Millionaire’s shortbread is a classic British dessert known for its indulgent layers of tender shortbread, rich caramel, and a dark chocolate topping.
It’s surprisingly easy to make at home and brings a touch of luxury to your dessert repertoire.
A Brief History of Millionaire’s Shortbread
Many believe that the first recipe for millionaire’s shortbread was printed by Australian Women’s Weekly in the 1970s, though not under that name.
A search through old cookbooks suggests that a version of this dessert existed as far back as 1965, as a recipe for shortbread caramel fingers was published in The Surrey Mirror and County Post.
Various names exist for this delectable treat, including caramel square, caramel slice, or caramel shortbread. In Scotland, it is famously known as millionaire’s shortbread, evoking a sense of indulgence.
Start with Good Shortbread
To achieve a truly superb millionaire’s shortbread, each of its three components—shortbread, caramel, and chocolate—needs to be top-notch.
The shortbread base in this recipe is adapted from a family recipe, featuring all-purpose flour and rice flour or cornstarch for a pleasantly crumbly texture.
Instead of the traditional creamed butter, melted butter is poured over the dry ingredients, creating a rich dough that evenly coats the flour and results in minimal gluten development. This method ensures an indulgent and tender shortbread base.
Cook the Butterscotch to the Right Temperature
Perfect butterscotch is all about timing. Cooking butter, sugar, and cream to the right temperature results in a filling that’s soft yet satisfyingly chewy.
Heat the mixture until it reaches 235°F (113°C). This temperature is termed the ‘soft-ball stage,’ where a drop of syrup into water forms a pliable ball.
Experimenting with temperatures can yield different textures, but keeping below 239°F (115°C) is crucial to avoid an overly firm and difficult-to-eat caramel.
Skip the Condensed Milk
Many recipes for millionaire’s shortbread use condensed milk to make caramel, but a from-scratch approach with pantry staples yields better results.
Creating butterscotch from unsalted butter, dark brown sugar, heavy cream, and salt brings deeper molasses and toffee notes, contributing to a richly flavored filling.
This approach avoids the chalky and overly sweet caramel that can result from condensed milk substitutes, producing a well-balanced, deliciously decadent layer of butterscotch.
Chill the Bars in Stages
After pouring the butterscotch over the shortbread base, it is essential to let it cool at room temperature before refrigerating.
Allow the butterscotch to set in the fridge for about an hour, then transfer the bars to the freezer briefly before adding the chocolate topping.
Chilling the layers ensures the butterscotch is firm enough for the chocolate to set properly, resulting in neat, clean layers when slicing the bars.
Top with Dark Chocolate
Choosing the right chocolate is key to balancing the sweetness of the other layers. Dark chocolate with 64-72% cacao is recommended.
Milk or white chocolate can be used, but the result will be much sweeter, lacking the bitterness needed to counterbalance the butterscotch and shortbread.
The dark chocolate’s bittersweet flavor effectively offsets the sweetness, ensuring the dessert remains indulgent without being overwhelmingly sugary.
Don’t Forget the Salt
Adding a touch of salt to each layer of millionaire’s shortbread is vital for balancing the dessert’s sweetness.
Salt enhances the flavors, ensuring that the dessert is both sweet and slightly savory.
From the shortbread base to the butterscotch filling and chocolate topping, a noticeable pop of salt brings all the components together harmoniously.
Millionaire’s shortbread is a luxurious and delightful treat that is relatively simple to prepare at home.
By focusing on high-quality ingredients and proper techniques, you can create a dessert that feels truly indulgent and is sure to impress.
Source: Seriouseats