S. grocery stores. Just keep in mind that what you're buying is the FDA-approved, pasteurized version of clotted cream.

Why don't we have clotted cream in the US? ›

We don't have a true clotted cream in the U.S. Pasteurization was required in 1924 thus ending the clotted cream industry. Creme Fraiche is probably the closest we have but not that close.

What do the British call clotted cream? ›

It is also called Devonshire, Devon clotted cream, or Cornish clotted cream, depending on where it was made. The dish is traditionally made with full-fat unpasteurized cow's milk, although many recipes today feature heavy cream.

Is clotted cream the same as mascarpone? ›

Both Mascarpone and Clotted cream are made with cream, both have the SAME fat content and both are made by heating the cream. Mascarpone is curdled and sweetened, clotted cream is not. Creme Fraiche is more closely related to sour cream and is made the same way.

What to avoid when making scones? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Baking Scones
  1. Using anything but cold ingredients. The secret to the flakiest scones is to start with cold ingredients — cold butter, cold eggs, and cold cream. ...
  2. Only using all-purpose flour. ...
  3. Overmixing the dough. ...
  4. Not chilling the dough before baking. ...
  5. Baking them ahead of time.
May 1, 2019

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.

Do you put clotted cream or jam first on scones? ›

So when it comes to cream tea, what goes on your scones first? Cream or jam? Ask the Cornish, and they will tell you that the whole point of cream tea is to have freshly-baked (hopefully still warm) scones, with jam first and clotted cream on top.

Can I whip clotted cream? ›

This typically happens to clotted creams that have been frozen for either too long (beyond four months) or in the wrong container (always use an airtight container and wrap in a freezer bag for extra protection). Can you whip clotted cream to thicken it? No.

What do you eat with clotted cream? ›

"For clotted cream, simpler is better. The traditional way of serving it with an English scone and a beautifully made fruit-based jam is extremely hard to beat." Another popular way to use clotted cream? Spoon dollops over fresh berries.

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.

What is clotted cream called in England? ›

It is also called Devonshire, Devon clotted cream, or Cornish clotted cream, depending on where it was made. The dish is traditionally made with full-fat unpasteurized cow's milk, although many recipes today feature heavy cream.

What do the British use clotted cream for? ›

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 is a substitute for clotted cream in scones? ›

directions
  • Combine the cream cheese, sugar and sour cream in a small bowl.
  • Beat until fluffy.
  • Add the almond extract and milk to thin a bit.
  • Blend well.
  • Allow to set at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
  • Makes enough for about a dozen scones.

What is the difference between Cornish and Devonshire scones? ›

According to research, what's widely known as the “Devon method” is putting your clotted cream on first and covering that up with jam whereas the “Cornish method” involves spreading your scone with strawberry jam and then topping that layer with clotted cream.

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