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.

Leave at room temperature for 30 minutes to soften the layers. Run a large sharp knife under hot water for 30 seconds and dry with a towel (this will help slice through the layers). Cut into 16 slices and enjoy!

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.

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.

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.

OVEN IS TOO HOT

Oven temperatures are a crucial factor in baking. If your cookies consistently come out flat, you may have selected the wrong baking temperature. If you bake cookies using too much heat, the fats in the dough begin to melt before the other ingredients can cook together and form your cookie's rise.

Why is my shortbread chewy? ›

Begin checking at the tail end of the cooking time. Undercooked shortbread will be doughy and chewy.

Shortbread dough is often crumbly because a traditional recipe uses no egg to bind the ingredients. Also, traditional shortbread would be pressed into a mould before baking, which would constrain the dough and keep the crumb dense.

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.

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.

Dry caramel is quicker to make than wet caramel, but it's also trickier: Without additional liquid, the sugar can caramelize very quickly, burning before you realize it. Using moderate heat, as Mel suggests, can help safeguard against burning, as can vigilance: Don't walk away from the pan once you've started.

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.