Scottish tablet is a precursor to chocolate fudge. It is a rich, very sweet candy frequently cut into small squares. Some liken the consistency to fudge, but suggest tablet is a bit grainier in texture. Others liken the taste of tablet to buttery toffee, but concede it is a bit softer and less chewy than toffee.
One can purchase tablet primarily in Scotland, though some British companies also make it. It is very hard to obtain in the US. However, Internet stores make it quite easy to order tablet online.
Many Americans of Scottish descent prefer to make their own tablet. But ingredients may be a bit challenging to find. A number of tablet recipes call for golden syrup, which is again more likely to be found in the UK. One can generally substitute corn syrup, however, if golden syrup is unavailable. Alternately, many recipes exist which do not use golden syrup.
The basic ingredients of tablet are sugar, butter, condensed milk and a small amount of fresh milk. Some recipes additionally call for a bit of vanilla flavoring, but this is not considered a traditional flavor of tablet.
Sugar quantity is quite high. Essentially, there is usually ten parts sugar to one part butter. The sugar in the condensed milk further adds to the sweetness. The ingredients are heated and boiled to the soft ball stage on a candy thermometer, 235 F (112.78 C). If one doesn’t have a candy thermometer, a small amount of the tablet mixture on a spoon can be immersed in cold water. If the candy forms a soft ball, it is essentially ready.
At soft ball stage, the tablet mixture is removed from the heat and beaten heavily for several minutes until one can feel the mixture thicken. The tablet is then poured into a nonstick pan, or onto a marble board to be cooled.
Some recipes suggest cooling the tablet overnight in the refrigerator. This will result in a more grainy texture, but many insist the graininess is part of its overall charm. Cooks recommend cutting the tablet into small squares or rectangles, since it is very sweet.
Often, tablet may be served alongside chocolate fudge, or may be given as a gift during the holiday. Those familiar with candy making usually can easily make tablet. Since the ingredients are relatively few, the most care needs to be taken during the cooking process, as overcooking the mix will produce too hard a candy.