Tablet: A Scottish Sweetie « A Wee Bit of Cooking

Tablet: A Scottish Sweetie

November 28, 2007 by Wendy

Tablet is a very rich, very sugar traditional Scottish sweet. Made from butter, condensed milk and sugar, this crumbly fudge-like candy does not win any awards for it’s health inducing properties; it does, however, sweep the board when it comes to ecstatic groan inducing.

Before I go any further I must tell you that it should be D writing this. He and he alone has spent the past few weeks perfecting his tablet making skills. It hasn’t been easy journey, tablet is notoriously difficult to make and many baking trays lost their lives in this quest. The sacrifices have most definitely been worth it though, for sitting next to me this very moment is a chunk of tablet, no bigger than a matchbox. It’s creamy, it’s sweet, it’s slightly crumbly and, oh me oh my, it is absolutely divine.

An enormous thanks to Alice for sharing her recipe with D and for enduring all of his breaktime tablet-question sessions. :)

Alice’s Tablet

2lbs caster sugar

1/4lb butter

1 cup of whole milk

Tin of condensed milk

Teaspoon vanilla essence

Remove all children, pets and clumsy people from the room. They tend not to mix well with vats of boiling sugar.
In a heavy based pan (and wearing rubber gloves) slowly melt sugar, milk and butter.
Once it comes to the boil add the condensed milk.
Slowly bring to the boil again, stirring constantly.
Still stirring carefully, boil for 15 minutes or until mixture darkens to a butterscotch colour.
To test if mixture has boiled for long enough drop a teaspoon full into a glass of cold water. If it’s ready it will form a ball.
Remove from heat and add vanilla essence.
Beat until your arm nearly falls off and the mixture has thickened to a very thick custard-like state (approx. 15 mins).
Pour into a greased tin and cool.
Cut into squares. Store in an airtight container.

D’s Trouble Shooting Tips

If your tablet is grainy, you melted the sugar too quickly. Start again.

If your tablet didn’t set, you didn’t boil it for long enough. Start again.

If your tablet still didn’t set, you didn’t beat it for long enough. Yup. Start again.

Posted in Food, Recipes | 28 Comments

28 Responses to “Tablet: A Scottish Sweetie”

on November 28, 2007 at 7:14 pm1 scotsabroad

I cannot beleive that D got Alice’s recipe from her. What did he have to do? The photo is gorgeous. I can’t find condensed milk anywhere in Cairo but my Mum is coming over soon so shall ask for some. Shona.
on November 28, 2007 at 8:04 pm2 Nora

I will definitely be trying this since D has put so much time & energy into it. I was going to make condense milk fudge, but this sounds sooo much better!
on November 28, 2007 at 8:30 pm3 Little Miss Moi

Ohh that reminds me of being a kid. My grandmother used to make tablet, and when I was in scotland in september doing a hike, we found it in a few pubs and cafes along the Way.
on November 28, 2007 at 8:47 pm4 Cynthia

Darn girl! I don’t have a sweet tooth but these seem so simple to make I cannot resist trying them. I promise, I’ll taste a part of one and then give the rest of them away.
on November 28, 2007 at 9:29 pm5 Wendy

Shona - Think he just smiled shyly. He’s rather popular with the auxilaries is my boyfriend! :)

Nora - I promise you, it is. :)

Little Miss Moi - A piece of tablet after a hike must have been great!

Cynthia - We said the same about the last batch and scoffed the lot ourselves…
on November 28, 2007 at 10:24 pm6 Sophie

My mouth is watering just looking at the picture (the texture looks perfect - obviously a good recipe!)

The problem with tablet is that it is just so adictive. I can resist most sweet things but with the tablet it’s always “just one more taste and then I’ll stop”…
on November 29, 2007 at 6:00 am7 Anh

Yum! Just read through the ingredient and i know that these must be delicious. I am a big fan of baked goods that uses condensed milk - so rich, so creamy, so sweet and soooo wickedly tempting!
on November 29, 2007 at 11:08 am8 Joanna

Great photo - I think this is what we’ll make this Christmas for a treat (I like the children - old enough to make their own decisiions - to know EXACTLY what goes in to their favourite sweets!) … between us all, we’ve lost my mother-in-law’s fudge recipe, but tablet will remind me of my childhood holidays in Scotland

Thanks for sharing - especially the troubleshooting tips!

Joanna
on November 29, 2007 at 12:22 pm9 Patricia Scarpin

It looks so similar to a sweet we have here in Brazil, Wendy!
I bet it is totally addictive. :)
on November 29, 2007 at 7:09 pm10 Figs Olives Wine

Wendy, just getting back on track after Thanksgiving, and yours is the first blog I’m reading. TABLET!!! I had forgotten all about it, and I am so, so happy you’ve reminded me in time for Christmas. Everyone’s getting a bag of this this year. Thank you. My mouth is watering.
on November 29, 2007 at 7:57 pm11 Susan from Food Blogga

Ahh, it’s the holiday season, don’t worry about healthy food awards now. Bring on the tablet!
on November 29, 2007 at 8:50 pm12 Wendy

Sophie - I know. I don’t usually have a problem with eating too many sweet things - I’m a savoury girl - but tablet, I just cannot stop eating. Made D take it all to his parents’ house after the first evening!

Anh - Isn’t condensed milk great? I could eat it with a spoon.

Joanna - Enjoy! The trouble shooting tips should prevent the same amount of head scratching that went on here in the trial batches. :)

Patricia - When I read the Wikipedia entry on it I discovered Brazil had a very similar sweet! The Netherlands too, apparently. :)

Amanda - Tablet gifts. May have to steal that idea!

Susan - Agreed! :)
on November 30, 2007 at 12:03 am13 Johanna

I am a big fan of condensed milk but I find tablet too sweet - your recipe looks fantastic - E loves it and probably would love some home made but I would then feel inclined to try too much and feel quite ill - however at least he can find some in the stores dedicated to sweets and lollies in Melbourne
on November 30, 2007 at 4:55 pm14 Deb

I think D needs his own blog! What a mouth watering photo of your tablet. I have never heard of it before, but it sorta resembles our carmel fudge. Perfect treat for the holidays. Thanks D for doing all the troubleshooting for us!
on November 30, 2007 at 5:32 pm15 David Hall

I used to eat a bag of tablet every day when I lived in Rosyth. Wonder why I’ve got so many fillings?! Delicious stuff mind.

Cheers
David
on November 30, 2007 at 7:32 pm16 Wendy

Johanna - Have to say that the shop bought stuff is more like fudge than tablet (or at least it is over here). It’s gotta be homemade to be great!

Deb - Will do! Fudge over here is more chewy than crumbly/slightly brittle. Is it the same in the US, I wonder.

David - I can’t have it in the house ’cause I just keep on eating it!
on November 30, 2007 at 8:35 pm17 Katie

I remember my mother beating fudge until her arm fell off - maybe that’s why I’ve never been a candy maker!
This would inspire me though…no, not to make it - to drive to Scotland!
on December 1, 2007 at 1:40 am18 Christina

Oh, ECG is going to die over this. Any condensed milk sweet is right up his ally! Thank you for the inspiration.
on December 1, 2007 at 7:48 am19 Wendy

Katie - I love this stuff but am totally happy to let D make it! :)

Christina - You’re welcome! Enjoy the weekend.
on December 2, 2007 at 6:00 pm20 David Hall

Hi Wendy

Congrats getting into The Guardian’s Word of Mouth ‘Faves’ list today. I was in last week and couldn’t believe it!

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/food/

Cheers
David
on December 2, 2007 at 6:24 pm21 Antonia

I adore tablet - haven’t had it for ages. So delicious but I’ve never been successful in making it. Rubber gloves at the ready, I shall definately give it another go!
P.S. How long to you reckon it keeps in the airtight jar, assuming it is is well hidden from greedy paws?
on December 2, 2007 at 7:53 pm22 Wendy

David - Thank you! This is the second time I’ve been in it (first was last week too) and I’m delighted! The Guardian is my daily read. :) Congrats to you too!

Antonia - Good question. I know my grandfather used to wrap it in greaseproof paper and then store it in an airtight tub. I have absolutely no idea how long it’d store for. Will call Dad… Ok, he says it’ll keep for up to 6 months in a cool place. :)
on December 3, 2007 at 1:19 pm23 Sara

I love you site. I’m going to try tablet soon.
I also want to do your shephed’s pie.
Thanks.
on December 3, 2007 at 6:46 pm24 Wendy

Sara - Thank you! Hope you enjoy them both!
on December 5, 2007 at 10:36 am25 kim at Hey Mum, I'm Hungry!

I work with a Scottish woman who has made tablet for us all at work. It was divine. There too were many attempts before the one that made it to the office.
on December 6, 2007 at 1:33 pm26 Wendy

Kim - I can well believe it!
on December 7, 2007 at 8:42 am27 Antonia

Thank you, Wendy. Not sure I could make it last 6 months, but that is good to know.
on December 8, 2007 at 12:18 pm28 Robert

Thank you for solving one of lifes greatest frustrations for me.

What you call tablet we call fudge in South Africa, which I also recently discovered is called burnt sugar in Ireland. I love the stuff but have never made it successfully (usually I end up with something toffee like).

Moving here trying to buy the stuff what is called fudge is generally disgustingly sweet, strangely flavoured and definitely not the right texture.

At least now I know the name of the product I must look out for, and one day when I am feeling brave enough I will definitely give this recipe a go.