Scottish · Desserts

Scottish Tablet

The hard, grainy, melt-in-the-mouth Scottish sweet of sugar, butter and condensed milk, boiled and beaten until it sets. Forty minutes, plus setting.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 40 min hands on plus 2 hr setting Serves 40 servings Medium
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Method

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  1. Line a 20 cm square tin with parchment paper.

  2. Put the sugar, condensed milk, butter, milk and water in a large heavy saucepan over low heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved and the butter has melted.

  3. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring constantly, for 15 to 20 minutes, until the temperature reaches 116°C / 240°F and the mixture is a golden fudge colour.

  4. Take off the heat and stir in the vanilla.

  5. Beat vigorously with a wooden spoon for 5 to 8 minutes, until it thickens, turns matte and starts to grain at the edges.

  6. Pour at once into the tin and smooth the top. Score into squares after 10 minutes.

  7. Leave to set for 2 hours, then break or cut into pieces.

Chef’s Tips

  • Stir constantly while it boils. The condensed milk catches on the base.
  • Beat until it turns matte and grainy. That is the sign it is ready to pour.
  • Pour quickly. It sets in seconds once it has grained.

Pairing Suggestions

  • A cup of tea
  • A dram of whisky
  • A gift tin

Storage & Reheating

Keep in an airtight tin up to 3 weeks. Freeze for 3 months.

Common questions

How long does Scottish Tablet take to make?

About 40 minutes of hands-on work — 10 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking — plus 2 hours of setting, so allow 2 hours 40 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 40.

What are the key tips for making Scottish Tablet?

Stir constantly while it boils. The condensed milk catches on the base. Beat until it turns matte and grainy. That is the sign it is ready to pour. Pour quickly. It sets in seconds once it has grained.

What should I serve with Scottish Tablet?

A cup of tea; A dram of whisky; A gift tin.

Can Scottish Tablet be made ahead or frozen?

Keep in an airtight tin up to 3 weeks. Freeze for 3 months.

Is Scottish Tablet suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free and low-carb. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Scottish Tablet?

About 90 kcal per serving, with 1 g protein, 17 g carbohydrate and 2 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

90Calories
1gProtein
17gCarbs
2gFat
0gFibre
17gSugar
15mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.