Salted Millionaire's Shortbread (2024)

Published: Apr 4, 2019 · by Elizabeth Waterson · This post may contain affiliate links, which may pay me a small commission for my referral at no extra cost to you! Thank you for supporting Confessions of a Baking Queen!

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Buttery Shortbread Crust, topped with Salted Caramel, finished with chocolate and sprinkle of sea salt, this Salted Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe is the Best! Perfect for a bake sale or your next party!

When I was growing up my aunty would make millionaire's shortbread occasionally. My mom made shortbread all the time. Brown Butter Shortbread is also a love of mine. But Millionaire's Shortbread is so special. I love millionaire's shortbread. So darn good. Caramel, shortbread and chocolate? Sign me the heck up!!

It recently occurred to me adding sea salt would probably be an amazing idea. It was. I died, went to heaven and indulged on three million bars of these. I also love these double chocolate chip cookies with sea salt!

This is super easy to make, the only time-consuming part is making the caramel layer. Stirring a pot of caramel over a hot stove will make you hot. But worth it. Sooooooo worth it.

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🍫What are the ingredients for salted millionaires shortbread
📖 How do you make the bars
🍴 More salted caramel recipes

🍫What are the ingredients for salted millionaires shortbread

All-Purpose Flour/ Plain Flour
Granulated Sugar/ Caster Sugar
Salt
Unsalted Butter
Sweetened Condensed Milk
Brown sugar
Heavy Whipping Cream/ Double Cream
Light Corn Syrup
Unsalted Butter
Sea Salt/Fleur de Sel
Semi-Sweet Chocolate (4 oz chopped fine, 1.5 oz grated)
Sea Salt for sprinkling on top of bars

📖 How do you make the bars

We are going to start with the shortbread crust.

Preheat oven to 350F/180C and line a 9X9 pan with foil so the foil overhangs. This helps you easily lift the bars out of the pan.

In a large bowl mix together the all-purpose flour/plain flour, granulated sugar, and salt.

To the flour mixture add the melted butter and mix until fully combined.

Press the dough into the bottom of prepared pan. Use your palm to press the dough to create an even layer, then use a fork to prick the dough every inch.

Place in the oven to bake for 20-25 minutes. Then let cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes.

Next we need to make the caramel layer.

In a large heavybottom pan add the sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, heavy cream, corn syrup, and unsalted butter. Cook over medium heat stirring often until the mixture registers to 236F/113C to 240F/115C degrees. This will take about 10- 15 minutes of stirring.

Once the temperature is reached take off heat immediately.

Pour the caramel evenly over the cooled crust and use a spatula to spread it in an even layer.

Sprinkle sea salt on top of caramel, depending on how salt you like it 1 ½ Teaspoons to 1 Tablespoon of fleur de sel.

To make the chocolate topping chop chocolate into small pieces. You can use a bain marie or microwave to melt the chocolate. To create a bain marie place a small pot filled with a small amount of water topped with a heat proof bowl with chocolate- make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Let the steam of the simmering water melt the chocolate.

If microwaving melt on 50% power for 15 second increments, mixing in between. Which ever method you use be careful not to overheat, once chocolate burns there is no going back.

Once the chocolate is melted add finely chopped chocolate to help temper the chocolate. If you are not confident in tempering chocolate you can melt all the chocolate together with the coconut oil. Mix for a few minutes or until all chocolate is melted. Pour on top of the caramel layer and spread to create an even layer.

Sprinkle another teaspoon or two of sea salt on top and set aside to set for 1 hour. You can place them in the fridge for 15 minutes to speed up the process.

To ensure success I highly recommend usingan instant-read thermometer. I get SOOO much use out of myThermapen Mk4(affiliate link). From cooking filet mignon, tempering chocolate, roast turkey, making caramel, and more!

Not to mention this Salted Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe is a perfect Christmas treat for friends and family! The recipe makes lots of little bars, by all means, eat them all yourself just be prepared for a sugar coma!! Try my millionaires brownies or millionaires cheesecake next.

Another recipe perfect for Christmas time and homemade gifts is this Amaretti Cookie Recipe.

★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!

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Salted Millionaire’s Shortbread

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Print Recipe

Buttery Shortbread Crust, topped with Salted Caramel, finished with chocolate and sprinkle of sea salt, this Salted Millionaire's Shortbread Recipe is the Best!

Total Time: 1 Hour 55 Minutes
Yield: 16-25 Bars 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale

Shortbread Crust

1 ½ Scant Cups All-Purpose Flour/ Plain Flour
¼ cup Granulated Sugar
Pinch of Salt
8 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, melted

Caramel Layer

7oz Sweetened Condensed Milk
½ cup Brown sugar
¼ cup Heavy Cream
¼ cup Light Corn Syrup
4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
1 Teaspoon Sea Salt

Chocolate Layer

5.5oz (1 Scant Cup) Semi-Sweet Chocolate (4 oz chopped fine, 1.5 oz grated)
1 Teaspoon Coconut Oil*
Sea Salt for sprinkling on top of bars

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Instructions

Shortbread Crust

Preheat oven to 350F/180C and line a 9X9" pan with foil so the foil overhangs.
In a large bowl mix together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the melted butter and stir gently until fully combined, the crumbs will be moist. Press the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Use your clean hand to press the dough down to create an even layer, then use a fork to prick the dough every inch.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-23 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Let pan cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes.

Caramel Filling

In a large heavy bottom, pan add the sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, heavy cream, corn syrup, and unsalted butter. Over medium heat stirring often until mixture registers to 236F/113C to 240F/115C degrees*(see note). This will take about 15- 20 minutes of stirring.
Once the temperature is reached take the pot off the heat. Carefully pour the caramel over the shortbread crust and sprinkle with sea salt.

Chocolate Topping

Using a double boiler or microwave melt the first 4 oz of chocolate being careful not to burn, then add the grated chocolate to the melted chocolate. Mixing until everything is melted. If you are not confident in tempering chocolate you can melt all the chocolate together with the coconut oil.
Spread chocolate over the caramel layer and sprinkle with sea salt. Place the pan in the fridge for 1t minutes and then let set on the counter for an hour to set completely. Cut into bars and store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.