Rich, and slightly tangy, this easy clotted cream substitute recipe will have you feeling very Downton Abbey or Bridgerton! It's absolutely perfect heaped on fresh scones with a bit of strawberry or raspberry jam.
It's difficult to get clotted cream in the United States but this easy recipe checks all the boxes.
Table of Contents
- Wonderful recipe, wonderful texture!!
- 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
- 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- 🐄 What is Devonshire cream?
- 🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
- 🍴Must have tools: essential equipment
- 🥫 Leftover love: how to store mock clotted cream
- Marye's Tip o' the day
- 💭 Insider tips: things to know
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- 🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with
- 🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose clotted cream substitute
- 📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
- 📖 Recipe
- Mock Clotted Cream
- ✍🏻 A note from Marye...Original Images
- 💬 Comments
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
There's nothing quite as elegant as scones with strawberry jam and mock clotted cream!
- Quick, inexpensive, and easy to make! It takes just 5 minutes and contains common ingredients.
- It's perfect with scones for brunch or tea, but is also fantastic spread on your favorite quick bread or even toast.
- Be sure that the cream cheese is at room temperature for best results.
Easy to make, this mock Devonshire cream recipe is perfect for those of us who don't live in an area where the real thing is readily available.
Creamy, rich, and tangy, this topping is perfect for spooning over fresh fruit, scones, and pound cake, as well as a host of other possibilities.
If you are from Europe you are probably rolling your eyes at the audacity of it all, but for the rest of us in the less civilized world, Devonshire cream and clotted cream are not easy things to procure - at least not in the United States.
Oh sure, you can order a jar of it from the Internet and pay a small fortune — you can even spend hours hunting down a good import shop (only to find that they sold the last jar twenty minutes before you got there).
Personally, I just make my own clotted cream substitute. It isn't perfect, but it is close enough, and when you have piled it on top of a spoonful of lemon curd or strawberry jam, you just stop caring that it isn't the real thing.
It's so good.
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- Some people use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
- Add a touch of vanilla or other flavoring for a sweeter version.
- Some people prefer mascarpone cheese instead of cream cheese in this recipe.
- You may prefer powdered sugar to granulated sugar.
🐄 What is Devonshire cream?
Devonshire cream is technically clotted cream that's made in Devonshire with cream from real Devon cream that comes from real Devon cows.
It has a particularly high butterfat content as I understand it.
Clotted cream is created by the same process but without the Devon cows.
Since I have a distinct lack of cows, Devon or otherwise, my homemade version is made from items I can get easily at the local grocery stores. For our purposes I am using the terms interchangeably for my clotted cream substitute.
🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
Add all ingredients except heavy cream to a bowl.
Whip until completely smooth.
Add heavy cream .
Whip until soft peaks form.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up -
Top with a few candied violets or candied rose petals to make it pretty when serving at a special tea.
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
🍴Must have tools: essential equipment
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🥫 Leftover love: how to store mock clotted cream
Store mock clotted cream tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It doesn't freeze well so I'd suggest using it up. Tired of scones? Check out the suggestions for using up leftovers at the bottom of the post.
Marye's Tip o' the day
Make sure the cream cheese and sour cream are room temperature and the heavy cream is icy cold for best results.
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- Always use full fat ingredients.
- Make sure the cream cheese mixture is completely smooth before you add the heavy cream.
- Mock clotted cream will pick up refrigerator odors and flavors easily. Be sure to seal it in an air-tight container. I prefer glass.
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
Sort of. Devonshire cream is clotted cream that's made in Devonshire. It has a touch higher fat content that clotted cream made in other parts of the country.
Spoon it on scones, biscuits, or croissants. It's delicious on pound cake and strawberry shortcake, too. I like it instead of whipped cream on super sweet desserts because it gives a nice tangy balance.
⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -
If you forgot to soften the cream cheese, cut it into small cubes and microwave it for about 10-15 seconds. This will soften it quickly without melting it, making it easier to blend.
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with
Pumpkin scones are tender with lots of pumpkin spice flavor. The clotted cream is a delicious addition.
Cranberry orange scones are tangy and sweet with a buttery crumb.
Buttery lemon blueberry scones with a tangy citrus glaze are sure to wake up your taste buds! My foolproof technique guarantees perfect results every time!
No scones? This clotted cream substitute is fabulous on English Muffins, blueberry muffins, or a clean spoon.
🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose clotted cream substitute
- Use some heavy cream to thin it slightly and use it as a dip for fresh fruit.
- Spoon on top of peach or apple crisp instead of whipped cream.
- Add a dollop to waffles or pancakes.
📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
I read constantly when I was growing up. In fact, I read to the point that the characters and events in books became more significant to me than my actual real life.
I am probably one of the few people that can honestly say that my character and ethics were shaped by Jo March, Badger, Aslan, Mr. Tumnus, Anne Shirley, and Gandalf more than they were the real people in my life.
I just spent more time with books.
I honestly can't remember who introduced me to the concept of afternoon tea with scones, and Devonshire cream but I am pretty sure it was Mr. Tumnus. I am not sure how he got it there in Narnia but apparently he did — or maybe I just imagine that he did.
It has been a very long time since I last visited.
The next time you are in the mood for a day of reading make some scones, lemon curd, and this mock clotted cream. Mr. Tumnus would approve.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Mock Clotted Cream
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, , room temperature
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Add the sugar, sour cream, and cream cheese to the bowl of an electric mixer.
- Cream the sugar, sour cream, and cream cheese together until smooth and blended.
- Pour in the heavy cream and whip until thick, soft peaks form.
- Do not over beat.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
Notes
- You can vary it a little by adding some vanilla but I like mine plain.
- Some people prefer mascarpone cheese instead of cream cheese in this recipe.
- Some people prefer powdered sugar to granulated sugar.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published August 7, 2013. Last updated September 4, 2024 to include better images and more information.
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Mock Clotted Cream
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✍🏻 A note from Marye...Original Images
Mary Catherine says
Had this at a tea and this tastes just like theirs....love it!!!
Hollyn says
Wonderful recipe, wonderful texture!! If we hadn’t tried “authentic” clotted cream we wouldn’t know the difference - perfect for an American take on English afternoon tea 🙂
Diane says
How far ahead of time can this be made?
Marye says
Several days. It's very stable.
Marny Douglas says
I am hoping that this can fool some old timers as we are having a high tea on mother's day and l am planning to make it for 18 tables of 8 for the R.H. L.l. a veterans club. Yours seems to be very easy for a novice.
Wish me luck, please
Marye says
I'm sure they'll love it and it is super easy!
L Johns says
OMG, I had clotted cream in England and LOVED IT. Tried to find anyone who sold it when I got back to the US. No luck, but that was 1984. I am so glad to be able to have this recipe and relive those wonderful scone and cream memories. Thank you for sharing!!
Mary says
This is a dangerous (as in I want to eat it with a spoon) recipe! I didn't have sour cream on hand, so I substituted vanilla Greek yogurt. It's lovely!
Cherry says
I’m from Europe (Ireland) but not rolling my eyes-it’s hard to get clotted cream outside of the British Isles. Delighted to have found this recipe as usually I can only have afternoon tea when I visit family in England! Thank you ?
Marye Audet says
Cherry I am so glad you like it! 🙂
Sandra says
Thank You Thank You Thank You!! I made some a few minutes ago I have my cuppa and my scones sitting here reading your Blog as I plan this months menus for my family and it was love at first bite!! Maybe it's just been so long since I had real Devonshire cream or maybe yours is just as good what ever at least I'll never have to pay the huge price tag or run out again so THANK YOU
Marye Audet says
I'm so glad you liked it Sandra!
Diana says
Marye,
Thank you so very much for this "long sought after" recipe. I love scones with Devonshire Cream, but as you mentioned above, it's very hard to find (except at Christmas) in the Greater Cincinnati Area. Even specialty stores have quit carrying it since the economy tanked. I guess people felt it was something they could live without. Well, I will enjoy my scones (homemade and store bought from Panera) much more now.
Diana