Scottish tablet recipe | Sainsbury`s Magazine (2024)

Ingredients

  • 900g caster sugar
  • 250ml whole milk
  • 110g unsalted butter, diced
  • 1 x 397g tin sweetened condensed milk

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Step by step

  1. Put the sugar and milk in a very large pan, over a medium-low heat. Stirring occasionally, heat until all of the sugar has dissolved (don't let it boil at this stage). Line a 20cm x 30cm baking tin or dish with baking paper.
  2. Once all the sugar has dissolved, add the butter and continue to heat until it has melted into the sweet milk.
  3. Now add the condensed milk and mix well. Increase the heat and stir continuously while the mixture boils (try not to let it catch and burn, or you will get brown flecks in your tablet). Take care, as it is very hot and bubbles volcanically, which is why you need a large pan to stop it from boiling over. Using a cook’s thermometer, take it to 120°C (soft-ball stage). It will get slightly thicker, and also start to turn a fudgy colour.
  4. Once it’s reached 120°C, remove from the heat and leave to settle for a few minutes. Now, either by hand, or in a stand mixer, beat the mixture until it starts to thicken and set – it will begin to look thick and slightly grainy. If you like, at this point you can add a pinch of salt or some flavouring such as vanilla, or whisky, although it’s not so traditional.
  5. Pour into the lined tin and smooth out evenly, pushing it into the corners. Leave to set for 30 minutes, then mark into squares with a sharp knife. Leave to set for at least a couple of hours, but ideally overnight. If you prefer, rather than marking it into squares, you can just leave the tablet to set then break it up, for a more rustic look. Store in an airtight container.

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Scottish tablet recipe | Sainsbury`s Magazine (2024)

FAQs

How long does Scottish tablet last once made? ›

How long does Scottish Tablet Keep? Tablet is over 50% sugar and because sugar is a natural preservative, it means that if it is kept in an airtight tin and stored at room temperature, it can last for around 10 days. If you keep it in the fridge, however, it can keep for a few weeks!

What is the difference between fudge and Scottish tablet? ›

Some people will try to tell you that tablet is a form of fudge. However, proper tablet aficionados (and we have been doing a lot of sampling) will tell you that there is a clear difference in texture between tablet and fudge. Fudge tends to be softer, while tablet has a grainier and more brittle texture.

What is the shelf life of Scottish tablet? ›

And with a shelf life of 5 to 8 weeks, you can savour its unique flavour for a good while. And as for the ingredients, there's no messing about.

What does tablet mean in Scotland? ›

Tablet (taiblet in Scots) is a medium-hard, sugary confection from Scotland. Tablet is usually made from sugar, condensed milk, and butter, which is boiled to a soft-ball stage and allowed to crystallise.

Can I reboil a Scottish tablet? ›

If you pour it into the tin and it doesn't set, don't worry, just reboil for a little while longer (I've done this a few times) Also good with a bit of fresh ginger added at the beginning, flavours the tablet beautifully and leaves little exciting nuggets to bite into!

Can you set Scottish tablet in the fridge? ›

Remove the pan from the heat leave to cool for 5 minutes, then beat until set. Pour into the tin and leave to set fully in the fridge for 2 or more hours. Then remove from the tin and cut into squares.

Why is my Scottish tablet too soft? ›

Most likely answer is that you are not boiling it enough: a 'rolling boil', which is when it keeps boiling while you stir; as you boil the mixture, the water evaporates and the temperature increases. In pure sugar-work, a sugar thermometer is used, but the dairy content of Scottish Tablet blurs the lines.

What is a tablet in Scottish slang? ›

Tablet is occasionally referred to as Scottish or Scots tablet or as Swiss Milk tablet, since some people call condensed milk “Swiss Milk”. For most Scots, tablet is their favourite sweet, especially when home-made.

What does a Scottish tablet taste like? ›

Think the sweetest fudge you've ever had, without the vanilla flavour, but more of a crumbly, melt-in-the-mouth texture. And multiple the sweetness by about a hundred. Then you're pretty close to what tablet tastes like!

Where to store a Scottish tablet? ›

Store Scottish tablet in an airtight container with pieces separated by wax paper or parchment paper. Keep it at room temperature for up to 10 days or store it in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks. Scottish tablet may be frozen for up to 3 months.

Can you freeze a Scottish tablet? ›

Since sugar is a natural preservative, tablet will last for a while! Stored in an airtight tin, it will keep well for at least two or three weeks. Can you freeze it? Yes!

What is a Scottish child called? ›

Bairn is a Northern England English, Scottish English and Scots term for a child. It originated in Old English as "bearn", becoming restricted to Scotland and the North of England c. 1700. In Hull the r is dropped and the word Bain is used.

What do Scots call Scotland? ›

Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Alba [ˈal̪ˠapə]) is a country that occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain and forms part of the United Kingdom. The name of Scotland is derived from the Latin Scoti, the term applied to Gaels.

How long is the lifespan of a tablet? ›

A tablet that doesn't require any updates and is only used to read PDFs can last for up to 12 years. However, on average, a Samsung tablet lasts for about five years, an iPad can stay fully functional for about nine years and a Windows tablet between eight and 12 years.

Why is my Scottish tablet not hardening? ›

The most common reason for this is that you haven't taken your tablet to a high enough temperature when cooking it. The Scottish Tablet mixture needs to be not only boiling for a decent time (approx. 20 mins), it also needs to reach a very high temperature to ensure it will set.

Why is my Scottish tablet crumbly? ›

The best Scottish Tablet should be smooth and melt in your mouth. A grainy texture normally means that your sugar has melted too quickly. So if you'd prefer it to be a little smoother then it's down to beating. Give it a little more elbow grease!

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