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Home / Comfort Food

Billionaire Shortbread Cookie Bars

This popular shortbread dessert is in a league of its own with a salted caramel layer sandwiched between a shortbread base and dark chocolate topping. 

Erren Hart

|

last Updated:

08/11/2021
4.48 from 19 votes
Jump to Recipe
Serves: 12 Servings
Prep: 30 minutes mins
Cook: 40 minutes mins
a stack of billionaire shortbread
a stack of billionaire shortbread
a stack of billionaire shortbread
a stack of billionaire shortbread

two pieces of billionaires shortbread on top of each other with caramel dripping down

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This recipe for Billionaire Shortbread cookie bars has a crisp shortbread base with a salted caramel filling, finished with dark chocolate.

A decadent bake that kids and adults will be asking for over and over. The perfect lunch box snack or after school treat.

This recipe for Billionaire Shortbread has a crisp shortbread base with an indulgent Salted caramel filling that's topped with a layer of dark chocolate - pure heaven!
Pin This Recipe For Later!

If you love Millionaire shortbread than you have to try Billionaire shortbread! Once you try it, you’ll have to agree it’s one fantastic treat!

Before moving to England, I had never heard of Billionaire Shortbread (or millionaire shortbread for that matter), but after my first taste, I was won over, and it’s still one of my very favorite things in the world!

  • Why This Recipe Works
  • How To Make Billionaire Shortbread Cookie Bars
  • Erren’s Top Tips
  • Make ahead and Freezing Instructions
  • FAQs
  • Rate This Recipe
  • Recipe

Why This Recipe Works

  • This pleasing cookie bar is quick and easy to make, even for a first time baker.
  • Adding salt to the caramel makes this a cut above the millionaire shortbread.
  • The combination of a shortbread cookie base, salted caramel and dark semisweet chocolate is one that can’t be beat!

How To Make Billionaire Shortbread Cookie Bars

  1. Bake the shortbread base.
  2. Make the caramel.
  3. Pour the caramel onto the shortbread base.
  4. Melt the chocolate, pour this onto the caramel.
  5. Allow to Cool.
  6. Slice and serve!

Step By Step Instructions

Start with the shortbread base.

a freshly baked pan of golden shortbread

Make the caramel and pour it over the shortbread, leave to cool and set.

The shortbread base covered in the salted caramel.

Melt the chocolate  (for more information on how to properly melt chocolate, see my guide on How to Melt Chocolate).

the melted chocolate smoothed over the caramel layer.

Pour the chocolate over the caramel.

Chocolate being poured over the set caramel

Leave to set completely before cutting.

the Billionaire Shortbread removed from the pan showing each layer of shortbread, oozing caramel and the set chocolate.

Serve and enjoy every last bite. 

two pieces of billionaires shortbread on top of each other with caramel dripping down

Erren’s Top Tips

  • Make sure the caramel has set otherwise you might end up with the chocolate and caramel mixing. It’s worth waiting to have the best end product.
  • For a show stopping billionaire shortbread cookie bar, why not add crushed hard pretzels, toasted nuts or candied ginger to the chocolate topping.

Make ahead and Freezing Instructions

  • At Room Temperature: This cookie bar can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
  • In The Fridge: Keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.
  • In The Freezer: This billionaire shortbread is perfect for freezing. Wrap tightly in saran wrap and place in a freezer-safe container and put in the freezer for up to three months. Defrost thoroughly before eating.

FAQs

What’s the difference between millionaire shortbread and billionaire shortbread?

Millionaire shortbread has a caramel centre, billionaire shortbread has a decadent salted caramel centre.

Can shortbread biscuits be frozen?

Yes shortbread cookies and biscuits (even with caramel and chocolate) freeze perfectly. Just wrap tightly with plastic wrap and store in a freezer safe container for up to three months. Defrost thoroughly before consuming.

Rate This Recipe

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two pieces of billionaires shortbread on top of each other with caramel dripping down

Recipe

Billionaire Shortbread Cookie Bars

This popular shortbread dessert is in a league of its own with a salted caramel layer sandwiched between a shortbread base and dark chocolate topping. 
4.48 from 19 votes
Print
Prep Time: 30 minutes mins
Cook Time: 40 minutes mins
Total Time: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Serves 12 Servings

Ingredients

For the shortbread:
  • 2 cups butter (softened)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ​1⁄2 cup light brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste (or pure vanilla extract)
  • 4⅔ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
For the caramel:
  • ​½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons golden syrup (or light corn syrup)
  • ​½ cup butter
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the topping:
  • 12 ounces Dark Chocolate (chopped)

Instructions

For the shortbread
  • Preheat the oven to 350F/160C.
    Grease a 9×13 inch pan.
  • Using a food processor or mixer fitted with the paddle attachment beat the butter, sugar, vanilla and brown sugar vigorously until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. It’s an important step to beat the butter and sugar well together when making shortbread as this ensures the shortbread is light, crisp and will hold together.
    In a separate bowl, sift the flour and salt. Add it to the butter mixture and mix until blended (forming large clumps).
  • Turn onto a floured surface and using floured hands, press evenly into the prepared pan (including the sides).
  • Bake for 40 – 45 minutes, until lightly browned.
  • Leave to cool completely in the pan.
For the caramel
  • Combine the sugar and syrup in a medium saucepan. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly until it becomes a light caramel color.
    Add the butter, salt & milk stir until smooth. Remove from heat and mix in the vanilla.
  • Set aside to cool slightly, then pour over the cooled shortbread.
    Allow cooling completely.
For the topping
  • Melt the chocolate melt chocolate in a microwaveable bowl for 30 seconds at a time (stirring in between) until the chocolate is smooth and fluid.
    Pour the melted chocolate over the caramel and set aside until the chocolate has cooled completely.
  • Cut into squares and serve.

Tips

  • Make sure the caramel has set otherwise you might end up with the chocolate and caramel mixing. It’s worth waiting to have the best end product.
  • For a show stopping billionaire shortbread cookie bar, why not add crushed hard pretzels, toasted nuts or candied ginger to the chocolate topping.
Show Nutrition Hide Nutrition

Nutrition

Calories: 836 | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 50g | Saturated Fat: 31g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 735mg | Potassium: 275mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 1195IU | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 5.7mg
Created by Erren Hart
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4.48 from 19 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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31 responses

  1. Alison Avatar
    Alison
    01/10/2022

    Top notch! So delicious

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      01/10/2022

      Thank you Alison 🙂

      Reply
  2. FatvBillionaire Avatar
    FatvBillionaire
    03/22/2020

    Taste of each element is good but the shortbread quantity is way out of proportion. Halved the shortbread recipe and made the same of everything else and it was still way too thick so maybe cut down to a third a d it will be about right. Anyway, we ate them all!

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      03/24/2020

      I’m glad you still enjoyed them 🙂

      Reply
  3. Judy keating Avatar
    Judy keating
    01/09/2019

    Looks delicious but 4and 2/3 cup of flour seems a lot and in the ingredients for the caramel you have put milk instead of cream.

    Reply
  4. Becka Avatar
    Becka
    02/07/2018

    Good, clear recipe to follow, but I like there to be equal quantities of caramel to chocolate, so next time I’m tripling the amount of caramel suggested here.

    Reply
  5. Anne R Avatar
    Anne R
    12/24/2017

    I tried this recipe and the caramel turned out well- albeit a bit runny. However, the shortbread did not turn out. It was much taller and thicker and drier than shortbread should be. Did you check the amounts on the American translation?

    Reply
  6. Danielle@wenthere8this.com Avatar
    Danielle@wenthere8this.com
    02/28/2017

    So, these look quite amazing. I’m afraid if I make them I will eat them all though. Decisions, decisions…

    Reply
  7. Sabrina Avatar
    Sabrina
    02/18/2017

    My kids love desserts with gooey caramel! They’re going to devour this one!

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      02/18/2017

      Thanks so much, Sabrina! ?

      Reply
  8. Kim Avatar
    Kim
    02/17/2017

    I don’t think these would last long at our house. Delicious!!

    Reply
    1. Erren Avatar
      Erren
      02/18/2017

      They certainly went quick over here! ?

      Reply
  9. Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling Avatar
    Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling
    02/17/2017

    Oh MY….that gooey caramel! Amazing!

    Reply
  10. Michelle Goth Avatar
    Michelle Goth
    02/17/2017

    Wow!! These are a lot easier than I expected. These seriously look so good. I’m so hungry right now lol!

    Reply
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