Christmas just isn’t Christmas in my family without Tablet. What’s Tablet I hear you ask? No, it’s not some strange medication. Tablet is a Scottish confection that has a long history that was first documented in The Household Book of Lady Grisell Baillie in the 18th Century. While traditionally it was made with sugar and cream, the modern version uses condensed milk and sugar, which is what my family recipe is based on.
I have fond memories of my Grandmother making Tablet every Christmas. My Grandmothers recipe was passed onto her two daughters, my Mum and my Aunt, and then, when I moved out of home it was passed onto me.
So what does it taste like? It’s somewhat like a caramel sauce turned into fudge. And when it’s cooking it smells absolutely divine…and oh so Christmassy to me.
If you want to try your hand at making Tablet be warned you may get a sore arm from stirring, because it really does need careful supervision to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the saucepan. I have fond memories of stirring Tablet as a child, and it almost seemed magical to me back then watching it slowly turn from a light cream colour to a golden caramel.
For my version of Tablet I decided to add Vanilla Bean, to spice things up a little bit. When you’ve made your Vanilla Tablet wrap it up in cellophane and give it as a gift or serve it in tiny squares along with coffee at the end of your Christmas meal, in place of a dessert.
Do you have any family food traditions where it just wouldn’t be Christmas if you didn’t have them?
| Vanilla Bean Scottish Tablet |
- 400ml of Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1 pound of sugar
- 2 oz of butter
- 1/4 cup of water
- seeds of 2 small (or 1 large) vanilla beans, scraped
- Grease a medium sized non stick rectangular cake tin or line with baking paper.
- Add the sugar, water, vanilla seeds, butter and the condensed milk to a large non stick pan and turn the heat on medium-high and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and continue to stir. I find using a whisk helps. As the mixture cooks it will start to darken in colour. You want a rich caramel colour and you want the mixture to begin to thicken. As the mixture starts to darken and thicken (around 20 minutes) take teaspoonfuls of the mixture and place onto a plate and leave it a for a few minutes. Use a knife and spread the mixture across the plate. What you want to see is grooves from the knife in the mixture. Also taste it, it should have a slight sugared texture. When it’s at this point it’s ready to remove from the heat. If the mixture is chewy, it’s not there yet, and keep cooking.
- When the mixture is ready pour it into the prepared cake tin. You will need to do this very quickly because as soon as you remove it from the heat it will start to set. Try to get as much of the mix out of the pot and into the pan by scraping the pot. Roll the pan from side to side to spread the mix evenly in the pan. Set aside to cool. Once the mixture is set cut into small squares.
If you have left the mixture to set for a few hours and it still hasn’t set, then it needs further cooking. Don’t worry though, you don’t need to throw it out and start again, simply place the mixture back into a saucepan, let it melt, and continue cooking.
If you notice flecks don’t worry, reduce the heat and make sure you stir more. However, if you see black streaks, unfortunately it’s burnt.
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{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
I love that! Your Scottish tablets look very tempting. A great gift.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thank you Rosa
This looks like something my mum used to make when I was little. Loved it, ingredients look very familiar .. I am going to try making this one. Thanks Jen!
Sneh | Cook Republic recently posted..Milk Bundt Cake
Let me know how it goes Sneh, and whether it’s similar to what your Mum made.
It is time that my sister and I carry on the food traditions. My mom is getting up in years and has lost interest in baking and cooking. I sent my dad’s favorite sugar cookies, which he considers are required for the holidays.
Your batch of vanilla tablet here does look delicious. Perfect for the holiday dessert plate or to give as gifts. While there are always chocolate things during the holiday I try not to forget about the pleasing taste of vanilla and make sure there is something offered of that flavor. Enjoy the season my friend!
Tina@flourtrader recently posted..Tunnel of Cheesecake Blueberry Bundt
Food traditions are so important I think. It’s a shame that some get lost over the years, so I’m trying to make sure I keep what traditions I can from my family. Sadly we don’t have all that many, but hopefully one day I will be able to pass those on
I am sure you will be able to do the same too.
Merry Christmas Tina.
Hey…this is wonderful..how many forms and names a single recipe can take across the world..we make cashew and chickpea fudges or Katlis in India the similar way. Yours look lovely.
Sanjeeta kk recently posted..Sugar Free Wholewheat Date Brownies – A Delightful Healthy Bake
It’s so interesting isn’t it Sanjeeta. That’s one of the great things about food, it’s so transportable and adaptable.
Happy Holidays
Yum looks just as good as Nan use to make.
Thanks Debbie
Are you making any this year?
Ooh this looks lovely! Traditional family recipes are wonderful, especially at this time of year. We have loads of things we have to make like mincemeat, christmas cake, mince pies, traditional turkey roast etc etc. We added stollen to the list last year too.
Emma @ Poires au Chocolat recently posted..Maple and Nutmeg Biscuits
Traditional foods are the best as they always seem so comforting.
Merry Christmas Emma
Oh i love this stuff! Very nice! Happy Holidays!
Delishhh recently posted..Rugelach
Happy Holidays to you too
Not this year, my sister kindly gave me some. She used her new thermomix to make it so she didn’t have to stir it for 20 minutes!
What a kind sister you have
Love! Stud is Scottish and I had my first taste of tablets years back in Edinburgh Castle’s gift shop
haha! Its so delicious! Thanks for the recipe 
I can make him some to remind him of home!
Nic@diningwithastud recently posted..Santas crunchy forest cake
I’m told our family recipe has less sugar than the traditional recipes…even so it’s still incredibly sweet. Hopefully Stud will enjoy it.
Merry Christmas to you and Stud
Food traditions are the best sort of traditions in my opinion. I can’t wait to create them when I have kids.
I just have to correct you on the ‘instead of dessert.’ Surely you meant to say have dessert, then serve vanilla tablets with coffee? I would make room for these ever after a full dessert!
Seeing everyone posting a little extra Christmas sweet recipe is tiring me out this week. I keep reading a blog then racing to the kitchen to make what I see!
Claire @ Claire K Creations recently posted..Chocolate torte (aka black beast) – the richest most delicious cake ever
Hahaha yes, that’s exactly what I meant Claire, dessert and then tablet
Well, that’s how it’s done in my family anyway! 
Merry Christmas
I am very fond of recipes that are passed along in families. Holiday recipes are compelling, evoking a special time and place of comfort. Tablet sounds delectably sweet and exceptionally delightful!
On Christmas morning we must have homemade Cinnamon Rolls. And there are always tons of cookies!
Mmmm I can imagine how wonderful your cinnamon rolls would smell on Christmas morning. Merry Christmas Deb
It looks lovely and what a great way to remember your Grandmother ……
tania@mykitchenstories.com.au recently posted..Mini Last Minute Christmas Cakes
Love the name of this dessert
Tablet hehe!!!
And it seems easy enough for me hahaha YAY!!! Thanks for the recipe!!!
Daisy@Nevertoosweet recently posted..Taiwan Treasures – Ai Yu (Fig) Jelly
You’re welcome Daisy. Merry Christmas
Mmm.. so drool-worthy! We make similar tablets during our Hindu festival as well
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com recently posted..Toasted Buckwheat Jammie Dodgers
Our family Christmas involves so many traditions – sausages and lentils on Christmas Eve, panettone, numerous dishes on Christmas day…more than I can list here! We do love a good bit of fudge too….and your tablet looks like just the sort of thing we’d love to indulge in at Christmas.
thelittleloaf recently posted..White Chocolate & Peppermint Candy Cane Macarons
I’ve never made tablet…. looks great! I love family traditions!! Thanks for sharing yours! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Lisa @ Tarte du Jour recently posted..Roasted pears in Marsala wine and honey and then drizzled with chocolate ganache
Thanks Lisa! Merry Christmas to you and your family too.