Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (2024)

Millionaire’s Shortbread, Caramel Slice, Caramel Shortcake, Millionaire’s Shortbread Bars or Caramel Squares… whatever you want to call it, this sweet, sticky traybake is just deliciously decadent!

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (1)

Made with layers of buttery shortbread, rich soft caramel, topped with chocolate, it’s basically like a homemade Twix bar, but even better!

I’ve been eating variations of this delicious treat my whole life. Millionaire’s Shortbread is often called Caramel Slice or Caramel Shortcake in New Zealand, and the ingredients of the base layer can differ slightly.

But since we’re here to make Scottish food, I wanted to make a traditional Millionaire’s Shortbread, using our three-ingredient shortbread recipe as the base layer, before topping it with easy to make caramel and dark chocolate decadence.

Yes, it’s rich, but it is shortbread for Millionaires after all!If you think that, wait until you try out Millionaire’s Cheesecake version…

Pin for later!

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (2)

Where does Millionaire’s Shortbread come from?

We’ve previously talked about how shortbread comes from Scotland and is considered a classic Scottish food, but the origin of the jazzed-up version is a little more in doubt.

While the name “Millionaire’s Shortbread” seems to have originated in Scotland there’s some debate about the actual recipe. Some cite the Australian Women’s Weekly as being the source of “Caramel Shortbread” but there have been so many variations and names that it’s hard to keep track!

We’ve made it in the most traditional way possible, without any fancy variations. Because it’s delicious just as it is! So let’s just call it Scottish, and move on to the making of the treat, shall we?

Things you’ll need to make Scottish Millionaire’s Shortbread

9-inch square baking tin: This is tin you’ll need to give you the right thickness for all of the layers you’re making. If you only have a larger tin then the layers will be thinner.

Baking paper: It’s useful to put a large sheet of baking paper in the tin with some overhang, rather than greasing the tin directly, as then you can lift the slice out to cut it into squares.

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (3)

Ingredients for Millionaire’s Shortbread

The different textures of the three layers are what makes this Scottish Millionaire’s Shortbread so appealing. It’s actually relatively easy to make, you just need to individually make each layer and wait for them to cool and set in-between. I made it over the course of a day, in between childcare!

Shortbread Layer

You can use the same shortbread recipe as the one we used for our traditional Scottish Petticoat Tails Shortbread. It’s a 3:2:1 ratio recipe with three parts flour, two parts butter, and one part sugar.

  • 300 grams plain flour (2 cups)
  • 200 grams butter (1 cup)
  • 100 grams caster sugar (1/2 cup)
  • Pinch of salt (optional)

Some variations of Caramel Squares or Caramel Slice add coconut into the base layer or use crushed biscuits instead (sometimes even crushed shortbread with extra butter!) but it’s so easy to make your own shortbread and we think traditional shortbread is a much better tasting base.

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (4)

Caramel Layer

Caramel is often considered to be something that’s hard to make and that requires a candy/sugar thermometer, but that’s not the case here. By using sweetened condensed milk it simplifies the recipe and helps it to set.

You want the caramel to be soft, but not chewy, and definitely not runny.

  • 100 grams butter (1/2 cup)
  • 85 grams brown sugar (3/4 cup)
  • 2x 397g tins of sweetened condensed milk

Chocolate Layer

Millionaire’s Shortbread is topped with plain chocolate rather than a softer ganache, to add texture.

We prefer using dark chocolate, but some Millionaire’s Shortbread recipes call for milk chocolate.

The reason we like dark chocolate is the bitterness helps to cut into the sweetness a little and balance it out.

However, if you don’t particularly like dark chocolate you may prefer to try it with milk chocolate, or a mix.

  • 300g dark chocolate
  • 1 tablespoon oil

We just used store brand dark cooking chocolate and it turned out great. No need to use fancy dark chocolate for this (despite the name!).

Using a tablespoon of oil helps with cutting the slice afterwards. We used olive oil because that’s what was to hand but you can use vegetable oil or coconut oil, or omit it altogether.

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (5)

How to Make Millionaire’s Shortbread Step-by-step

I’ve broken down how to make Millionaire’s Shortbread step-by-step here, but you can skip straight through to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and simplified method all together at the end of the post.

Allow yourself plenty of time to make this because you’ll need to allow each layer to cool before adding the next one.

Shortbread Layer

The first step is making the biscuit layer. You need a firm biscuit to hold all that caramel and chocolate!

You can already find a full step-by-step guide to making shortbread for our Shortbread Petticoat Tails here, but I’ve simplified it below as well.

Start by creaming the butter. Make sure the butter is room temperature before starting, to make it easier to cream. Add the sugar until it’s just dissolved and combined. I use an electric whisk for this process but it is possible to do by hand with a wooden spoon.

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (6)

Next, add the flour, and bring together until it forms clumps. You might need to get your fingertips involved! Try not to work the mixture too much with your hands though.

Don’t worry too much about making the mixture form a full ball of dough like you usually would with shortbread. Instead, you can just tip it into your baking-paper lined cake tin and press it down evenly to form the first layer.

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (7)
Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (8)
Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (9)

Prick the shortbread all over with a fork and then bake in the oven for approximately 30 minutes at 160C/325F until just going lightly golden brown.

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (10)

Caramel Layer

You’ll want to allow the shortbread to cool before adding the caramel layer, so I usually wait until it’s been baked to start making it.

Add the butter and sugar to a saucepan and allow to melt together and dissolve, while stirring. Pour in the two tins of condensed milk. You’ll need to stir the caramel mixture constantly to stop it burning to the bottom of the pan.

Bring it to the boil initially for a couple of minutes before turning the temperature down to simmer for around 10-15 minutes. It will start to darken and thicken up and that’s how you’ll know it’s ready.

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (11)

Pour the caramel over the shortbread layer, taking care to make sure it’s evenly spread. You can use the back of a spoon, shake the tin slightly from side to side, or lift and allow it to bang down onto the kitchen surface (although take care it’s not from too high! You don’t want to break the shortbread).

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (12)

The caramel should start to set as it cools. I would wait at least one hour before moving on to the chocolate layer. All this waiting will be helping to build the anticipation until you get to eat!

Chocolate Layer

The final layer of chocolate can be done in the microwave or in a bowl over a pan of hot water. I find the microwave much easier!

Break the chocolate up if using whole bars and blast in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, taking care to take it out and stir in between. You can add the oil when it’s about half melted.

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (13)

Pour the chocolate onto the cooled caramel layer and repeat the above steps to make sure it’s evenly spread.

The chocolate layer always works best when cooled at room temperature, despite how tempting it is to put it in the fridge at this point so you can eat it sooner!

We had to wait quite a while for it to set but it was worth the wait.

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (14)

How do you cut Millionaire’s Shortbread?

The difficulty in cutting Millionaire’s Shortbread comes from the hard chocolate later. You don’t want it to crack, or to press down and have the caramel all ooze out the sides.

Keep a close eye on it and cut squares when the chocolate not fully set, or dip a knife in hot water then dry before cutting to help keep the squares together.

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (15)

Yield: Approx 25 squares

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread

Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (16)

This easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe is a classic example of this delicious treat. Whether you know it as Caramel Square, Caramel Slice, Millionaire's Shortcake or Caramel Shortcake, you'll find this recipe simple to make with decadent results!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cooling Time 3 hours

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

Shortbread Layer

  • 300g plain flour (2 cups)
  • 200g butter (1 cup)
  • 100g caster sugar (1/2 cup)
  • Pinch of salt (optional)

Caramel Layer

  • 100g butter (1/2 cup)
  • 85g light brown sugar (3/4 cup)
  • 2x 397g tins of sweetened condensed milk

Chocolate Layer

  • 300g dark chocolate
  • Tbsp oil* See notes

Instructions

Shortbread Layer

  1. Turn on oven to 180C/350F
  2. Place a layer of baking paper into a 9-inch square baking tin with some overhang to allow you to lift it out later
  3. Cream butter and sugar together until sugar is just dissolved.
  4. Add flour (and salt if using) and mix together to form clumps, using fingertips if necessary
  5. Tip into the baking tin and press out evenly
  6. Bake for 25-30 minutes until lightly golden
  7. Remove and allow to cool

Caramel Layer

  1. Melt butter and sugar together in a saucepan over a medium heat
  2. Add the two tins of condensed milk
  3. Bring to the boil, stirring constantly and allow to boil for 1-2 minutes
  4. Turn down to a simmer and continue to stir for 10-15 minutes until the mixture has thickened and darkened
  5. Tip over the shortbread layer, using the back of a spoon to make the mixture smooth, or shake the tin from side to side
  6. Allow to cool and set

Chocolate Layer


This can be done in the microwave or a bowl over a pan of hot water on the stovetop.

For the microwave, melt the chocolate in short 30 second blasts, stirring in between each one. Add the oil when the chocolate is half melted.

Pour the chocolate over the cooled caramel and shake the tin from side to side so that it is evenly spread.

Notes

We used olive oil but you can use vegetable or coconut oil as well, or omit altogether. It is used to help cut the Millionaire's Shortbread more easily. You can do so by scouring when the chocolate is almost set, or by using a knife with the blade heated in hot water but dried before cutting.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

25

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 280Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 107mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 1gSugar: 22gProtein: 3g

The nutritional data in this recipe is provided by a third party and these values are automatically calculated and offered for guidance only. Their accuracy is not guaranteed.

Other Popular Traybake Recipes

  • Mars Bar Slice
  • Sticky Toffee Pudding Traybake
  • Mint Aero Traybake
  • Old School Cake
  • Almond Slice
  • Chocolate Tiffin
  • Fruity Flapjacks
  • Jam Flapjacks
Easy Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe - Scottish Scran (2024)

FAQs

What makes Scottish shortbread different? ›

Traditional Scottish shortbread is a simple recipe made with sugar, butter, flour, and salt. Other shortbread styles will include leavening agents like baking powder and baking soda, which makes them crisp instead of crumbly like traditional Scottish shortbread.

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

While Millionaire's shortbread has a soft caramel filling, Billionaire's shortbread has salted caramel sauce in the center.

What is the difference between Irish shortbread and Scottish shortbread? ›

Irish Shortbread Is Distinct From Scottish Shortbread

Irish shortbread not only sometimes changes up the butter-to-sugar ratio (possibly going with 2/3 a cup of sugar to 1 cup of butter), but also adds cornstarch in place of some of the flour present in the traditional recipe.

How to stop chocolate cracking when cutting millionaire shortbread? ›

**If you struggle to cut your shortbread and tray bakes without the chocolate cracking on top, set it at room temperature rather than in the fridge and it'll be softer so therefore won't crack when you cut it!

What is the mistake in making shortbread? ›

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

When making shortbread, what must you not do? ›

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 Scottish shortbread so good? ›

The high butter quantity in shortbread (one part sugar to two parts butter) gives it that delightfully crumbly feel. And also its name. This is because the old meaning of the world “short” reflects this crumbliness and so the name 'shortbread' stuck.

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 another name for Millionaire's 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 is shortbread called in Scotland? ›

Shortbread or shortie is a traditional Scottish biscuit usually made from one part white sugar, two parts butter, and three to four parts plain wheat flour. Shortbread does not contain any leavening, such as baking powder or baking soda.

What is the secret to making 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 is the new name for shortbread? ›

ABC Bakers - Did you hear the news?! Shortbread is now Trefoils®! | Facebook.

What is a substitute for golden syrup in Millionaire shortbread? ›

If it is not available the the next closest comparative is light corn syrup (syrup of maiz). Corn syrup is slightly thinner than golden syrup though generally we have found that you can substitute corn syrup for golden syrup without having to change the quantities.

Why add oil to melting chocolate in millionaire shortbread? ›

Using a mixture of melted chocolate and coconut oil will make the chocolate topping richer and less likely to crack than using chocolate alone. You should also take the millionaire's shortbread out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you want to serve it, so the chocolate has time to soften slightly.

How do you cut millionaire shortbread neatly? ›

'There are a couple of ways of avoiding "squish" when cutting up your caramel shortbread,' Gregor tell us. 'Dip your sharp knife into hot water, then dry on a kitchen towel before cutting through the chocolate. It will make it much easier. Or, try flipping the shortbread out the tin so the biscuit is facing up.

What's the difference between shortbread and shortcake? ›

Shortbread is similar to shortcake but doesn't include baking powder. Lots of rich butter gives shortbread a high fat content, resulting in a fine, crumbly texture. Shortcake and shortbread biscuits are delicious on their own, with fruit and cream, or simply topped with a delicate dusting of sugar.

What makes a shortbread a shortbread? ›

Shortbread is called short because of the traditional ratio of one part sugar to two parts butter that lends a high fat content to the dough. This yields a soft, buttery crumb that melts in your mouth, similar to short crust pastry. This ratio is also what makes shortbread so crave-worthy. 2.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Ms. Lucile Johns

Last Updated:

Views: 6718

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ms. Lucile Johns

Birthday: 1999-11-16

Address: Suite 237 56046 Walsh Coves, West Enid, VT 46557

Phone: +59115435987187

Job: Education Supervisor

Hobby: Genealogy, Stone skipping, Skydiving, Nordic skating, Couponing, Coloring, Gardening

Introduction: My name is Ms. Lucile Johns, I am a successful, friendly, friendly, homely, adventurous, handsome, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.