Easy Aberdeen Butteries Recipe | Aberdeen Rowies Recipe (2024)

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Aberdeen butteries (or Aberdeen rowies / Aberdeen morning rolls as they are also commonly known) are quite a favourite here in the North East of Scotland.

Once upon a time, these were made for the fishermen to eat whilst at sea.

Due to the high-fat content, they served as an energy source and it also meant that they wouldn’t go stale for a couple of weeks!

These days, Scottish butteries are often eaten as a breakfast piece or as an afternoon snack with a cup of tea. Known for their flaky and buttery texture, they could be described as a more dense, flatter, saltier tasting croissant.

Often kept secret, you’ll find that each baker in Aberdeen has their own recipe and it really varies how each buttery turns out. Some are really soft like JG Ross, whilst others are harder and much flakier more like Murdoch Allan or once upon a time, Aitkens rowies.

We’ve created our own recipe and method to making the best Aberdeen butteries and we hope you enjoy it. Make sure to try my butteries recipe below!

Easy Aberdeen Butteries Recipe | Aberdeen Rowies Recipe (1)

Aberdeen Butteries Recipe

Overview

Makes: 16
Prep time: 30-40 mins (and 1 hour 45 minute rest time)
Cook time: 15-18 mins
Total time: 1 hour approx (and 1 hour 45 minute rest time)

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 tsp dry yeast
  • 500g all purpose flour
  • 260g butter
  • 125g lard
  • 400ml warm water
  • 1 tbsp soft brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp salt

Utensils

  • Scales
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Spatula
  • Rolling pin
    If you do not have a rolling pin then grab a bottle or tin to roll out the dough
  • Baking tray

Instructions for how to make Aberdeen Butteries

Easy Aberdeen Butteries Recipe | Aberdeen Rowies Recipe (2)
  1. Measure 180ml warm water and add your 2 1/4 tsp dry yeast. Make sure that the water is not boiling hot as it will kill the yeast, warm tap water is fine for this.

    Set aside for approx 5-10 minutes until the water begins to look creamy when mixed.

  2. In a bowl add your 500g all purpose plain flour, 1 tbsp soft brown sugar and 1 tbsp salt and mix together.
  3. Making a well in the middle of your dry ingredients, add the water with yeast and begin to mix. Slowly add your remaining warm water to the mix when required, you may not need all of this!

    You are looking for your mix to bond together, yet remain quite a sticky consistency to touch.

  4. I would recommend heavily flouring your worktop and tipping your mix onto the surface before kneading for approximately 5-10 minutes.

    Just keep adding flour to your worktop if needed, you have not failed or done anything wrong, it is just a sticky mix! Keep at it!

  5. Once you have kneaded your mix, shape into a ball and place in an oiled bowl (1-2 tbsp) before covering with cling film/tea towel.

    Leave somewhere warm for one hour.

  6. Next, you want to cream your butter and lard together. Preferably have these at room temperature for an easier time!
  7. Grab your dough which should now be around twice the size. Place this on your floured worktop and knead again for a further 1-2 minutes.
  8. Roll your dough out to make a large rectangle (or as close to a rectangle as you can make!). You want the dough to be around 1cm thick.
  9. Use your mind to imagine the rectangular dough in three even sections and cover the lower two thirds of your dough in a third of the creamed butter and lard mix.
  10. You then want to fold the top unbuttered section of dough over your middle section.
  11. And then you want to take the bottom section of buttered dough and also cover the middle section creating three layers of dough.
  12. Roll your dough out to the rectangle shape again at 1cm thick and repeat steps 9-11 a further two times.
  13. Roll your dough into one final rectangle at 1cm thick.
  14. Cut your dough into 16 even pieces and roll into a rough circle shape with your hands.
  15. Place each shape onto a lightly oiled baking tray.
  16. Leave to sit for a further 45 minutes where they will rise ever so slightly again.
  17. It is now time to preheat your oven!200C/180C fan/400F/Gas 6
  18. Use your 4 fingers to press down on the dough and spread apart slightly. This stops the dough from spreading so much during baking and also gives the butteries their mismatched shape.
  19. Bake in the oven for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
  20. Move butteries to a cooling rack.

    Enjoy!

How to eat butteries?

Everyone likes theirs differently!

I like mine warm with butter and strawberry jam.

Some like theirs plain and cold.

While others like them toasted with butter and syrup.

It is totally up to you how to choose to serve yours but make sure to spread on the flat side!

Storage

Make sure to put them in a zip-locked bag for storage to keep the air away.

Due to the high fat content, butteries will last considerably longer than most baked goods but I would suggest eating within 1-2 weeks.

Butteries can also be frozen and reheated if necessary.

Yield: 16

Aberdeen Butteries Recipe (Aberdeen Rowies/Morning Rolls)

Easy Aberdeen Butteries Recipe | Aberdeen Rowies Recipe (3)

Traditional Aberdeen Butteries or Rowies are dense pastries similar to Croissants but with a higher fat content. Perfect for a breakfast option or as a snack.

Prep Time40 minutes

Rest Time1 hour 30 minutes

Cook Time18 minutes

Total Time2 hours 28 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 tsp dry yeast
  • 500g all purpose flour
  • 260g butter
  • 125g lard
  • 400ml warm water
  • 1 tbsp soft brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp salt

Instructions

  1. Measure 180ml warm water and add your 2 1/4 tsp dry yeast. Make sure that the water is not boiling hot as it will kill the yeast, warm tap water is fine for this. Set aside for approx 5-10 minutes until the water begins to look creamy when mixed.
  2. In a bowl add your 500g all purpose plain flour, 1 tbsp soft brown sugar and 1 tbsp salt and mix together.
  3. Making a well in the middle of your dry ingredients, add the water with yeast and begin to mix. Slowly add your remaining warm water to the mix when required, you may not need all of this!You are looking for your mix to bond together, yet remain quite a sticky consistency to touch.
  4. I would recommend heavily flouring your worktop and tipping your mix onto the surface before kneading for approximately 5-10 minutes. Just keep adding flour to your worktop if needed, you have not failed or done anything wrong, it is just a sticky mix! Keep at it!
  5. Once you have kneaded your mix, shape into a ball and place in an oiled bowl (1-2 tbsp) before covering with cling film/tea towel. Leave somewhere warm for one hour.
  6. Next, you want to cream your butter and lard together. Preferably have these at room temperature for an easier time!
  7. Grab your dough which should now be around twice the size. Place this on your floured worktop and knead again for a further 1-2 minutes.
  8. Roll your dough out to make a large rectangle (or as close to a rectangle as you can make!). You want the dough to be around 1cm thick.
  9. Use your mind to imagine the rectangular dough in three even sections and cover the lower two thirds of your dough in a third of the creamed butter and lard mix.
  10. You then want to fold the top unbuttered section of dough over your middle section.
  11. And then you want to take the bottom section of buttered dough and also cover the middle section creating three layers of dough.
  12. Roll your dough out to the rectangle shape again at 1cm thick and repeat steps 9-11 a further two times.
  13. Roll your dough into one final rectangle at 1cm thick.
  14. Cut your dough into 16 even pieces and roll into a rough circle shape with your hands.
  15. Place each shape onto a lightly oiled baking tray.
  16. Leave to sit for a further 45 minutes where they will rise ever so slightly again.
  17. It is now time to preheat your oven!200C/180C fan/400F/Gas 6
  18. Use your 4 fingers to press down on the dough and spread apart slightly. This stops the dough from spreading so much during baking and also gives the butteries their mismatched shape.
  19. Bake in the oven for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
  20. Move butteries to a cooling rack.

Notes

Make sure to put them in a zip-locked bag for storage to keep the air away.

Due to the high fat content, butteries will last considerably longer than most baked goods but I would suggest eating within 1-2 weeks.

Butteries can also be frozen and reheated if necessary.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 305Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 543mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 4g

Estimation. May not be accurate.

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Easy Aberdeen Butteries Recipe | Aberdeen Rowies Recipe (4)
Easy Aberdeen Butteries Recipe | Aberdeen Rowies Recipe (5)
Easy Aberdeen Butteries Recipe | Aberdeen Rowies Recipe (6)
Easy Aberdeen Butteries Recipe | Aberdeen Rowies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between a buttery and a rowie? ›

6) Rowies and butteries are the same thing

Some have debated whether rowies and butteries are different, they are not. Rowie is the word used in Aberdeen and buttery is the word used in Aberdeenshire.

What is a rowie in Scottish? ›

A buttery, also known as a rowie or Aberdeen roll or just Roll, is a savoury bread roll originating from Aberdeen, Scotland.

What is an Aberdeenshire buttery? ›

Butteries, also known as Rowies or even Aberdeen rolls, originated in the northeast of Scotland as an alternative bread roll for fisherman to eat while out at sea.

How do you eat a Scottish buttery? ›

They are usually served toasted with either butter or jam but can also be eaten cold with no topping at all. You'll find these treats in almost any bakery in the North East of Scotland and beyond, but we have a delicious recipe so that you can make 16 in your own kitchen!

How long do butteries keep? ›

Storage. Make sure to put them in a zip-locked bag for storage to keep the air away. Due to the high fat content, butteries will last considerably longer than most baked goods but I would suggest eating within 1-2 weeks.

Who invented the Aberdeen Rowie? ›

The buttery, or Aberdeen rowies as they are called in the North East of Scotland, was said to have been invented or rather created by a local baker for an Aberdonian fisherman. He disliked the hard biscuits that were the standard ration aboard ships.

How do Scots say no? ›

If you feel like trying a local delicacy in Edinburgh, grab some of the delicious local fish n' chips, but listen out for the question “salt n' sauce wi yer chips?” In Edinburgh, locals like salt and a watery brown sauce (a little like HP Sauce) on their chips. You can say “aye” (yes) or “nae” (no).

What does wee mean in Scottish slang? ›

Many words spoken by Scottish people can be determined without too much effort. “Aye” means “yes”, “wee” means “little or small” and “nae” means “no”. If something is too “dear” , they could be referring to how expensive it is instead of how beautiful or precious it is to them.

Where can I get butteries Aberdeen? ›

Butteries - U.K Delivery - Finest bakery- Chapel street Aberdeen - Ross Bakery.

What is a medieval buttery? ›

A buttery was originally a large cellar room under a monastery, in which food and drink were stored for the provisioning of strangers and passing guests.

What is Aberdeen, Scotland famous for? ›

Since the discovery of North Sea oil in 1969, Aberdeen has been known as the offshore oil capital of Europe. Based upon the discovery of prehistoric villages around the mouths of the rivers Dee and Don, the area around Aberdeen has been thought to have been settled for at least 6,000 years.

Can you put butteries in the toaster? ›

Beyond the first day they are just about acceptable if heated and I would do so either under the grill or in the toaster - either is fine and has never caused me any issues! Microwave is not a great option - it's about as successful as puff pastry in the microwave!

Can you freeze Scottish butteries? ›

These butteries store really well. You can also freeze them if you wish but they are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven when they are crispy hot.

What is kept in a buttery? ›

The second store room in a typical hall house was the buttery (Fr. boutellerie = butt and bottle store) where wine and ale were decanted and stored, along with flagons and cups. Contrary to common belief, the buttery was not for storing butter.

What is a buttery in England? ›

In the Middle Ages, a buttery was a storeroom for liquor, the name being derived from the Latin and French words for bottle or, to put the word into its simpler form, a butt, that is, a cask. A butler, before he became able to take charge of the ewery, pantry, cellar, and the staff, would be in charge of the buttery.

What is a buttery in a house? ›

According to Wikipedia, the buttery was a service room in a medieval house where butts, barrels or bottles of liquor were stored and then served by the BUTler. The original butler was the guy in charge of the buttery. It had nothing to do with butter.

What does a buttery look like? ›

If you've never tried a buttery, it's a bit of a cross between a roll and a croissant, as they're made with layers of pastry and a butter and lard mixture that give them a flakey texture. Some say they look a bit like a squashed croissant.

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