The Buttery or Rowie is a unique breakfast item with a distinctive crispy, flaky, flattened structure similar to a croissant, associated with Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. It has a pronounced buttery, salty taste. The buttery is produced commercially but with fats such as palm oil and marg, posing a threat to the original product.

It is a very popular locally and unheard of elsewhere. In 1899 an Arbroath street-seller’s breadbasket was mentioned to contain “butteries.” It was taken onboard boats by fishermen sailing from Aberdeen. Its high fat content, often meat dripping, provided a concentrated source of energy and this in addition to its salt content give the product a long shelf life.

Aberdeen held a Buttery Championship & there is a recipe available for these HERE

photo: Bob Donald SF Aberdeen

recipe posted by SF Aberdeen member Lesley Gillespie