Clotted Cream Ice Cream – the Frozen Treat That’s Perfect All-Year Round

There aren’t many of us who don’t like ice-cream. And for most people the frozen treat conjures up images of long days down on the beach or a cool after-dinner dessert in the summer. Along with strawberries and cream, fish and chips and long picnic lunches it’s one of the amazing Great British summer foods. But thanks to our new-found appreciation of some classic flavours, including clotted cream ice cream is now more than just a seasonal treat.

More and more of us are enjoying luxurious clotted cream ice cream all year round, including in the cooler and winter months. And it’s not surprising when you consider the love and amazing local produce that goes into making this English classic.

Here at Kelly’s of Cornwall we’re one firm that knows a thing or two about making fantastic clotted cream ice cream – which you can enjoy whenever the fancy takes you. As one of the UK’s oldest producers, we’ve been leading the clotted cream ice cream business for more than a century and we’re understandably proud of our reputation for creating great quality, great-tasting food.

Our heritage is as rich and appealing as our amazing produce. Our Cornish clotted cream enjoys Protected Designation of Origin status, which means to be considered authentic it has to be made from milk produced in Cornwall, which has at least 55 per cent fat content.

At Kelly’s of Cornwall we pride ourselves on doing that in style. Based in the picturesque area of Bodmin, we use only the finest Cornish clotted cream and milk to create our world-famous frozen treats.

All our rich, luxurious tasting clotted cream ice cream is made using fresh milk supplied by the lovely cows at the local Trewithen Dairy – using the recipes and methods we’ve perfected over decades. The dairy is just 22 miles from our Kelly’s of Cornwall HQ meaning the milk and clotted cream we use is as fresh as it gets.

In the height of summer they regularly supply us with a staggering 17,000 of best-quality milk to help us meet demand but don’t worry, we work with them and their extensive network of 20 trusted, local farmers to make sure we can make our clotted cream ice cream all year round too.

Our partnership with these amazing local producers means we can always deliver what we believe is the UK’s best-tasting clotted cream ice cream – a taste that’s truly unique – luscious, local and totally Cornish – whatever the season. So whether it’s at the height of summer, the depths of winter or in the lead up to a busy Christmas season, our customers can enjoy great-tasting clotted cream ice cream whenever the fancy takes them.

Even Just the Name of Cornish Clotted Cream is Lovely

It has been said that words have the power to move mountains and I have certainly learned that words can evoke so many different feelings in different people. Some words and names just sound good or bad, no matter what the situation. Anything that is related to desserts seems to have special connotations for many people and I know a guy who almost drools if words such as Cornish clotted cream and Cornish clotted cream ice cream are mentioned within his hearing.

Clotted cream is the traditional accompaniment to the scones and jam which are a part of the quintessential English cream tea which is now served all over the country, but originated in Devon, in the South West of England. In May 2010, a campaign was launched at the Devon County Show to have the name “Devon cream tea” protected within the European Union under Protected Designation of Origin rules. In 1998 the term Cornish clotted cream became a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) by European Union directive, as long as the milk is produced in Cornwall and the minimum fat content is 55%.

There are regional variations as to how a cream tea should preferably be eaten. The Devonshire method is to split the scone in two, cover each half with clotted cream, and then add strawberry jam on top. Traditionally it is important that the scones be warm (ideally, freshly baked), and that clotted (rather than whipped) cream and strawberry jam, rather than any other variety, is used. Butter is generally not included, and the tea should be served with milk. In Cornwall, the cream tea was traditionally served with a “Cornish split”, a type of slightly sweet white bread roll, rather than a scone.

The reason that butter is not needed on the scones if you are using Cornish clotted cream is that the Cornish cream is in itself almost as rich as butter and the taste is just as creamy and lovely as butter is. I am one of those people who believe that everything tastes better with butter and I use it in almost everything. However, even I found that adding butter to a scone along with Cornish clotted cream is overkill and just does not taste right. The strawberry jam is essential to add that delicious fruity and sweet flavour, adding a different taste and texture to the scone. The only place where I break with tradition is the fact that I do not actually like tea and so to the disgust of my friends and family, I have coffee instead.

Cornish cream is used for the making of Cornish clotted cream and then in turn this is used for the making of Cornish clotted cream ice cream. This is another product which is as delicious as it sounds and is rich and creamy. There are many flavours available and you can add toppings, but for me, the best is just a couple of scoops of this plain ice cream, with some fruit.