Tablet (confectionery)

Tablet

Tablet (taiblet in Scots[1][2][3]) is a medium-hard, sugary confection from Scotland. Tablet is usually made from sugar, condensed milk, and butter, boiled to a soft-ball stage and allowed to crystallize. It is often flavoured with vanilla or whisky, and sometimes has nut pieces in it.[2][4]

Tablet differs from fudge in that it has a brittle, grainy texture, where fudge is much softer. Well-made tablet is a medium-hard confection, not as soft as fudge, but not as hard as hard candy.

Commercially available tablet often uses fondant instead of the milk products. This produces a slightly less granular texture compared to the traditional home-made tablet, and is supposedly much easier to prepare on a commercial scale.

History

According to The Scots Kitchen by F. Marian McNeill, tablet is first noted in The Household Book of Lady Grisell Baillie in the early 18th century.[5] The traditional recipe uses just sugar and cream. More modern recipes substitute condensed milk and butter for the cream, as it has a tendency to burn when boiled.

Names

Tablet is sometimes referred to as Swiss Milk tablet (Swiss Milk being a term used by some for condensed milk)[6][7][8] or butter tablet.

Similar confections

Tablet is almost identical to Québécois sucre à la crème. It's also reportedly similar to South American tableta de leche. Another close relative can be found in the Netherlands that goes by the name of borstplaat, eaten during the time that Sinterklaas is celebrated. A similar sweet, often with nuts or raisins added, is known as kiri aluwa or "milk toffee" in Sri Lanka.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rennie, Susan (ed.). "Dictionary of the Scots Language (DSL)". Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  2. 1 2 Bell, John Joy (1903). Wee Macgreegor. pp. 8–9.
  3. ↑ "Full text of "The household book of Lady Grisell Baillie, 1692-1733"". Archive.org. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
  4. ↑ "Scottish Tablet Company". Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  5. ↑ The Scots Kitchen. Paperback: 259 pages Mercat Press; New Ed edition (25 Oct 2004) ISBN 1-84183-070-4
  6. ↑ S.W.R.I. (1977). S.W.R.I. Jubilee Cookery Book. Edinburgh: Scottish Women's Rural Institutes; Reprint of 8th Edition (1968), p180
  7. ↑ David Thomson, IT Department and Community Information, Central Library, The Wellgate, Dundee, DD1 1DB, 01382 431525 (2011-02-01). "Swiss Milk Tablet 1935 | Bygone News". Bygone.dundeecity.gov.uk. Retrieved 2013-06-05.
  8. ↑ "Tablet | VisitScotland Food and Drink". Eatscotland.visitscotland.com. Retrieved 2013-06-05.

External links

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