The Millionaire’s Shortbread recipe is a layered bar with a shortbread base, caramel center and chocolate topping. This was known as “Chocolate Caramel Shortbread” in the original recipe that appeared in The Australia Women’s Weekly in the 1970s, and the name Millionaire’s Shortbread was attributed to it following its popularity in the UK. In Australia, these days it’s commonly known as “Caramel Slice”. This is the original Chocolate Caramel Shortbread recipe, re-written to take North-American measurements and ingredients into account.
Ingredients
- For the base:
1/2 cup butter or margarine, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
- For the filling:
1-1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons golden syrup (see note*) or dark corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
- For the topping:
3 ounces dark chocolate
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
Directions
- For the base:
- Pre-heat oven to 350F and lightly grease an 11 x 7-inch baking pan. (For easy cutting, you can line the pan with parchment paper in order to be able to lift the entire thing out of the pan before you cut.) Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, stir in flour in two lots. If the mixture gets too thick for your mixture, use your hands to knead until smooth. Press mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake 20 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
- To make the filling:
- Combine all filling ingredients in a medium saucepan over low heat and stir until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved, stirring constantly. Increase heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer lightly, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Pour this mixture over the cooled base. Allow to cool thoroughly.
- To make the topping:
- In the top of a double boiler over hot water, melt chocolate and butter and stir to combine. Pour and spread over cooled caramel filling.
Notes
- * Golden Syrup is readily available in Australia and the UK; it is not always easy to find in the US. Corn syrup is not an exact equivalent, but it will work in this recipe. If you want to be authentic, in recent years Golden Syrup has started to pop up in US grocery stores, often in the international section. It is also available at specialty stores such as Cost Plus World Market, or you can also order it from Amazon.
In Canada, it is sold in-store at many Walmarts and the brand Lyle’s can be found in grocery stores in Western Canada. Canadians can also find true golden syrup on Amazon.ca. There is also a product called “golden corn syrup” by Crown which is not the same thing, but will work fine! - Alternate names: caramel shortbread, caramel shortcake, caramel squares, millionaire’s slice.