Millionaire’s Shortbread
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With a buttery shortbread base, gooey caramel center, and rich chocolate topping, millionaire’s shortbread bars are every bit as decadent as their name suggests.
Known as millionaire’s shortbread, presumably because they’re so rich, these bars start with a buttery shortbread base, followed by a layer of gooey caramel, and are finished with a chocolate topping sprinkled with flaky sea salt. To me, they taste like gourmet Twix bars, but even more indulgent. While the recipe is straightforward, you will need an instant-read thermometer to cook the caramel to just the right consistency—it’s worth the precision for that perfectly gooey texture.
“OH MY. Decadent!!! Everyone LOVED it.”
What You’ll Need To Make Millionaire’s Shortbread
- All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the shortbread crust.
- Dark Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and a hint of molasses flavor to the crust and caramel.
- Cornstarch: Helps make the shortbread crust tender.
- Butter: Creates the flaky, crumbly texture of the crust and enriches the caramel.
- Egg Yolk: Binds the shortbread dough and contributes richness.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Forms the base of the caramel, lending creaminess and sweetness.
- Heavy Cream: Adds richness and smoothness to the caramel layer.
- Light Corn Syrup: Prevents the caramel from crystallizing, ensuring a smooth consistency.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the caramel with warm, sweet notes.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate & Milk Chocolate: A combination that balances bitterness and sweetness for the smooth, glossy topping. Use a high-quality brand, such as Ghirardelli.
- Flaky Sea Salt: Adds a touch of crunch and balances the sweetness of the bars.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch square pan with aluminum foil, and grease with nonstick cooking spray or butter. In the bowl of a food processor fitted, combine the flour, brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt; process until well combined. Add the butter and egg yolk; process until a coarse meal forms.
Add the ice water and blend until you have a moist, crumbly dough, about 10 seconds more.
Dump the dough into the prepared pan and press with your fingers into an even layer. Prick the dough all over with a fork and bake until golden, about 20 minutes.
Make the caramel layer: In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream, corn syrup, vanilla, brown sugar, and salt, whisking until evenly combined. Bring to a simmer and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the mixture registers between 236°F and 239°F on an instant-read digital thermometer.
Once the caramel reaches the desired temperature, carefully pour it over the crust. Let sit for 30 to 35 minutes, until set but still slightly warm.
Make the chocolate layer: Place the semi-sweet and milk chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in bursts, stirring in between, until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
Using an offset spatula, spread the chocolate evenly over the caramel layer.
Refrigerate until the bars are cold and the chocolate is set, 1½ to 2 hours. Let the bars sit out for 10 to 15 minutes to soften the chocolate slightly, then cut into small squares and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
The bars can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Video Tutorial
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Millionaire's Shortbread
With a buttery shortbread base, gooey caramel center, and rich chocolate topping, millionaire’s shortbread bars are every bit as decadent as their name suggests.
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 stick (½ cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch cubes
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon ice water
For the Caramel Layer
- 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Chocolate Layer
- 3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 3 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
- Flaky sea salt, for serving
Instructions
For the Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Line a 9-inch square pan with aluminum foil, pushing the foil neatly into the corners and up the sides of the pan, using two pieces if necessary to ensure that the foil overlaps all edges (the overhang will help removal from the pan). Spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray or grease with butter.
- In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine the flour, brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt; process until well combined and no lumps of sugar remain. Add the butter and egg yolk; process for 10 to 15 seconds, until a coarse meal forms. Add the ice water and blend until you have a moist, crumbly dough, about 10 seconds more. Dump the dough into the prepared pan and press with your fingers into an even layer (dust your fingers with flour if the dough is too sticky). Prick the dough all over with a fork and bake until golden, about 20 minutes. Set aside to cool.
For Caramel Layer
- In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream, corn syrup, vanilla, brown sugar, and salt, whisking until evenly combined. Bring to a simmer and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the mixture registers between 236°F and 239°F on an instant-read digital thermometer, 10 to 20 minutes. (Note: It's important to use an instant-read thermometer, rather than a clip-on candy thermometer, as temperatures can vary in different spots of the caramel. An instant-read thermometer allows you to test the temperature in multiple areas for accuracy; aim for an average if the readings differ.) Once the caramel reaches the desired temperature, carefully pour it over the crust—remember, it’s extremely hot. Tilt the pan to spread the caramel evenly. Let sit for 30 to 35 minutes, until the caramel layer is set but still slightly warm. (See note below on cleaning the pot.)
For Chocolate Layer
- Place the semi-sweet and milk chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring in between, until the chocolate is about 75% melted. Continue melting in 5 to 10 second-bursts, stirring in between until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Do not overheat or the mixture will break.
- Using an offset spatula, spread the chocolate evenly over the caramel layer. Refrigerate until the bars are cold and the chocolate is set, 1½ to 2 hours. Let the bars sit out for 10 to 15 minutes to soften the chocolate slightly. Lift the bars out of the pan using the foil overhang and transfer to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut into small squares (if the chocolate seems brittle, let the bars sit at room temperature a bit longer before cutting). Sprinkle the bars with flaky sea salt. Store in the refrigerator; serve cold or slightly chilled.
- Make-Ahead Instructions: These bars can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Freezing is not recommended, as it may cause the chocolate to bloom.
- Tip for cleaning the caramel pot: To easily clean any caramel residue, fill the pot with water and bring it to a boil. The hot water will loosen the stuck-on caramel, making it much easier to clean.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (25 servings)
- Calories: 174
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Sugar: 17 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Sodium: 54 mg
- Cholesterol: 27 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Comments
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The cans of condensed milk I purchased are all 12oz (not 14). Is there an easy substitute to make up the 2 ounces? Also, I found the heavy cream was used for whipping cream over the holidays. Can one substitute half and half for heavy cream as the amount is so small?
Hi Elizabeth, I think you could use 2 ounces of heavy cream or half and half if you don’t want to open another can of condensed milk. But I would definitely stick with the heavy cream.
I had these bars while visiting the UK, so delicious! Does the caramel layer melt at room temperature? I want to bring them to a party but I don’t want them to become a gooey mess while people mingle.
Hi Courtney, No, the caramel layer should not melt if kept at room temperature. I hope you enjoy them!
Buy some paper cases to present them, that way they look good. And no mess!
These sound great, and I’m looking forward to trying them. Can you please tell me the pan size, oven temp, and length of time for baking the shortbread layer?
Hi Grace, the pan should be a 9 inch square, the oven temp should be 350 degrees and the dough should bake for about 20 minutes (until golden). Enjoy!
How far ahead of a party can you make
Millionaire’s shortbread?
Can it be frozen successfully?
Hi Linda, I would say a day or two ahead of time is fine. I do think you could freeze them, just be sure to thaw in the fridge to avoid condensation.
How could I make a double batch of this cookie, what size pan should I use.
Hi Gwen, There’s no perfect size so I would use two 9-inch pans.
These are amazing. They are the perfect combination of all the things we love. My kids went crazy for them. Thanks for sharing!!
After trying these for the first time in a recent trip to the UK, I had to find a recipe that I thought I could handle (since I don’t consider myself a baker). This was just the ticket!
I didn’t have to “translate” British measurements or ingredients and it came out just great! Everyone wants more!!!
Thank you!!!
These are delicious! One of my favorites to take to a party.
I am not familiar with 2 of the ingredients,- cornstarch, is this the same as cornflour? And heavy cream, do I use double cream here ? You use cups and ounces…is 1 cup of flour – 4 oz? I have an Australian cheesecake book where a table of ingredients and cups are listed. So 1 cup of lightly packed brown sugar is 6oz, making a 1/4 cup 1 1/2 oz. 1 stick of butter -4 oz ? Yes ?
Hi Pene, Yes cornstarch is the same as cornflour and heavy cream is the same as double cream. For your other conversions, here’s a handy chart: http://allrecipes.com/howto/cup-to-gram-conversions/
Hi! I just want to ask if it’s ok not to put cornstarch in the crust mixture and corn syrup in the caramel sauce? Thank you so much! I love your recipe!
Hi Arjo, It’s okay to replace the cornstarch in the crust with flour, but the corn syrup is necessary in the caramel layer. However, there are other ways of making the caramel layer, such as melting down caramel squares with some heavy cream. In a small saucepan, melt 2 cups caramel squares with 3 tablespoons cream over low heat. Pour the caramel over the cooled crust and set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill and firm up.