Millionaire's Shortbread

Millionaire's Shortbread / Karen E. Photography (p)

When I was younger I could only eat one piece at a time - unlike my sister who could flatten an entire tray in one sitting. She had a sweet tooth of note. Shortbread, caramel and chocolate glaze; it’s what sweet dreams are made of!
— Jackie Cameron

Yield: 15 Little Blocks

Ingredients:

For the shortbread:

  • 125g salted Butter
  • 20g Sugar
  • 225g Flour

For the caramel:

  • 1 x 379g tin Condensed Milk
  • 100g Golden Syrup
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 150g salted Butter

For the topping:

  • 300g good quality Dark Chocolate, chopped into small pieces
  • 40ml Fresh Cream 

Method:

Shortbread

  1. Cream the butter and sugar very well. Add the sifted flour

  2. Knead well and press into a small tray, making sure the shortbread mixture covers the base to a 5 mm thickness

  3. Dock/prick the shortbread very well over the top

  4. Bake at 160°C for about 30 minutes or until very light golden brown. Set aside to cool

Caramel

  1. For the topping, heat the condensed milk, syrup, vanilla and butter in a saucepan, stirring occasionally until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth.

  2. Increase the heat and bring the mixture to the boil, stirring frequently. The caramel will thicken and turn golden in colour. Place a teaspoon of caramel onto a cold saucer and run your finger through this if it holds shape then it is ready. Set aside to cool slightly, pour this then over the cooled shortbread. Allow to cool completely, even overnight-if possible.

Topping

  1. Melt the chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water (ensure that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water) a l’ bain marie style, stirring occasionally. Heat the cream and add this to the melted chocolate.

  2. Pour the melted chocolate over the caramel and set aside until the chocolate has cooled completely.

  3. Cut into desired shapes.