Millionaires Shortbread (Karamellschnitten) Recipe

If you’re looking for a simple dessert to make, then this is the perfect recipe for you! This millionaires shortbread recipe is the perfect dessert that requires very little baking. 

I first learnt this recipe from a family friend years ago and it has been one of my favourites ever since. The Swiss version of this dessert is called Karamellschnitten – it consists of a simple shortbread base, a layer of caramel and a layer of melted milk chocolate.

In the UK, this dessert is more commonly known as Millionaires Shortbread. Even though it consists of the same three layers, I’ve personally never been too fond of the British version of this dessert.

What ingredients you need:

For the base, this millionaires shortbread recipe only requires all-purpose white flour, butter and brown sugar. To make the caramel layer, I use either a mix of both sweetened and unsweetened condensed milk or a mix of brown sugar and unsweetened condensed milk. The chocolate layer purely consists of a melted block of milk chocolate.

Alternative ingredients:

You don’t have to use brown sugar in the base. I’ve made this recipe using coconut sugar and maple sugar as an alternative. The only difference is that the colour of the base changes, depending on the sugar you use. You could also use dark chocolate as an alternative to using milk chocolate. 

For the caramel base, you could use either sweetened or unsweetened condensed milk. When you use sweetened condensed milk you don’t need to add as much sugar to the caramel, whereas using unsweetened condensed milk will require more sugar. 

Why you should try this millionaires shortbread recipe:

This dessert was one of my favourites when I was a child. I used to love helping out in the kitchen and this recipe was simple enough for me to make even as a child. You should definitely try making this dessert – it’s so much better than store-bought millionaires shortbread and is such a fun activity to do with kids!

How hard is it to make this dish?

As I mentioned, Karamellschnitten is so easy to make. The difficult part is having enough patience when making the caramel layer. It’s important to be patient and continuously stir the caramel, or else the sugar will start to stick to the bottom of the pan and burn. 

How to cut millionaires shortbread without cracking it:

The trick to cutting these delicious treats without cracking the chocolate is to cut them before the chocolate fully sets. After you pour the chocolate over the caramel layer, let the chocolate cool for 20 minutes in the fridge. Once it’s cool, start cutting the millionaires shortbread using a bread knife. You’ll want to cut them before the chocolate fully sets, or you risk cracking the chocolate. To cut clean slices, you’ll want to wipe the excess chocolate on the knife after every cut. 

How to store millionaires shortbread:

You can also store them either in your cupboard or in the fridge in an airtight container. If you prefer to have the chocolate layer hard and crispy, then I recommend you refrigerate them. I wouldn’t store/refrigerate them for more than five days. 

Can millionaires shortbread be frozen? 

Once baked, you can easily freeze these millionaires shortbread desserts! Simply wrap the pieces in clingfilm or a plastic bag – you can take them out of the fridge, ready to serve within a few hours. 

Hints and Tips:

• You should cut the slices before the chocolate fully sets, or the chocolate may crack when you cut the slices. 

• Continuously stir the caramel in the pan to avoid the sugar from burning.

• You’ll want to firmly press the breadcrumb-like base in the tray before baking it. This will stabilise the base.

• Melt the chocolate pieces at medium heat. If the water in the pan is too hot, the steam could enter the bowl, creating the wrong chocolate consistency. 

Try these other dessert recipes:

• Chinese Almond Cookies
• Banana Brookies (Chocolate Brownie Cookies)
• Chocolate Profiteroles
• Pandan Chiffon Cake
• Melt In The Mouth Pineapple Tarts