Traditional Scottish Tablet Recipe | Carnation (2024)

Step 2 of 4

In a large non-stick pan, melt the butter with the milk. Slowly add the sugar and boil briskly for 4 minutes.

Step 3 of 4

Gradually stir in the condensed milk making sure that it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Bring back to the boil for approximately 20 minutes, stirring regularly, until the mixture is thick and a honey caramel colour. Take care while the mixture boils as the tablet will be VERY hot!

If you are using a sugar thermometer, we aim for a minimum temperature of 118°C. To test to see if the tablet is ready drop a small amount into a bowl of ice cold water - if you can pick up some of the mixture and form a soft ball in your fingers its ready. Just be careful it will still be quite hot!

Step 4 of 4

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.

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Traditional Scottish Tablet Recipe | Carnation (2024)

FAQs

How long does a homemade Scottish Tablet last? ›

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!

Why is my Scottish Tablet not hardening? ›

Why Is My Scottish Tablet Not Setting? If your Scottish tablet isn't setting up, the reason likely has to do with temperature. The mixture must be brought up to a full boil for five minutes and reach 250 F before simmering.

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!

What's the difference between fudge and Scottish Tablet? ›

Scottish tablet and fudge are made in a similar way. That is by melting sugars and using elbow grease to reach a thickening point. But it is the liquid in the tablet recipe that makes all the difference. Traditionally fudge is made with double or clotted cream, while tablet is made with condensed milk.

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. It is often flavoured with vanilla and sometimes has nut pieces in it.

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 a 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.

When should I eat Scottish tablet? ›

A small piece after dinner can round off a meal beautifully, or a tiny square with your afternoon tea can turn a routine break into a special occasion. The beauty of this treat is in its richness; you don't need much to feel satisfied. But why stop at the traditional way? Scottish Tablet is incredibly versatile.

Why is my homemade tablet sugary? ›

You've cooked the Tablet too fast. One of the most important things about making Scottish Tablet is patience! If you try to cook your Tablet too fast your sugar won't dissolve. Tablet is over 50% sugar, so while you want to create tasty Scottish Sweets you need to give it time to melt and cook properly.

What is the shelf life of Scottish tablet? ›

Product Shelf LifeThis Tablet product comes with a minimum of 5 weeks shelf life and a maximum of 8 weeks.

How long does it take for tablet to harden? ›

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.

How to store a Scottish tablet? ›

Homemade tablet will keep at room temperature in an airtight container for at least 2 or 3 weeks. Tablet can be frozen. Defrost at room temperature before serving. Please note that freezing will slightly change the texture of the tablet, but it will still taste good.

Can you freeze a Scottish tablet? ›

Can you freeze Scottish tablets? The answer is a resounding yes! Freezing Scottish tablets is a great way to keep them fresh and on hand for longer periods.

What Flavour is Scottish tablet? ›

Flavour: Scottish tablet has a distinctive caramelized flavour that is sweet and buttery, while Scottish fudge can have a range of flavours depending on the ingredients used.

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.

Why is tablet called tablet? ›

The first actual tablet was the Apple Newton MessagePad in 1993. Although Apple followed Asimov's naming scheme (“Pad”) the media coined the phrase tablet from the ancient clay tablets and more modern “pads” of paper that were officially in letter or tablet size, which was also known as a notebook.

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.

Why did my tablet turn out like toffee? ›

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 hasn t my Scottish tablet set? ›

Once you have melted the first lot of ingredients together in the microwave add it to the pan with the condensed milk. From here, you need to bring it all to a boil. This is a really important step because if you don't get the mixture hot enough, the Tablet won't set properly later on.

How long does Scottish tablet keep fresh? ›

Keeps for up to 2 months, making it perfect for gifting. Traditionally (like this recipe) it's made on the stove with a wooden spoon, constantly stirring, making it a great time to catch up on podcasts and audiobooks.

What is the shelf life of Scottish tablets? ›

Product Shelf LifeThis Tablet product comes with a minimum of 5 weeks shelf life and a maximum of 8 weeks.

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.

How often do you need to replace a tablet? ›

See the table below for a recent version history. The pace of change is fast – we recommend replacing tablets every three years to keep up with security features, memory size and speed needed to run all programs – including Sales Builder Pro – effectively. Internet security protocols also continue to evolve.

Can Scottish tablet be frozen? ›

Homemade tablet will keep at room temperature in an airtight container for at least 2 or 3 weeks. Tablet can be frozen. Defrost at room temperature before serving. Please note that freezing will slightly change the texture of the tablet, but it will still taste good.

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