Norwegian Cloudberry Cream (Multekrem)

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Native to the marshlands, boreal forests and coastlines of the Northern Scandinavia, delicious and nutritious cloudberries are often called the "gold of the Arctic." They grow almost exclusively in the wild making them a rare and prized commodity.

Fortunately, we don't have to trek to the marshes of Northern Europe to find cloudberries. Cloudberry preserves are readily available in many grocery and Scandinavian specialty stores and are a very delicious alternative to the real thing.

What to make with a jar of cloudberry preserves? Cloudberry Cream, of course! Softly whipped cream flavored with vanilla and cloudberries is a heavenly treat you can enjoy on its own or as a filling or accompaniment to cookies, cakes and other sweets. Ready to give this easy and exotic Cloudberry Cream a try in your own kitchen?

Close up of an almond tart filled with Clouberry Cream.

Why This Recipe Works

This Cloudberry Cream contains a combination of whipped cream and sour cream as the base. This gives the recipe a little more heft than whipped cream alone and also brings a welcome tang which perfectly offsets the sweetness cloudberry preserves.
The preserves are heated and strained, removing any objectionable seeds. Cloudberries have seeds much like raspberries do, and if you fold in the preserves without straining them first, the silky texture of the cream will be studded with the occasional hard seed. Strained preserves bring big cloudberry flavor and a silky smooth texture throughout.
Just a hint of vanilla really compliments the flavor of the cloudberries. Cloudberries and vanilla work very nicely together, especially in a simple cream recipe like this one.

What Makes This Recipe Nordic/Scandinavian?

Cloudberries are native to northern Scandinavia where they are considered a delicacy. You will find cloudberries or cloudberry jam or preserves in recipes throughout the Nordic region. In Norway, Cloudberry Cream or Multekrem is a traditional Christmas dessert.

Ingredients

We have a short list of ingredients here, the star of the show being the Cloudberry Preserves. You can find cloudberry preserves or jam in Scandinavian specialty stores or on Amazon.

Special Equipment Needed

A stand or handheld mixer makes quick work of whipped cream, but you can also whip cream by hand with a metal whisk (be prepared for an arm workout should you decide to go this route!)

How to Make This Recipe

Heat the cloudberry preserves in a saucepan over low heat or in the microwave until they are almost in a liquid state. Strain them through a fine mesh strainer and into a clean bowl. Discard the seeds and set the strained preserves aside to cool to room temperature.

Strained cloudberry preserves in a glass bowl next to a strainer.

Combine the cream, sour cream and vanilla in the work bowl of a stand mixer. Whip on medium high speed until medium peaks form.

Whipped cream in a metal bowl with a whisk.

Gently fold in the cooled, strained cloudberry preserves with a rubber spatula.

Cloudberry preserves on top of whipped cream in a metal bowl with a rubber spatula.

That's all there is to it!

Expert Tips

Be sure to let the preserves cool completely after straining. You don't want to add warm preserves to your cold whipped cream as it may cause it to deflate.
Don't over whip the cream. Cream can go from soft and luscious to stiff and over whipped in no time, especially in a powerful stand mixer. Keep a close eye on it while it is whipping and stop the mixer frequently toward the end of the whipping process to see if the consistency is where you want it to be.

Scandinavian Almond Tarts filled with Cloudberry Cream on a marble surface.

FAQs

Are cloudberries good for you?

Cloudberries are high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, iron and magnesium and are exceptionally nutritious. The Vikings actually brought preserved cloudberries with them on their long sea journeys because their high levels of Vitamin C prevented scurvy.

What do fresh cloudberries look and taste like?

Fresh cloudberries look like golden raspberries and have a sweet/tart flavor. Check out this article for a comprehensive discussion of all things cloudberry!

How do I store Cloudberry Cream?

Cloudberry cream is best the day it is made. Feel free to make it a couple of hours ahead of time, cover it with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

How to Serve Cloudberry Cream

Cloudberry cream is delicious on its own, or consider using it as a filling for Norwegian Krumkake, Scandianvian Almond Tarts (pictured above), or a Swedish rulltårta cake. You can also use it in place of traditional whipped cream alongside a simple cake like Swedish Almond Cake or Cardamom Cake. Or dollop it on top of a batch of Nordic Buttermilk Waffles or Swedish Pancakes. The options are endless!

Looking for more creamy Scandi-inspired recipes? Give these a try!

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