Our Top 12 Tips For Homemade Fudge and Scottish Tablet (2024)

Our Top 12 Tips For Homemade Fudge and Scottish Tablet (1)

So you’ve decided to make some sweet treats and maybe you fancy some Scottish Tablet to surprise your loved ones. Or, you might have an urge to make some tasty Homemade Fudge just for yourself. Let's say you start to make your Homemade Fudge. You follow a Fudge recipe and it’s going smoothly then all of a sudden disaster strikes. Your Fudge hasn’t set so you consider throwing it away and starting from scratch. Stop! Put your wooden spoon down and take a look at our top 12 tips. Don’t waste your time or ingredients. Unless you’ve completely burnt your Fudge we havetips to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Perhaps you decide to make the perfect Scottish tablet. You follow a Scottish Tablet Recipe that has been passed down your family for years. After following every step as instructed, you notice your Scottish Tablet is starting to look like toffee. This can’t be right? Everyone else in the family uses this recipe and this never happens.

If you have a disaster when making your sweet treats, make sure to read our tips before you throw them away. From grainy fudge to burnt tablet, our top 12 tips cover the most common kitchen mistakes.

Our Top 12 Tips For Homemade Fudge and Scottish Tablet (2)

1. Why is my Fudge Grainy?

There's a variety of reasons why your Homemade Fudge is grainy.It could be that you didn’t dissolve all the sugar before boiling the Fudge mixture. Maybe it’s because there wasn’t enough liquid or fat to help the sugar dissolve. It could even be because the fudge wasn’t beaten long or hard enough.

If you are using an electric whisk instead of hand beating your Homemade Fudge it's important to remember that this is a very easy way to overbeat Fudge. When Fudge is overbeaten it can also create a grainier texture on the tongue, so be extra careful when using electric equipment to beat your Homemade Fudge!

2. Why is my Fudge not setting?

    The most common reason for Fudge not setting is due to Homemade Fudge not reaching the optimum temperature it needed to be. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees celsius it’s always going to be soft. Unless you know when your Fudge is hot enough by looking at it we recommend purchasing a sugar thermometer and take the guesswork out. Another reason is that the ratio of liquid to sugar in your Fudge ingredients is too high.

    The good news is you have probably made an amazing thick Fudge sauce! You could simply pour it over ice cream and enjoy it.

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    3. Does the weather affect Fudge making?

      Yes as ridiculous as this sounds it does make a difference. The damper the day with an increased humidity level will mean the Fudge will take longer to boil, it will boil higher in the pan and it will be a little softer set when it’s left to cool. The best day to make Fudge is a cool, dry day with low humidity. Ironically it’s normally on a damp wet Sunday afternoon most people choose to make fudge!

      You can whack your Fudge Recipe out on a damp Sunday afternoon, you just need to ensure you boil your fudge to 0.5 degrees higher than your normal temperature. Additionally, you should expect that this exercise will last a little longer and use a slightly lower heat on the pan base. This will reduce the possibility of the fudge boiling over.

      4. How long does Scottish Tablet keep?

        Sugar is a natural preservative and given that Tablet is over 50% sugar if kept in an airtight tin, stored at room temperature it can last for around 10 days. If it is kept in the fridge it can keep well for a few weeks…that’s if it ever lasts that long!

        5. How do you store Scottish Tablet?

          Tablet can be kept in a container or biscuit tin or cookie jar. It's best when kept in cool, dry conditions and the container is not completely airtight as it can increase moisture levels. When we say cool conditions we mean not in heat above 18 degrees celsius. So it’s always a good idea to consider this, especially during winter when the heating is on.

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          6. Why is the Scottish Tablet I make so pale?

            It takes time before your Scottish Tablet turns into that beautiful golden brown colour. If you rush your Scottish Tablet Recipe you’ll get a pale sweet and it won’t be proper Scottish tablet. It takes time (lots of time) and patience.

            7. Why does the Scottish Tablet I make turn out like toffee?

              If your temperature is too high for too long you’ll create toffee and the higher the temperature you go the harder the tablet will become right the way through to a proper brittle toffee which usually happens at around 149 degrees celsius. We recommend purchasing a sugar thermometer so you know when the temperature is just right.

              8. Why does my Scottish Tablet not set?

                The main reason for this is because you’ve not brought your Scottish Tablet Recipe to a temperature that’s high enough when cooking it. The Scottish Tablet mixture needs to reach a very high temperature that will ensure it will set and be boiling for a lengthy amount of time which is usually 20 minutes.

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                9. Why is my Scottish Tablet grainy?

                  If your Tablet is grainy it usually means that you have melted the sugar too quickly. However, if your Tablet is grainy but not sugary and you’d prefer it to be just a little smoother then it is all down to beating.

                  Once you take your Tablet off the heat let it cool down for 2 to 3 minutes and then beat it for a good five minutes vigorously. You’ll see the mixture thicken and it should be ready to pour. At this point you need to be extremely careful, if you pour your mixture too soon you may end up with a very grainy mixture, which usually means the sugar crystals haven’t been fully stretched.

                  10. Why does my Scottish Tablet burn in the pan?

                    There are two main reasons for your Scottish Tablet burning in the pan, the first is that you aren’t using a heavy enough pan and the second is that you need to stir your Tablet more often.

                    The pan you use needs to be large and have a heavy base, this is because you are heating the mixture to such a high temperature. The volume of the mixture will also triple as it comes to the boil, therefore you need to ensure you have a suitably sized pan!

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                    11. Why does my Scottish Tablet Recipe turn out like sugar?

                      There are three main reasons your Scottish Tablet Recipe has turned out like sugar:

                      1. You don’t have enough milk.
                      2. The butter to sugar ratio is not correct.
                      3. You’ve tried to cook the tablet too fast and you haven’t given the sugar the time it needs to melt.

                      Although Scottish tablet does have a crunchier texture to fudge, it should never taste like eating a mouthful of sugar and if it does then your sugar hasn’t dissolved properly.

                      12. What equipment do you need to make Scottish Tablet?

                        1x Hob/ cooker top

                        1x Large heavy-bottomed pan

                        1x Large long-handled spoon

                        1x Sugar thermometer

                        1x Deep edged baking tray lined with parchment paper

                        That’s all the equipment needed! It’s really important to make sure your pan is heavy-bottomed as it will be very, very hot for at least 45-50 minutes. The long-handled spoon will help avoid the spoon slipping into the boiling Tablet and keep your hands away from the fierce heat!

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                        Don't fancy making Fudge or Scottish Tablet?

                        We have a variety of delicious Handmade Fudge and Scottish Tablet if you don't fancy making your own. Try our range today!

                        Our Top 12 Tips For Homemade Fudge and Scottish Tablet (2024)

                        FAQs

                        What's the difference between Scottish fudge and tablet? ›

                        Ingredients: Scottish tablet is typically made with sugar, condensed milk, butter, and sometimes vanilla extract. Scottish fudge, on the other hand, often contains sugar, butter, cream, and milk, and may also include flavours such as chocolate or nuts.

                        What is the secret to perfect fudge? ›

                        The key to creamy, luscious fudge is controlling crystal formation. If the sucrose (table sugar) crystals are small, the fudge will feel creamy and smooth on your tongue. But if the crystals are large, the fudge develops a crumbly, dry, or even coarse texture.

                        Why is my Scottish tablet not hardening? ›

                        Why Is My Scottish Tablet Not Setting? If your Scottish tablet isn't setting up, the reason likely has to do with temperature. The mixture must be brought up to a full boil for five minutes and reach 250 F before simmering.

                        Why is my Scottish tablet grainy? ›

                        The best Scottish Tablet should be smooth and melt in your mouth. A grainy texture normally means that your sugar has melted too quickly.

                        How long does Scottish tablet last once made? ›

                        How long does Scottish Tablet Keep? Tablet is over 50% sugar and because sugar is a natural preservative, it means that if it is kept in an airtight tin and stored at room temperature, it can last for around 10 days. If you keep it in the fridge, however, it can keep for a few weeks!

                        Can you set Scottish tablet in the fridge? ›

                        Remove the pan from the heat leave to cool for 5 minutes, then beat until set. Pour into the tin and leave to set fully in the fridge for 2 or more hours. Then remove from the tin and cut into squares.

                        What not to do when making fudge? ›

                        7 Common Mistakes to Avoid for Candy Shop-Worthy Fudge and Caramels
                        1. Using the Wrong Pan. All candy and confections start by melting sugar. ...
                        2. Stirring the Sugar. ...
                        3. Not Using a Candy Thermometer. ...
                        4. Leaving Out the Parchment Paper Lining. ...
                        5. Skipping the Cooking Spray. ...
                        6. Scraping the Pot. ...
                        7. Using a Cold Knife to Slice.
                        Dec 16, 2015

                        How do you make fudge creamy and not grainy? ›

                        Grainy Fudge

                        To avoid this issue, swirl the pan instead of stirring it with a spoon. You can use a wet pastry brush to wipe down any sugar that sticks to the sides of the pot.

                        Why shouldn't you stir fudge after it reaches the correct temperature? ›

                        During cooking, sugar crystals can stick to the sides of the pan. If you stir the mixture, these crystals could fall in and crystallize a part of the sugar again.

                        Can I reboil a Scottish tablet? ›

                        If you pour it into the tin and it doesn't set, don't worry, just reboil for a little while longer (I've done this a few times) Also good with a bit of fresh ginger added at the beginning, flavours the tablet beautifully and leaves little exciting nuggets to bite into!

                        Why did my tablet go crumbly? ›

                        Answer: Some ingredients in supplements are hygroscopic, that is, they attract water. If sold as uncoated tablets and exposed to humidity, the tablets may become soft, crumbly, and fall apart.

                        How do I make my tablet not slow? ›

                        How to fix a tablet that's running slow
                        1. Check your Wi-Fi. ...
                        2. Restart your tablet. ...
                        3. Update your software. ...
                        4. Update your apps. ...
                        5. Take a look at what apps you're using. ...
                        6. Choose a lower video resolution. ...
                        7. Check the minimum requirements for the app. ...
                        8. Move your app icons to a single screen.
                        Nov 9, 2023

                        What is the name of the Scottish fudge? ›

                        Tablet (taiblet in Scots) is a medium-hard, sugary confection from Scotland. Tablet is usually made from sugar, condensed milk, and butter, which is boiled to a soft-ball stage and allowed to crystallise. It is often flavoured with vanilla and sometimes has nut pieces in it.

                        What happens if you overcook fudge? ›

                        Too cooked

                        This fudge was cooked to a temperature of 118 °C (244 °F). At this temperature, the sugar is too concentrated and there is not enough water left to form syrup around sugar crystals. The result is hard and brittle fudge.

                        What's the difference between tablet and fudge? ›

                        Some people will try to tell you that tablet is a form of fudge. However, proper tablet aficionados (and we have been doing a lot of sampling) will tell you that there is a clear difference in texture between tablet and fudge. Fudge tends to be softer, while tablet has a grainier and more brittle texture.

                        What is a Scottish tablet called? ›

                        Scottish Tablet or 'Taiblet', in Scots, is a traditional Scottish confection made from sugar, butter and condensed milk. It can also be found under the name of the 'Swiss Milk tablet' since condensed milk is sometimes called Swiss Milk.

                        What is the Scottish meaning of tablet? ›

                        TABLET, n. Also taiblet; ¶tablement. Sc. usage: a confection, composed of sugar, butter and flavouring, orig.

                        What is Scottish tablet ice cream? ›

                        Traditionally Scottish with an Italian twist. Chunks of smooth butter tablet mixed into a creamy panna cotta ice cream.

                        When should I eat Scottish tablet? ›

                        A small piece after dinner can round off a meal beautifully, or a tiny square with your afternoon tea can turn a routine break into a special occasion. The beauty of this treat is in its richness; you don't need much to feel satisfied. But why stop at the traditional way? Scottish Tablet is incredibly versatile.

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