Millionaire’s Shortbread (with Almond Butter + Salted Caramel)
Millionaire's Shortbread
My delicious twist on the richest dessert there is!
Ingredients
- For the Shortbread:
- 6 TBSP butter, softened
- 1/3 cup + 1 TBSP almond butter
- 1/2 cup + 1 TBSP sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- pinch of kosher salt
- For the Salted Caramel:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 TBSP salted butter, softened and divided into tablespoons
- 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp salt
- For the Chocolate:
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Sea Salt for sprinkling
Directions
- Step 1 In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter + almond butter. Whip on medium for about 2 minutes, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. You want a light and airy consistency.
- Step 2 Add sugar, vanilla and salt to the bowl and cream together for another 2-3 minutes, until fully combined and light + airy. Then add the flour and mix until combined.
- Step 3 Line a 13×9 pan with parchment paper and press the shortbread into the bottom evenly using your hands. Transfer to the freezer to set for about 10 minutes.
- Step 4 Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and bake for about 25 minutes until the edges are lightly golden brown.
- Step 5 While the shortbread is baking, prepare your caramel. Heat the sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, it will eventually start to liquify and turn golden. Watch carefully and lower heat to keep it from burning.
- Step 6 Once sugar is melted, start whisking in the butter, one tablespoon at a time. Whisk constantly to avoid clumping. Remove from heat if the butter starts to separate and keep whisking until smooth.
- Step 7 Once the butter has melted and combined, cook for 2 minutes without stirring. Then slowly stir in your condensed milk. Allow the mixture to boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in salt. Cool for a few minutes.
- Step 8 Once the shortbread has been removed from the oven and cooled slightly, spread the warm caramel layer evenly over the shortbread. Use a knife if necessary. Transfer to the fridge and chill for 1 hour.
- Step 9 For the chocolate layer, combine chocolate chips and heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Spread evenly over the caramel layer of the shortbread. Sprinkle with sea salt and then chill for 1 more hour in the refrigerator before serving.
You know those recipes that you just see and immediately have to stop in your tracks, drop EVERYTHING and make? This, my friends, was one of them for me, and hopefully you too (and hence why you’ve visited the post). Up until about 36 hours ago I’d never even heard about Millionaire’s Shortbread, never mind made my own recipe, but I saw it on a friend’s feed and the rest was history. I immediately started investigating this decadent treat, which for those who don’t know, is a biscuit confectionery item composed of a rectangular or sometimes circular shortbread biscuit base topped with caramel and milk chocolate. This treat is not as common on this side of the pond, in fact the term, “Millionaire’s Shortbread” was coined in Scotland, but I’m sure many of you bakers might also know it by the name Caramel Shortbread. If the wheels are already turning, why yes this is essentially a homemade twix bar! (Paging you, Dad!)
Despite several hands-on steps – with waiting time in between – it’s really not an overly complicated recipe, so don’t let that put you off. I added my own subtle twists on it, replacing traditional shortbread with an almond butter shortbread version and upping the ante on the caramel and making it salted caramel. These substitutions allowed me to omit the excessive amounts of butter I noted in other recipes and the corn syrup (which I will avoid at all costs if I can!) which means I can also tout mine as a healthier version! That’s always a win-win. Yes, they’re still an indulgence, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not one you have to feel guilty about.
So if you’re looking for something EPIC to add to your holiday baking line-up, look no further than these delicious bars. They may not save you from gaining a million pounds (#sorrynotsorry), but they definitely taste like a million bucks!
