From Scotland, With Affection: Essential Scottish Pantry Ingredients - Bake from Scratch

      Discover these cherished staples from the Scottish pantry.

      Photo courtesy of Edinburgh Butter Co.

      Butter—Scotland, with its lush rolling hills and dedicated farmers, is renowned for producing some of the finest dairy products globally. The Edinburgh Butter Co. harnesses the premium cream from the UK, employing age-old methods that prioritize slow-churning in small batches, resulting in exceptionally smooth butter that is rich and flavorful, ideal for enhancing all your home baking endeavors. The Edinburgh Butter Co. provides both salted and unsalted butter logs and sheets, which are popular in many top cafés, delis, and hotels across the UK. Their salted butter logs contain just a dash of sea salt, and numerous well-known bakeries favor their butter sheets as a local substitute for French butter sheets used in pastry lamination. Additionally, the company produces buttermilk that is freshly churned weekly without any added preservatives or thickeners. Unfortunately, dairy products can be challenging to ship to the US, making it best enjoyed fresh during your adventures in beautiful Scotland. theedinburghbutterco.co.uk

      Honey—Honey adds a delightful and complex sweetness, whether incorporated into batter or dough, drizzled over cranachan or pudding, or mixed into a cup of tea. While honey is made worldwide and even at home, the specific flowers that bees gather pollen from significantly influence the final flavor. John Mellis has over 30 years of beekeeping experience evident in his delightful honey varieties, showcasing the vibrant local landscape. His Scottish Heather Honey is crafted from bees that collect nectar from Scottish heather, which thrives in Dumfries' climate in the Scottish Highlands, where his apiary is situated. This honey has a floral and rich taste with a subtle smoky note. scottishgourmetusa.com

      Marmalade—Although the well-known Keiller Dundee Orange Marmalade brand, which popularized orange marmalade with its thin strips of orange rind, is no longer in production, many Scottish companies continue the tradition of creating this sweet, citrus jam. MacKays, a well-regarded Scottish jam-making company established in 1938, offers various preserves, jams, and jellies. The company sources high-quality ingredients, including juicy strawberries, raspberries, and blackcurrants from eastern Scotland, and bitter oranges imported from Seville for its Dundee Orange Marmalade. Their traditional preserves and marmalades are made using a rolling boil technique in copper pans to ensure an even temperature. Preserves are produced in small batches, maintaining the high quality the company has sustained for decades. Their products can be found in numerous US grocery and specialty stores. mackays.com

      Oats—This hearty grain features prominently in many traditional Scottish recipes, including oatcakes, porridge, cranachan, and more. Hamlyns sources local oats from a network of Scottish farmers, roasting them in kilns for a delightful nutty flavor and unique, almost sweet aroma. The groats, or hulled oat kernels, can be ground into various textures, from coarse steel-cut oats (or pinhead oats) to stone-ground or finer varieties, like Scottish oatmeal, known for its finer texture. Hamlyns is also the official porridge of Coinneach MacLeod, the Hebridean Baker. Read more about Coinneach in our September/October 2025 issue. hamlynsoats.co.uk

      Sea Salt—Blackthorn Salt produces some of Scotland’s premium, environmentally sustainable sea salt. After a decade of research and experimentation, Blackthorn successfully harnessed the vigorous waves and winds of the western coast of Scotland to create all-natural sea salt through a centuries-old production method that beautifully combines nature and technology in a sustainable yet visually striking manner. Seawater collected from the ocean flows down tall graduation towers lined with native blackthorn branches. These spiky limbs increase the surface area for the water to drip, and the coastal winds (along with sunshine) evaporate the water, raising the salinity until it turns to brine, which is then heated and crystallized. The intricate crystal flakes are perfect for topping fresh cookies, enhancing the complex sweetness of baked goods, or sprinkling over your favorite savory dish for a sophisticated finishing touch. blackthornsalt.co.uk

      Tablet—Resembling American-style fudge but with a crumbly consistency, Scottish tablet is a sugary treat that will satisfy any sweet tooth. This delightful dessert has been enjoyed since the 1800s and is often a feature at celebrations and gatherings. Founded in 2022, Tabrifics aims to preserve the distinctly Scottish heritage of this sweet confection with a straightforward mission: to create delicious Scottish tablet. This family-run artisan business handcrafts each tablet in small batches, ensuring every piece of candy meets its stringent quality standards. tabrifics.com