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.
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
- 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
- Bake the shortbread base.
- Make the caramel.
- Pour the caramel onto the shortbread base.
- Melt the chocolate, pour this onto the caramel.
- Allow to Cool.
- Slice and serve!
Step By Step Instructions
Start with the shortbread base.
Make the caramel and pour it over the shortbread, leave to cool and set.
Melt the chocolate (for more information on how to properly melt chocolate, see my guide on How to Melt Chocolate).
Pour the chocolate over the caramel.
Leave to set completely before cutting.
Serve and enjoy every last bite.
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
Millionaire shortbread has a caramel centre, billionaire shortbread has a decadent salted caramel centre.
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.
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Let’s Make Billionaire Shortbread Cookie Bars
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 + Notes
- 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.
Alison says
Top notch! So delicious
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you Alison 🙂
FatvBillionaire says
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!
Erren's Kitchen says
I’m glad you still enjoyed them 🙂
Judy keating says
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.
Becka says
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.
Anne R says
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?
Danielle@wenthere8this.com says
So, these look quite amazing. I’m afraid if I make them I will eat them all though. Decisions, decisions…
Sabrina says
My kids love desserts with gooey caramel! They’re going to devour this one!
Erren says
Thanks so much, Sabrina! ?
Kim says
I don’t think these would last long at our house. Delicious!!
Erren says
They certainly went quick over here! ?
Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling says
Oh MY….that gooey caramel! Amazing!
Michelle Goth says
Wow!! These are a lot easier than I expected. These seriously look so good. I’m so hungry right now lol!