clotted cream

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clotted cream" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a thick, rich cream that is often served with scones and jam, particularly in British cuisine. Example: "For a traditional afternoon tea, serve the scones warm with clotted cream and strawberry jam."

✓ Grammatically correct

Food writing

Travel writing

Describing culinary experiences

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Her voice was like clotted cream.

The New Yorker

Hot crumpets beg for clotted cream.

The New York Times - Food

The clotted cream is sheer decadence.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Devon shops also offer clotted cream fudge and clotted cream toffee, and some local cooks ladle clotted cream into pork and leek pies.

The New York Times - Travel

That story is repeated whenever we eat clotted cream.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Yet in the mouth, clotted cream seems almost sublime.

The New York Times - Travel

They're served warm with fresh clotted cream and raspberry jam.

The New York Times

Tastes of sugar more than clotted cream … overly sweet.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Dust them with icing sugar and serve with clotted cream.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Not all is crumpets and clotted cream here.

The New York Times

For dessert I'd have Scottish raspberries and Cornish clotted cream.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing afternoon tea, specify "clotted cream" to evoke a sense of tradition and quality.

Common error

Avoid describing "clotted cream" as simply "thick cream" in contexts where the specific preparation method and rich flavor are important. The term itself carries cultural and culinary significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clotted cream" functions primarily as a noun, often serving as a subject or object within a sentence. It denotes a specific type of dairy product, as Ludwig's examples show in contexts like afternoon tea or dessert descriptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

15%

Lifestyle

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "clotted cream" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase, primarily functioning to describe a specific type of rich dairy product, and is "correct" as confirmed by Ludwig. Its usage is most frequent in News & Media and lifestyle contexts, particularly when discussing food, travel, and British culinary traditions. While semantically related to terms like "Devon cream" or "thickened cream", "clotted cream" carries its own cultural weight and specific culinary meaning. When writing, it's important to use this phrase accurately to convey the intended richness and tradition, rather than simply substituting it with a more generic term. As Ludwig shows, it is often paired with scones and jam in descriptions of afternoon tea.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Devon cream

Synonymous term, especially in the UK.

Cornish cream

Similar to Devon cream, referring to the origin.

thickened cream

Focuses on the texture of the cream.

double cream

Refers to a high-fat cream, though not exactly the same process.

sweet cream

Highlights the sweet taste often associated with it.

rich cream

Emphasizes the high fat content and luxurious texture.

cream cheese

Another type of thick, rich dairy product.

mascarpone

An Italian cream cheese with a similar richness.

crème fraîche

A similar cultured cream product, though tangier.

whipped cream

Cream that has been aerated and thickened.

FAQs

How is "clotted cream" typically used in a sentence?

"Clotted cream" is often used to describe a component of afternoon tea, such as, "Serve the scones with jam and "clotted cream"."

What's a simple way to describe the taste of "clotted cream"?

You could describe "clotted cream" as a rich, thick, and slightly sweet cream, similar to a cross between butter and whipped cream.

What can I serve with "clotted cream"?

"Clotted cream" is traditionally served with scones and jam, but it can also be paired with fresh fruit, desserts, or used as a topping for baked goods. For example, you can try to serve it with "fresh fruit".

Is "clotted cream" the same as whipped cream?

No, "clotted cream" is made by heating unpasteurized cream and letting it cool slowly, resulting in a thick, yellowish cream with a distinct flavor. Whipped cream is made by whipping cream to incorporate air and make it light and fluffy.