Try This Scottish Breakfast Staple: Tattie Scones (2024)

No Scottish breakfast is complete without tattie scones (tattie is a familiar term for potatoes). These are not like traditional British scones, but more of a potato pancake, and often served with sausage and bread. They're sometimes called potato scones, and you may also hear them called fadge or potato bread in Ireland. No matter the name, tattie scones are quick and easy to make and a clever way to use up leftover mashed potatoes.

There are many Scottish recipes for tattie scones, but this is a favorite. Some argue that tattie scones should not include egg, but adding the egg helps to glue the potatoes together. Plus, it results in a lighter scone. You can make these in the oven or on a skillet—this recipes shows instructions for both methods.

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"These were delicious hot and drizzled with melted butter. The recipe was easy to make and used few ingredients. I used a 5-inch round cutter, which when quartered, made 16 small scones. I used the oven method. The scones were lightly browned and risen within 20 minutes." —Diana Rattray

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A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

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  2. Heat the oven to 400 F (200 C/Gas Mark 6).

  3. Place the mashed potatoes in a large bowl and add all the other ingredients to form a sticky dough.

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  4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to approximately1/2-inch thickness.

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  5. Cut into saucer-sized rounds then score a cross into the dough to mark 4 equal wedges.

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  6. Grease a baking sheet with butter and bake the scones for 20 minutes until golden brown and risen.

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  7. The scones can also be cooked on the stovetop on a griddle or heavy-based frying pan. Cook the scones 5 minutes on either side until golden and risen.

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  8. Serve with butter and eat warm. Enjoy!

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Tips

  • Mashed potatoes made from starchy potatoes work best. The waxy varieties will create either a waxy or a lumpy mash. Traditionally, these work best with either Maris Piper, or King Edward potatoes, which are not typically available in the U.S.; try russet potatoes or Idaho potatoes. Always check that the variety you buy is suitable for mashing.
  • Ensure that the mashed potatoes are not too wet; don't add too much cream, milk, or butter. Drier mashed potatoes create a dough that will roll out more easily, especially if you include the egg.
  • If the dough is not firm enough, add a little more flour.

Recipe Variations

  • Make gluten- and dairy-free fadge by switching to gluten-free flour and baking soda.
  • Skip the egg and use vegan butter or 2 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil for vegan tattie scones.

How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat Tattie Scones

  • Wrap leftover scones in foil and store in the refrigerator for up to two days. Heat them up in a hot pan or oven before serving with a little bit of butter.
  • To freeze, transfer the cooled scones to zip-close bags for up to one month. Reheat on a greased griddle or oven, or pop them in the toaster.

What's in a Typical Scottish Breakfast?

While it may vary from place to place, the traditional Scottish breakfast menu typically includes sausage, fried egg, streaky bacon, tattie scones, fried tomatoes and mushrooms, haggis or black pudding, baked beans, and toast.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
144Calories
4g Fat
24g Carbs
4g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6to 8
Amount per serving
Calories144
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g5%
Saturated Fat 2g10%
Cholesterol 28mg9%
Sodium 230mg10%
Total Carbohydrate 24g9%
Dietary Fiber 2g6%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 5mg27%
Calcium 49mg4%
Iron 2mg8%
Potassium 329mg7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • Potato
  • breakfast
  • scottish
  • christmas
Try This Scottish Breakfast Staple: Tattie Scones (2024)

FAQs

What is tattie scone made of? ›

A typical tattie scone is made with mashed potato (potato and butter—no milk is used—with salt to taste) and plain flour is added to make it into a dough which is then rolled out and put on a griddle (Scots: girdle) to cook.

Are potato cakes the same as tattie scones? ›

It seems the Irish call them Potato bread, the English call them potato cakes (Lancashire), Scottish call them potato scones (tottie scones). Irish potato bread is typically made from mashed potato, and either flour or baking soda, and is usually fried.

How to eat Scottish potato scones? ›

As well as being a peerless accompaniment to a fry-up, they are delicious hot with melted butter, or cold and blini-style with smoked fish and cream cheese. Proper Scots even like them scone-style with jam and a cup of strong tea.

What is the difference between Scottish and English scones? ›

British scones are usually lightly sweetned and contain fruit like currants or berries. Scottish scones are often closer to a biscuit and are made with buttermilk, though some Scottish grandmothers will swear you should only use sour milk.

What is a full Scottish breakfast? ›

So, what is a full Scottish breakfast? Usually made up of bacon, link sausages, Lorne sausage (also known as square sausage or slice), black pudding, haggis, baked beans, fried mushrooms and tomatoes, toast, tattie scones and fried eggs, the full Scottish breakfast is a sight to behold.

What does Tattie mean in British? ›

tat·​tie ˈta-tē Scotland. : potato.

Why do Scottish people call potatoes Tatties? ›

The tradition continued into the 1980s, when the advent of new farm machinery such as potato harvesters made hand picking potatoes obsolete. The word "tattie" comes from the Scots word for potato.

Can you eat Tattie scones cold? ›

Serve warm or cold. (*) This is the weight after cooking. Be sure to use floury potatoes if you can. Waxy potatoes make the tattie scones heavier and the dough is impossibly sticky.

Can you toast Tattie scones? ›

Toaster is fine and the easiest way. It serves a purpose to make them warm but really isn't the best way but it is easy and fast. Fried is optimal, preferably soaking up flavours and fats.

Are potato scones the same as potato farls? ›

Also known as potato cakes or scones, potato farls are made from a flour and potato dough which is rolled flat and cut into slices, ready to cook.

What are tatties made of? ›

Haggis is traditionally served with mashed neeps (turnips) and mashed tatties (potatoes).

What are scones made of? ›

A scone (/ˈskɒn/ SKON or /ˈskoʊn/ SKOHN) is a traditional British baked good, popular in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is usually made of either wheat flour or oatmeal, with baking powder as a leavening agent, and baked on sheet pans. A scone is often slightly sweetened and occasionally glazed with egg wash.

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