This Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe Is Pure Gold (2024)

It has layers of pure decadence!

By Leah Perez

This Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe Is Pure Gold (1)This Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe Is Pure Gold (2)This Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe Is Pure Gold (3)This Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe Is Pure Gold (4)This Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe Is Pure Gold (5)

4.6

5 Ratings

Jump to recipe

For fans of Twix bars—shortbread bars layered up with caramel and coated in chocolate—this millionaire shortbread was made for you! This chocolate dessertcan be sliced up into any size you prefer, making it the perfectbake sale treat, homemade holiday food gift,or unique addition to aChristmas cookie plate.

What is millionaire’s shortbread?

This treat is made up of three distinct layers. It starts with buttery shortbread pressed into a 13-by-9-inch pan. This size pan may seem large, butyou’ll want to make plenty since these will go fast! The second layer is a soft, chewy caramel layer that is surprisingly easy to make on the stove. Simpler than fudge, a combination of sweetened condensed milk, butter, corn syrup, brown sugar, and heavy cream boils into a thick caramel candy. Make sure the shortbread is set and ready because this caramel needs to be poured on immediately! The final layer is a dark chocolate ganache that balances the buttery shortbread and the sweet caramel. The heavy cream and coconut oil make the ganache shine and is easier to cut than melted chocolate alone. Finally, a nice sprinkle of salt always complimentscaramel and chocolate.

Why is it called millionaire’s shortbread?

Also called caramel shortbread, millionaire’s slice, and Wellington squares, among other things, these treats are adapted from traditional Scottish shortbread. The “millionaire” portion of the name is likely because of the level of decadence to the almost fudge-like treat. They are closely associated with Australian, New Zealand, and Scottish cuisine. If you’re the first visitor to a house on New Year’s Day in a Scottish home, you might be lucky enough to be treated to some millionaire shortbread. Now that’s a happy new year!

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

Yields:
40 - 48 serving(s)
Prep Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 45 mins

Ingredients

For the shortbread:

  • 2 3/4 c.

    all-purpose flour

  • 3/4 c.

    granulated sugar

  • 1/4 c.

    cornstarch

  • 1/4 tsp.

    kosher salt

  • 1 c.

    plus 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

For the caramel filling:

  • 1

    (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

  • 1 c.

    light brown sugar

  • 1/2 c.

    unsalted butter, cubed

  • 1/2 c.

    light corn syrup

  • 1/3 c.

    heavy whipping cream

  • 1/2 tsp.

    kosher salt

  • 1 tsp.

    vanilla extract

For the ganache:

  • 2

    (4-oz.) bars bittersweet 60% chocolate, finely chopped

  • 1/3 c.

    heavy whipping cream

  • 1 tsp.

    coconut oil

  • Flaky salt, for sprinkling

Directions

    1. Step1For the shortbread: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with foil, allowing the edges to hang over the sides of the pan.
    2. Step2In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Pour in the melted butter, stirring until a crumbly dough forms. Do not over-work the dough.Press the dough into the prepared pan in an even layer.
    3. Step3Bake until lightly golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the pan to a wire rack and allow it to cool for 15 minutes.
    4. Step4For the filling: In a medium saucepan, stir together the sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, cream, and salt until well combined. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture darkens, begins to pull away from the sides of the pot, and reaches 235°F,12 to 14 minutes. Stir in the vanilla extract.Immediately pour the mixture over the shortbread crust, smoothing with a spatula. Allow to cool completely, about 1 hour.
    5. Step5For the ganache: Place the chocolate, cream, and oil in a glass measuring cup. Microwave the mixture at 50% power in 15-second intervals until the chocolate is melted, about 1 minute.
    6. Step6Pour the chocolate over the cooled caramel, smoothing it with an offset spatula. Sprinkle the surface with flaky salt.
    7. Step7Allow the bars to chill until set in the refrigerator, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
    8. Step8Using the foil edges, remove the bars from the pan and slice as desired.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

Cookies

Peep These Cute Bird's Nest Cookies for EasterThe Cutest Homemade Cookies to Bake for Mom46 Pretty Spring Desserts to Kick Off the SeasonLemon Crinkle Cookies Are a Bite of Sunshine

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

Carrot Cake Cookies Are a Bite-Sized Easter TreatIf You've Got a Sweet Tooth, Try Our SnacksPucker Up for These Homemade Lemon Bars25 Homemade Cookies for Your Spring Baking List
Lemon Shortbread Is the Ultimate Spring CookieTriple Chocolate CookiesBlondies Are Buttery, Soft, and Easy to BakeSnickerdoodles

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

This Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe Is Pure Gold (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between millionaire and billionaire shortbread? ›

What's the difference between millionaire shortbread and billionaire shortbread? Millionaire shortbread has a caramel centre, billionaire shortbread has a decadent salted caramel centre. Can shortbread biscuits be frozen? Yes shortbread cookies and biscuits (even with caramel and chocolate) freeze perfectly.

What is millionaire shortbread made of? ›

To make the shortbread, mix 250g plain flour and 75g caster sugar in a bowl. Rub in 175g softened butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Knead the mixture together until it forms a dough, then press into the base of the prepared tin.

Why is the caramel not setting on my millionaire shortbread? ›

If your caramel is too soft, you didn't do it for long enough, so should definitely be kept in the fridge. You want to use a good quality pan if you can, as some pans have a very thin base. Basically, if the base is too thin, you might burn the caramel.

What is another name for millionaire shortbread? ›

Caramel shortbread, also known as caramel squares, caramel slice, millionaire's shortbread, millionaire's slice, chocolate caramel shortbread, or Wellington squares is a biscuit confectionery composed of a shortbread biscuit base topped with caramel and milk chocolate.

What's the difference between Scottish shortbread and regular shortbread? ›

As mentioned above, the main differences between the two styles of cookies are butter content and inclusion of leavening agents. These differences result in very different texture and taste experiences. No matter your preference, you can be sure to get a quality product from Walkers Shortbread.

What is the world's famous shortbread? ›

Walker's Shortbread is honoured to carry a Royal Warrant, granted by Her Majesty the Queen, for the supply of Shortbread and Oatcakes. Walker's Shortbread is a gift fit for a king, and a treat befitting any special occasion.

Why do Scottish people eat shortbread? ›

Shortbread was an expensive luxury and for ordinary people, shortbread was a special treat reserved just for special occasions such as weddings, Christmas and New Year.

Why is Scottish shortbread called shortbread? ›

Shortbread is so named because of its crumbly texture (from an old meaning of the word "short", as opposed to "long", or stretchy). The cause of this texture is its high fat content, provided by the butter. The short or crumbly texture is a result of the fat inhibiting the formation of long protein (gluten) strands.

Why is shortbread expensive? ›

As shortbread was made with butter, sugar and flour, it would be both expensive and difficult to get hold of the ingredients, and so became synonymous with wealth, luxury and celebrations.

What is the trick to shortbread? ›

Tips To Make the Best Shortbread Cookies
  1. Choose High Quality Butter. No matter what brand of butter you buy, if it's real butter, you can rest assured that it's the best. ...
  2. Keep Ingredients Simple. ...
  3. Add Flavor. ...
  4. Don't Overwork. ...
  5. Shape Dough. ...
  6. Chill Before Baking. ...
  7. Bake Until Golden. ...
  8. Add Finishing Touches.

What is the mistake in making shortbread? ›

The most common mistakes when making shortbread are over-working the dough, and incorporating too much flour.

Why does my shortbread have a bitter aftertaste? ›

However, most often it isn't old butter that's the culprit when it comes to bitter shortbread, but rather duration and temperature. Bake Club claims that over-baking, or even baking shortbread on too high a heat, can cause the butter to burn, leading to a sour or pungent aftertaste in the cookies.

What's the difference between caramel shortbread and millionaire shortbread? ›

It also has a shortbread base, caramel, and chocolate. But the caramel is usually softer and gooey, unlike the firmer caramel in Millionaire Shortbread.

What is shortbread called in America? ›

Americans are the outlier on how we use "biscuit"

To most of the rest of the English-speaking world, a biscuit is what Americans would refer to as either a cookie or a cracker. Biscuits can be sweet (shortbread) or savory. They're baked in the oven, and they're crisp, not chewy.

What country makes the best shortbread? ›

Scotland has gifted the world with many treasures, including the Loch Ness Monster, stuffed sheep stomach, and the voice of Sheena Easton. Scotland has also given the world shortbread. For something traditionally made with just three ingredients (butter, flour, and sugar), shortbread shouldn't be hard to screw up.

What's the difference between millionaire and billionaire? ›

Billionaires are wealthier than millionaires and worth less than trillionaires. A deca-billionaire has more than $10 billion, while a centi-billionaire has more than $100 billion in net wealth.

What is the difference between caramel shortbread and millionaire shortbread? ›

It also has a shortbread base, caramel, and chocolate. But the caramel is usually softer and gooey, unlike the firmer caramel in Millionaire Shortbread.

What is the difference between billionaire and millionaire bars? ›

Millionaire shortbread is made with a plain shortbread crust and a light caramel. My billionaire shortbread has pecans in the shortbread crust, browned butter caramel, and dark chocolate ganache.

What is the difference between a paper millionaire and a cash millionaire? ›

Paper millionaires are not the same as true millionaires, which generally refers to people who have more than $1 million in cash in the bank rather than in securities or other forms of non-liquid investments.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Frankie Dare

Last Updated:

Views: 5979

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Frankie Dare

Birthday: 2000-01-27

Address: Suite 313 45115 Caridad Freeway, Port Barabaraville, MS 66713

Phone: +3769542039359

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Baton twirling, Stand-up comedy, Leather crafting, Rugby, tabletop games, Jigsaw puzzles, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Frankie Dare, I am a funny, beautiful, proud, fair, pleasant, cheerful, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.