These Millionaire Bars Are My All-Time Favorite Dessert

Shortbread, caramel, and chocolate. What more could you want?

By
Stephanie A Ganz
Stephanie A Ganz
Stephanie A Ganz
Stephanie Ganz has been writing professionally for 10 years and is a regular contributor to Richmond Magazine and Virginia Living. She has also written for Bon Appetit, Eater, The Kitchn, and The Local Palate.
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Updated December 20, 2024
Stephanie A Ganz
Closeup view of a stack of Millionaire Shortbread bars on parchment paper with several bars visible in the background

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

If I won the lottery, I wouldn’t tell anyone, but there would be signs. Namely, I would spend a large chunk of my time watching Designing Women reruns in a preposterously fluffy robe while eating millionaire bars, one of my all-time favorite desserts.

The millionaire bar, also known as millionaire shortbread, is a rich, decadent cookie of British origin. While Scottish shortbread dates back to the 12th century, the combination of shortbread, soft caramel, and firm chocolate is actually a 20th-century innovation. This is a showstopper cookie/bar that looks complex but is actually pretty simple to make at home. 

Overhead view of multiple Millionaire Shortbread bars on parchment paper

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

How To Make Millionaire Shortbread

Millionaire Shortbread starts with, you guessed it, shortbread. Rather than individual cookies, it’s a thick layer of shortbread crust that’s simply pressed into the pan and baked.

Making the caramel layer feels like the most intimidating element of this dessert, but there’s not really much to it. Combine sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup, and butter in a saucepan and whisk until it reaches the correct temperature. Keeping the temperature low is important to help melt the sugars as the caramel comes together to avoid scorching and clumping, and whisking constantly means you’ll be watching the caramel’s every move so you can see if and when you might want to reduce the heat.

To finish, simply melt chocolate in a double boiler or short bursts in the microwave. Pour the melted chocolate over the top, chill, and slice to reveal the beautiful layers.

Tips for Making Millionaire Shortbread

  • Line the pan with parchment paper with the edges hanging over the side for easy removal.
  • Don’t skip the salt! The flaky salt on top is essential for providing a little bit of contrast and making all of the flavors pop.
  • Experiment with adding other toppings to the chocolate layer, like sliced almonds or a swirl of white chocolate.
  • Allow each layer to cool fully before adding the next layer, and allow the bars to cool completely before slicing.
Closeup view of a Millionaire Shortbread bar on parchment paper with several bars visible in the background

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Bars for Dessert

Millionaire Bars

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Cooling 90 mins
Total Time 2 hrs 30 mins
Servings 24 servings
Yield 24 bars
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

For the shortbread

  • Cooking spray

  • 1 1/2 cups (200g) all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, chilled

  • 1 cup (114g) powdered sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For the layers

  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped

  • Flaky salt, for sprinkling

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

    Line an 8x8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.

  2. Make the shortbread:

    Pulse the flour, butter, and powdered sugar in a food processor or cut together in a bowl with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles moist sand.

    Firmly press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan to form an even layer.

    Overhead view of a bowl of flour, butter, and powdered sugar after pulsing together in a food processor for Millionaire Shortbread recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
    Overhead view of a baking pan with the flour, butter, and powdered sugar mixture pressed into parchment paper for Millionaire Shortbread recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  3. Bake:

    Bake until the shortbread appears slightly glossy with a toasted color, 20 to 30 minutes. Cool the shortbread layer on the countertop, at least 30 minutes, or in the refrigerator.

    Overhead view of a baking pan with the baked shortbread for Millionaire Shortbread recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  4. Make the caramel:

    Once the shortbread has cooled, make the caramel layer. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup, and butter. Constantly whisk until the mixture reaches a temperature of 220 to 225°F on an instant-read thermometer, always cooking over medium-low heat, about 15 minutes. It should be light golden brown.

    Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the caramel on top of the shortbread, using a rubber or offset spatula to smooth it into an even layer. Cool in the fridge until set, about 30 minutes.

    Overhead view of a saucepan with the caramel mixture heated for Millionaire Shortbread recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
    Overhead view of a baking pan showing the caramel mixture spread onto the baked shortbread for Millionaire Shortbread recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
  5. Top with chocolate:

    Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in 20-second bursts in the microwave, stirring often.

    Pour the melted chocolate over the caramel layer, and use an offset spatula to smooth before sprinkling with flaky salt. Chill the millionaire bars in the fridge until set, at least 30 minutes, before slicing with a large knife. Clean your knife between slices to ensure the most uniform bars.

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or wrap and freeze individually wrapped for up to 6 months.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

    Overhead view of a baking pan showing the spreading of the melted chocolate onto the caramel layer for Millionaire Shortbread recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
271 Calories
17g Fat
27g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories 271
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 21%
Saturated Fat 10g 51%
Cholesterol 33mg 11%
Sodium 84mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 27g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 77mg 6%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 173mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.