Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe (2024)

Last Updated on: August 2, 2023

Millionaire’s Shortbread is a rich, decadent treat made up of three layers: a shortbread crust, chewy golden caramel, and thick chocolate ganache.

I don’t know about you, but to me, it doesn’t get any better than that.

Because millionaire’s shortbread has three layers, you might find it intimidating to make. Luckily, it’s actually not complicated at all.

In fact, you can whip up these shortbread bars in just over an hour! Plus, it’s so delightful, it’s worth the effort.

So, why eat regular shortbread when you can have millionaire’s shortbread instead?

Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe (1)

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What is Millionaire’s Shortbread?

For those of you who may have heard of millionaire shortbread before but have never really seen or tried it yet, here’s the gist.

It’s a 3-layer cookie bar made of three distinct layers.

  1. The shortbread crust
  2. A layer of chewy golden caramel
  3. A thick chocolate ganache topping.

Imagine a gourmet version of the famous Twix candy bar.

And while no one knows exactly how it got its name, we’re guessing it’s because of the rich, decadent flavor.

But you don’t have to be crazy rich to make these delightful treats! Anyone can make this tasty dessert. In fact, kids love to join in on this one.

All you need are a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. Check out what you’ll need below.

Ingredients

For the Shortbread Layer

  • Flour. All-purpose is fine.
  • Butter. The butter should be cold and sliced, not room temperature.
  • Sugar. Plain, granulated sugar works well.

For the Caramel

  • Butter. I use salted butter, but you can go with unsalted if you prefer.
  • Condensed milk. Make sure to get condensed milk, not evaporated. They aren’t the same thing.
  • Maple syrup. Go with real, pure maple syrup for this recipe. Don’t use the imitation stuff; it doesn’t work as well.

For the Chocolate Ganache

  • Chocolate. Select your favorite chocolate – whatever you like best!

How to Make Millionaire’s Shortbread

Part I: Shortbread Layer

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Combine flour and butter cubes and pulse in the food processor until you form a fine breadcrumb mixture.
  3. Add sugar and mix until incorporated. Voila, you’ve made your shortbread mixture!
  4. Next, pour the shortbread mixture into a 9×9-inch baking pan lined with parchment paper.
  5. Press the shortbread down to create a firm crust in the pan.
  6. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until golden.
  7. Set aside and let the shortbread cool to room temperature.

Part II: Caramel

While the shortbread is cooking, it’s time to make the caramel topping.

  1. Mix butter, maple syrup, and condensed milk in a saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Keep stirring until you form a smooth mixture.
  3. Increase the heat and bring mixture to a boil.
  4. Continue stirring until the mixture is thick and golden brown.
  5. Let it cool for a bit before proceeding.

Once the caramel is cool, pour it over the shortbread. Set aside to let the caramel cool completely.

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Part III: Chocolate Ganache

  1. Melt the chocolate. There are two methods to choose from:
    • Melt in a bowl over a pan of boiling water, or
    • Cook in a microwave oven. Microwave in 20-second intervals and stir in between. Repeat until the chocolate is 75% melted. Stir until the chocolate is smooth and melted.
  2. Pour the chocolate over the cooled caramel.
  3. Refrigerate for an hour to allow the ganache to cool.
  4. Slice into squares. Wipe the knife after each slice with a wet paper towel to make life easier.
  5. Take a photo of the finished product, upload it on Instagram, and let your followers drool over your masterpiece.
  6. Serve to family and friends. Best eaten with a cup of coffee or warm milk.

Tips & Tricks

  • Balance out the sweetness. Drizzle some sea salt to really make the chocolate and caramel flavors pop! It adds a nice crunch to the snack as well.
  • Don’t overheat the chocolate. When melting chocolate with a microwave, do not microwave for over 20 seconds at a time to avoid overheating and curdling.
  • Make them prettier. Swirl some white chocolate into your dark chocolate ganache, and you’ll look like a pro in your friends’ eyes!
  • Use this trick to save time. Instead of making the shortbread from scratch, combine crushed shortbread cookies and melted butter. It may not taste as good as freshly baked shortbread, but it’s still so good and saves you a lot of time.
  • Use any type of chocolate you prefer. I like using half milk chocolate and half semi-sweet chocolate. You could even use white chocolate. It’s totally up to you!
  • Substitute something else for maple syrup. Maple syrup is best. But if you don’t have any, you can use corn syrup or golden syrup instead.

Can You Freeze Them?

You can freeze millionaire’s shortbread, but you’ll need to freeze them individually. Here’s what to do:

  1. Cut them.
  2. Wrap each piece separately in a layer of plastic wrap.
  3. Wrap the plastic-wrapped pieces in aluminum foil.
  4. Place the pieces in a large, freezer-safe Ziploc bag.
  5. Label and date the bag.
  6. Stick it in the freezer.

You can freeze the dessert for up to 3 months. Let them thaw in the fridge overnight before serving them.

If you don’t want to freeze them, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They should last about 5 days.

Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe (2)

Millionaire’s Shortbread Recipe

Servings

20

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Calories

267

kcal

Ingredients

  • For the Shortbread:
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 12 Tablespoons (3/4 cup) butter (cold and sliced)

  • 7 Tablespoons sugar

  • For the Caramel:
  • 11 Tablespoons (2/3 cup) butter

  • 10 oz can condensed milk

  • 7 Tablespoons maple syrup

  • For the Chocolate:
  • 12 oz chocolate (choose your favorite)

Instructions

  • Part I: Shortbread
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C)
  • Combine flour and butter cubes and pulse in the food processor until you form a fine breadcrumb mixture.
  • Add sugar and mix until incorporated. Voila, you’ve made your shortbread mixture!
  • Next, pour the shortbread mixture into a 9×9-inch baking pan lined with parchment paper. Press the shortbread down to create a firm crust in the pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until golden.
  • Set aside and let the shortbread cool to room temperature. While the shortbread is cooking, you can prepare the caramel.
  • Part II: Caramel
  • Mix butter, maple syrup, and condensed milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Keep stirring until you form a smooth mixture. Increase the heat and bring mixture to a boil. Continue stirring until the mixture is thick and golden brown. Let it cool for a bit before proceeding.
  • Pour the caramel over the shortbread. Set aside to let the caramel cool completely.
  • Part III: Chocolate Ganache
  • Melt the chocolate. The simplest way is to microwave in 20-second intervals and stir in between. Repeat until the chocolate is 75% melted. Stir until the chocolate is smooth and melted.
  • Pour the chocolate over the cooled caramel. Refrigerate for an hour to allow the ganache to cool.
  • Slice into squares and enjoy! Goes really well with a cup of coffee or warm milk.

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Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between millionaire shortbread 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 the mistake in making shortbread? ›

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

Do they have millionaire shortbread in America? ›

Millionaire's shortbread for sale in the USA | Scottish Gourmet USA.

Why is it called millionaire shortbread? ›

The name "millionaire's shortbread" appears to have originated in Scotland. The "millionaire" prefix to millionaire's shortbread or millionaires slice implies a level of decadence and wealth to the sweet treat, that it is an upgrade from regular shortbread.

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.

What is the secret to good shortbread? ›

Tips To Make the Best Shortbread Cookies
  • 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. ...
  • Keep Ingredients Simple. ...
  • Add Flavor. ...
  • Don't Overwork. ...
  • Shape Dough. ...
  • Chill Before Baking. ...
  • Bake Until Golden. ...
  • Add Finishing Touches.

What not to do when making shortbread? ›

The key with shortbread is not to overhandle it. Make the dough exactly as instructed, but don't mess around making shapes or over rolling the dough - you will end up with delicious but tough biscuits. Stretching and pulling the dough activates the gluten in the flour, making chewy cookies and not crisp ones.

Why is shortbread unhealthy? ›

Why is shortbread considered to be bad for you? Shortbread is considered unhealthy because of the high butter content. How long do homemade shortbread cookies actually last? Depends on how you define that… they won't make you sick for weeks after they become unpalletable, which is after a couple of weeks at best.

What is the most eaten type of cookie in the United States? ›

Nearly 93% of all American households serve and enjoy cookies as treats or after meals. However, it's the chocolate chip cookie that's the most popular in the U.S. and around the world.

What do Americans call shortbread? ›

Shortbread isn't a bread, it's what we Americans call a cookie. It its homeland across the pond it's a biscuit. The short part of the name is because it's made with a dough rich in fat (preferably really good butter). This is called short dough.

What country makes the best shortbread? ›

Buttery, crumbly, melt-in-the-mouth magnificence. We can only be talking about Scottish shortbread. The finger-licking favourite of foodies in and outside Scotland. So simple, yet outrageously flavoursome and addictive.

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.

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 Scotland? ›

Triangular wedges of shortbread became known as "petticoat tails", and this form of shortbread has become particularly associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. It has been suggested that a French term for the wedges of shortbread was petit* gâteaux or petites gatelles – little cakes, and this became "petticoat tails".

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 a billionaire bar and a millionaire bar? ›

A healthy take on the classic recipe for a millionaire bar, except adding salted chips on the top of the classic 'millionaire bars' upgrades them to 'billionaire' right? This recipe was born because one day I wanted sweet chocolate AND salty chips. And I wanted them together. So I did.

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.

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