Best Traditional Scottish Butterscotch Candy Recipes

AUTHENTIC BUTTERSCOTCH CANDY

Steps:

• Cut a strip of non-stick foil to the same width as the bottom of an 8" or 9" baking dish. Line the pan, making sure the edges of the foil extend up and over opposite sides of the pan. Don't worry about the unlined sides.
• Spray the whole shebang very well with pan spray, especially the unlined sides. Set aside on a heat-proof surface.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat.
• Stir in the sugar, molasses and salt.
• When the mixture is good and liquidy, increase the heat to medium to medium-high, and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
• Cook the candy to 250F and then pour into your prepared pan.
• Let sit out until barely warm, and then score the candy into 1" squares for later cutting. Run a thin spatula between the unlined sides of the pan and the butterscotch, and put it in the fridge to firm up completely.
• Remove to a cutting board sprayed with pan spray, and cut into whatever shapes you want. This will make about 64-81 pieces of butterscotch, depending on how you cut them. Or it might only make four pieces, but I wouldn't advise that.
• Store, covered, in the fridge.

SCOTTISH BUTTER TABLET

Steps:

• Generously butter a 13x18-inch sheet pan or two 8x8-inch square pans, and set aside.
• Stir together condensed milk, cream, sugar, salt, and butter in a large (4-quart), heavy-bottomed saucepan. Place over medium heat, and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. When the mixture has reached a boil, turn heat to low, and continue cooking and stirring, until a candy thermometer reaches between 234 and 240 degrees F (112 to 116 degrees C), or until a small amount of the mixture dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface. This should take about 20 minutes.
• Once the mixture has attained a light tan color, remove from heat, and beat vigorously (but carefully!) with a wooden spoon until the mixture cools and thickens. Stop beating when you can feel the mixture turn from smooth to grainy. Mix in vanilla extract.
• Pour into the prepared pan. Don't scrape any crystallized bits from the bottom of the pan, or it may cause the whole batch to crystallize. While still warm, score the tablet into 2-inch squares with the tip of a paring knife. Allow to cool 6 hours to overnight until set. Cut into squares with a serrated knife. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

BUTTERSCOTCH HARD CANDY

Steps:

• Butter a 15x10x1-in. pan with 1 teaspoon butter; set aside. Cube remaining butter and set aside., In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, water and corn syrup. Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat without stirring. Cook, uncovered, until a candy thermometer reads 270° (soft-crack stage). Add the honey, salt and remaining butter; stir constantly until the mixture reaches 300° (hard-crack stage)., Remove from the heat. Stir in the rum extract. Pour into prepared pan without scraping; do not spread. Cool until the candy is almost set, 1-2 minutes. Score into 1-in. squares; cool completely. Break squares apart. Store in an airtight container.

BUTTERSCOTCH CANDY

Steps:

• Generously butter a 10x15 inch baking pan (with sides).
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, butter, white sugar, water, vinegar and salt. Cover and bring to a boil. Remove lid and heat, without stirring, to 270 to 290 degrees F (132 to 143 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms hard but pliable threads. Pour in vanilla, but do not stir. Remove from heat and pour into prepared pan. Let cool slightly before cutting into squares and allowing candy to cool completely.