Baker shares her simple recipe for 'no bake' millionaire's shortbread (2024)

FAQs

What is the story behind Millionaire's shortbread? ›

The name "millionaire's shortbread" appears to have originated in Scotland. The "millionaire" prefix to millionaire's shortbread or millionaires slice implies a level of decadence and wealth to the sweet treat, that it is an upgrade from regular shortbread.

To make the shortbread, mix 250g plain flour and 75g caster sugar in a bowl. Rub in 175g softened butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Knead the mixture together until it forms a dough, then press into the base of the prepared tin.

Give your caramel at least two hours to set, or overnight if possible. You can also pop caramel into the fridge to help it set up faster. The caramel will sweat a little when brought out of the fridge, but will still taste fine. If you don't eat it right away, here's how to store caramel.

BUT there is a way around this – you can thicken Carnation caramel by boiling it with caster sugar and butter. It makes a dark, rich gooey caramel that is absolutely gorgeous.

Inspired by the similar-looking Yule Cakes from pagan times which symbolised the sun and new beginnings, shortbread has become a New Year staple. It's offered to all who enter the house on New Year's day and believed to bring good blessings for the year ahead.

The most common mistakes when making shortbread are over-working the dough, and incorporating too much flour.

To Store: These shortbread bars can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week. To Freeze: Millionaire's Shortbread Bars freeze really well. Wrap the individual bars in plastic wrap and foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely at room temperature.

In ancient Scottish folklore, sun-shaped cakes, such as shortbread, had magic powers over the Sun during the Scottish New Year's Eve.

Also referred to as a caramel slice, the millionaire shortbread originates from Scotland and is the perfect three layered biscuit to cure your sweet tooth.

Both are concentrated, shelf-stable milk products that have been heated until at least 60 percent of their water content has evaporated. The main difference between evaporated milk and condensed milk is that evaporated milk is unsweetened while condensed milk is sweetened.

Why is my homemade caramel so hard? ›

If too many bits of sugar get stuck to the side of the pan, they will harden and can cause the caramel to seize or become gritty or grainy when you add in the butter and/or the cream.

If the cream on top of your banoffee pie is runny it means you haven't whipped it for long enough. Make sure the cream is whipped enough to semi-stiff peaks. You also need to use a thick caramel toffee and not a runny caramel sauce or it won't set in the fridge. Always chill the pie before cutting and serving.

Some form of dairy — typically butter and/or heavy cream — is usually added to the mixture at either the beginning or the end of cooking. This addition makes the caramel richer, thicker, and lighter in color, lending more viscosity and rounder flavor.

For my filling, I simply swap the condensed milk for tinned carnation caramel (a.k.a. dulce de leche) instead. This tinned caramel is actually made from sweetened condensed milk so it's essentially the same thing but it's pre-caramelised for you!

If caramels are too soft, that means the temperature didn't get high enough. Again place the caramel back into a sauce pan with a couple of tablespoons of water and heat to 244°F.

The caramel shortbread bar first pops up in the Australian Women's Weekly at the beginning of the 1970s, though the name seems to have originated in Scotland. Whatever the history, it's too good to be wasted on the 1%.

Shortbread originated in Scotland. Although it was prepared during much of the 12th century, and probably benefited from cultural exchange with French pastry chefs during the Auld Alliance between France and Scotland, the refinement of shortbread is popularly credited to Mary, Queen of Scots in the 16th century.

The custom of eating shortbread at New Year has its origins in the ancient pagan Yule Cakes which symbolised the sun. In Scotland it is still traditionally offered to “first footers” at New Year.

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.