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Millionaire's shortbread

Millionaires Shortbread recipe

By Tom · Updated

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  • About 1 hour 55 min
  • One to take your time over

This millionaire's shortbread is three-layer treat. A buttery all-butter shortbread base, topped with a thick, smooth caramel layer, and finished with rich dark chocolate. The best millionaire's shortbread recipe (buttery, gooey & easy).

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The recipe

Millionaire's shortbread

This millionaire's shortbread is three-layer treat.

  • 20 min prep
  • 33 min cooking
  • 1 hour 2 min hands-off
  • One to take your time over

Times and difficulty are our estimates from the method, not stopwatch figures.

Quantities
Measurements

Ingredients

For the shortbread base

For the caramel filling

For the chocolate topping

Tick things off as you go — they stay ticked if you close the page.

A dotted underline means the amount has been rounded to something you can measure.

Method

  1. Step 1

    Preheat your oven to 170°C fan.

  2. Step 2

    Line a 9-inch round or square baking tin with parchment paper.

Make the shortbread base

  1. Step 1

    In a mixing bowl, combine the flour (275 g) and caster sugar (100 g).

  2. Step 2

    Add the unsalted butter (200 g) and rub the mixture together using your fingertips until it forms a crumbly dough. Continue until the mixture begins to clump together and holds its shape when pressed.

  3. Step 3

    (You can use a food processor if preferred.).

  4. Step 4

    Transfer the mixture to your lined tin and press it down evenly using the back of a spoon or the base of a glass.

  5. Step 5

    Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly golden on top.

  6. Step 6

    Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely while preparing the caramel.

Make the caramel layer

  1. Step 1

    In a saucepan, combine: Condensed milk (1 can), butter (200 g), light brown sugar (40 g) and golden syrup (75 g).

  2. Step 2

    Place over a medium-low heat and stir continuously until everything has melted and combined.

  3. Step 3

    Increase the heat slightly and simmer for 7-8 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning.

  4. Step 4

    Cook until the caramel thickens noticeably, turns darker in colour and reaches soft-ball stage on a sugar thermometer.

  5. Step 5

    Immediately pour the caramel over the cooled shortbread base.

  6. Step 6

    Spread evenly and gently tap the tin to remove air bubbles.

  7. Step 7

    Refrigerate for about 1 hour, or until fully set.

Add the chocolate topping

  1. Step 1

    Melt the dark chocolate (200 g) in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water. Ensure the bowl does not touch the water.

  2. Step 2

    Once melted, pour over the set caramel layer and spread evenly.

Optional decoration

  1. Step 1

    Melt a small amount of white chocolate (200 g).

  2. Step 2

    If cutting into 12 slices, pipe or spoon 12 small dots around the outer edge.

  3. Step 3

    Using a skewer, drag from the outside edge toward the centre through each dot to create a decorative feathered pattern.

Chill and slice

  1. Step 1

    Return to the fridge until the chocolate (200 g) has completely set.

  2. Step 2

    Slice into 12 pieces and serve.

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Questions people ask

How long does millionaire's shortbread take?

About 1 hour 55 min from start to finish: 20 min of prep, 33 min of cooking, and 1 hour 2 min hands-off while it waits. That figure is worked out from the method rather than timed with a stopwatch, so give yourself a little more the first time.

How much does this make?

The original recipe did not state a yield, so nothing has been invented for it. The scale control on the recipe card multiplies the quantities instead, which is the honest version of the same thing.

Can I see the ingredients in ounces and pints?

Yes. The metric and imperial switch on the recipe card converts every quantity, rounded to amounts you can actually weigh or measure rather than to four decimal places. Your choice is remembered for every recipe on the site.

Is it vegetarian?

Yes, as written. If you are cooking for a strict vegetarian, the one to check is the cheese: several hard cheeses are made with animal rennet.