The sweetest of all the sweat treats has to be Scottish Tablet. You really have to experience this melt-in-your-mouth sweet indulgence yourself to know why people from Scotland to Australia and beyond fall in love with it. This recipe gives you everything you need to know to make the best version of tablet – homemade!
If you love a little sugar hit or have a connection to Scotland, you may have already come across this wonderful creation that's not quite fudge and not quite candy. You haven't? Immediately collect the ingredients and whip up a batch today!
(If you love Scottish recipes, you might also like my Scottish Shortbread recipe.)
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A little history
Scottish Tablet can be traced back to the 1700s, and was reportedly made with sugar and cream in the early days. Fast forward a few hundred years, and it's now generally made with sugar, condensed milk, milk and butter.
This recipe uses golden syrup instead of butter. And I found it to be a little easier to get that hard-to-describe texture that Scottish Tablet is famous for.
It may not sound overly appealing, but it's a slightly powdery texture that melts in your mouth when you gobble it down. It's not grainy or sugary at all (unless you haven't dissolved the sugar properly – more on that later) but it's not quite as creamy as fudge.
The recipe
The recipe on which I've based my Scottish Tablet recipe is from a community cookbook celebrating Kurri Kurri's 75th anniversary.
Kurri Kurri is a small town in the coalfields area of the Hunter Valley in NSW, Australia. Most of my family have lived in or around the Kurri Kurri area for many generations. And at least two of my ancestors that settled here were originally from Scotland. In fact many people in the area can trace their ancestry back to Scotland, with Kurri Kurri having a greater percentage of people with Scottish ancestry than the rest of NSW (11.3% compared to 7.7%).
So I guess it was no surprise to find a recipe for "Scots Vanilla Tablet" in this recipe book from Kurri Kurri.
NOTE: If you're going to make this recipe, scroll to the end for the recipe card. This original recipe above does contain an omission (there's no milk listed, only the condensed milk and let me tell you it definitely will be a disastrous exercise without the milk). I've corrected this typo by adding in the milk and included more precise instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Keep scrolling for the recipe card!
Ingredient notes
You'll need a whole kilo of sugar for this recipe. Yes, you read that correctly. Use caster sugar as dissolving the sugar before you boil the mixture is a must to get the right texture. If you use larger sugar granules this process may not go as smoothly.
You'll also need sweetened condensed milk, full cream milk, golden syrup and vanilla extract.
How to make Scottish Tablet
This is one of those recipes where success or failure lies with the method.
It's not a difficult recipe, but you do need to read through the instructions carefully before launching into it.
Boiling the mixture
The recipe starts with adding all of the ingredients, apart from the vanilla extract, into a large saucepan.
TIP: Use a saucepan that's larger than you think you'll need as the mixture froths up a lot and expands during the cooking process.
Okay, so now you stir these ingredients over a very low heat to combine them and dissolve the sugar. Keep stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
TIP: Go slowly, you don't want to burn the sugar. Turn the heat up a little if necessary to completely dissolve the sugar, and then slowly bring the mixture to the boil. I emphasise the word "slowly" here.
Once it's boiling, you'll need to continue boiling for about 10-15 minutes (see image 1). Continue stirring from time to time.
TIP: If you have a sugar thermometer, the temperature of the mixture should reach 120 degrees celsius when it's ready to take off the heat.
Other ways to gauge whether it's ready is to note the colour (it'll change to a more golden colour quite quickly when it's near to ready) or by dropping a teaspoon of the mixture into cold, iced water (after about 5-10 seconds it should feel like a soft ball).
Once you take the mixture off the heat, stir through the vanilla extract.
Beating the mixture
Now, the fun part. And by fun, I mean beating the mixture for 10-15 minutes.
That's right. If you want to taste the wonders of Scottish Tablet, you need to earn it. You need to stir the mixture with a wooden spoon for 10-15 minutes, until it becomes so thick that you can hardly get the spoon through it (see image 2).
If you stop stirring for a little rest (and unless you're an Olympic athlete I predict you'll need a few little breaks) and the mixture becomes smooth on top quite quickly, you need to keep going.
As you're getting closer, the mixture will start to keep its shape when you stop beating and start to "set" on the upper edges of the bowl.
Finally, when you can hardly get the spoon through the mixture, pour it into a greased tin (see image 3). Use a spatula to spread it evenly to the edges of the tin and smooth the top as best you can.
Done! You've earned your reward, but you're going to have to wait at least 6 hours for it to set first. Ideally, overnight.
Once it is set, cut it into tiny squares (see image 4) and enjoy that first piece.
All that's left to do now is share the sweetness around!
Storing Scottish Tablet
Scottish Tablet is best stored in something that is not completely airtight, for example a cookie jar or tin.
It should last for up to 2 weeks given the sugar acts as a preserver, so it's great to make ahead for a party or as a gift.
You can also freeze Scottish Tablet for up to a few months. Wrap well before freezing. Thaw completely before eating.
Tips and troubleshooting
Be prepared
My biggest tip here is to read the entire post and recipe card below. The method is so important, so get everything clear before you start.
Grainy and sugary? Not set properly?
If your Scottish Tablet tastes sugary and grainy, or doesn't set, you can pop it back in the saucepan, melt it down slowly and boil it a little longer.
I can't get the recipe to work
It's most likely because you're bringing the mixture to the boil too fast and not dissolving the sugar properly first (in which case, slow down) or it's not reaching setting point (in which case buying a sugar thermometer might help).
Can't I just use an electric mixer to beat the mixture?
Now some people suggest using an electric mixer to beat the tablet mixture and say it is successful. You could try this, but I personally like to burn off a few calories before I even eat this stuff. Remember, there's a whole kilo of sugar in there!
More sweet stuff
If you love tablet stuff, you might also like:
Made this recipe and love it? Please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It’s such a help to others who want to try the recipe. (And it really makes my day to hear how Nana Ling's recipes are being made, shared and loved all around the world! - Libby x)
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Scottish Tablet Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 kilo caster sugar
- 1 cup condensed milk
- 1 cup full cream milk
- 2 tablespoons golden syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Grease a slice tin (approx 28 x 18cm) and line with baking paper, leaving paper overhanging at sides to assist with removal of the tablet later.
- Add all ingredients apart from the vanilla essence in a large saucepan. Mix to combine and then put on stove over low heat.
- Stir until the sugar is dissolved, turning the heat up to low-medium if necessary.
- Slowly bring the mixture to the boil and then boil for 10-15 minutes, stirring from time to time and turning down the heat if necessary to maintain a fast, steady boil.
- If you have a sugar thermometer, take the mixture off the heat when the temperature of the mixture reaches 120 degrees celsius (248 degrees fahrenheit). Otherwise, watch the mixture as it changes to a more golden colour around the 8-10 minute mark.
- Once you've take the mixture off the heat, stir in the vanilla extract.
- Now, get ready cause this is the hard part. Stir the mixture vigorously for 10-15 minutes or until it thickens so much you can hardly continue to stir it.
- If the mixture becomes smooth after you stop stirring for a few seconds, keep going. You want it to hold its shape when you stop stirring.
- Pour the mixture into the slice tin and spread out evenly with a spatula, smoothing the top as best you can.
- Allow to set for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.
- Ease the entire slab from the tin using the baking paper once set and then cut into small squares.
Notes
- If your Scottish Tablet tastes sugary and grainy, or doesn't set, you can pop it back in the saucepan, melt it down slowly and boil it a little longer.
- If the recipe doesn't work as expected, it's most likely because you're bringing the mixture to the boil too fast and not dissolving the sugar properly first (in which case, slow down) or it's not reaching setting point (in which case buying a sugar thermometer might help).
- Some people suggest using an electric mixer to beat the tablet mixture and say it is successful. I haven't tried this. I personally like to burn off a few calories before I even eat this stuff. Remember, there's a whole kilo of sugar in there!
Anne Goodale
My stepmother taught me to make tablet. She’s now 96 and was taught to make it on her first day on the ward of a Fever hospital in Scotland in 1942 as a treat for the patients, using the nurses rations of butter and sugar. She then made it continuously during her nursing career to fund raise for various hospital needs. If anyone mentions Netta’s name the first response is “tablet”😂
Traditionally it has butter in it. I do have issues with it here in Oz because it tends not to set well if the weather is humid.
Libby Hakim
Hi Anne. Oh, what memories! Thank you so much for sharing. It's interesting her name is "Netta". That was my Nan Mac's name, Netta Ling - Nana Ling's daughter. Not a common name. And I hear you about the humidity - it makes many things difficult in the kitchen! Libby x
Christine
Although I am American (my Scottish ancestors sailed here rather than further Australia), I enjoy all your recipes. I am a descendant of the McGregors and Robertson’s. My Aussie (not Scottish) husband enjoys the recipes too as he gobbles them down without a second thought! We traditionally make a shortbread that my dad and the family called Scotchcake at the holidays. Americans do not eat shortcake regularly, so it was always a treat for us, and dad made it a big deal when he got out the extra large tin basin and made a huge batch—-it was his sole contribution to any cooking! Never heard of Scottish Tablet, but will try it soon. Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing and tweaking for modern use all your family’s favorite foods!
Libby Hakim
Hi Christine - oh, so lovely to hear from you 🙂 You're welcome and so glad to hear the Aussie husband approves! Thank you for sharing your story. The Scottish Tablet is super sweet and a little addictive. Take care and happy cooking x