Eat like a millionaire!
Explore expensive eating.
What is Millionaire’s Shortbread?
Millionaire’s Shortbread is the edible equivalent of a designer handbag: layered, luxurious, and just a little extra. It features a buttery shortbread base, a gooey golden caramel centre, and a thick, glossy layer of rich chocolate on top.
It’s basically a Twix bar that went to private school.
But where does it come from? Originating in Scotland and gaining popularity throughout the UK and beyond, it likely evolved from traditional shortbread recipes. The name “Millionaire’s” hints at the indulgent decadence of adding caramel and chocolate to an already buttery base—because why stop at rich when you can be filthy rich?
Can You Make It at Home? Absolutely.
Here’s how to whip up a tray of Millionaire’s Shortbread that will make your guests swoon and your dentist sigh.
Millionaire’s Shortbread Recipe
The What:
For the shortbread base:
- 250g (2 cups) plain flour
- 75g (⅓ cup) caster sugar
- 175g (¾ cup) unsalted butter, softened
For the caramel layer:
- 100g (½ cup) unsalted butter
- 100g (½ cup) light brown sugar
- 2 tbsp golden syrup
- 400g (1 can) sweetened condensed milk
For the chocolate topping:
- 200g (about 1 and a half slab…) good quality dark or milk chocolate (your choice)
- 1 tsp vegetable oil or butter (optional, for a glossier finish)
The How
Bake the shortbread:
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Mix flour and sugar, then rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Press into a lined 20cm x 30cm tray.
- Prick with a fork and bake for 20–25 minutes until lightly golden. Let cool completely.
Make the caramel:
- In a saucepan, melt butter, sugar, syrup, and condensed milk.
- Stir constantly over low heat for 10–15 minutes until the caramel thickens and turns golden. It should coat the back of a spoon.
- Pour over the cooled shortbread and smooth with a spatula. Let set (refrigerate if you’re impatient).
Add the chocolate layer:
- Melt chocolate gently in a bowl over simmering water or in short bursts in the microwave.
- Stir in a bit of oil or butter for shine.
- Pour over the caramel and tilt the tray to spread it evenly. Tap lightly to release bubbles.
- Chill until fully set, then cut into squares using a warm knife.
Chef’s Tips:
- Patience is power: Let each layer cool and set fully before adding the next.
- Slice like a millionaire: Warm your knife under hot water for clean, crack-free cuts.
- Flavour twist: Add a pinch of sea salt to the caramel or a shot of espresso to the chocolate for a grown-up flair.
Storage: Keeps beautifully in the fridge for up to a week (if you can make it last that long).
Are you looking for a whole meal instead of just a sweet treat?
Dinner Party Menu: Filthy Rich and Fabulous
Planning a gathering for six discerning guests? Here’s how to serve a night of opulent excess without booking a yacht.
Champagne Cocktail Aperitif:
“The Gilded Glass”
- 1 sugar cube soaked in Angostura bitters
- 10ml Cognac
- Topped with chilled champagne
- Garnish with a gold leaf or a twist of orange zest
Three-Course Menu:
Starter: Lobster & Burrata Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette
- Chunks of fresh lobster tail
- Creamy burrata
- Baby greens, avocado, grapefruit segments
- Dress with a vinaigrette made with olive oil, champagne vinegar, and a touch of honey
Main Course: Beef Wellington with Truffle Mash & Buttered Asparagus
- Beef fillet wrapped in mushroom duxelles and prosciutto, baked in puff pastry
- Truffle oil-infused mash (go light—it’s powerful stuff)
- Fresh asparagus glazed in lemon butter
Dessert: Gold-Dusted Chocolate Delice with Raspberry Coulis
Silky chocolate mousse on a biscuit base, topped with edible gold dust and served with a sharp, vibrant raspberry sauce to cut the richness
Sweet Treat with Coffee: Billionaire’s Shortbread Petit Fours
Mini versions of your homemade millionaire’s shortbread, dusted with the same edible gold leaf/powder and cut into delicate bite-sized cubes
Top Tip: Serve with espresso, a dark roast French press, or a dram of aged whisky
Status Symbols & Sweet Irony
In today’s world, food has become as much a social currency as designer labels or luxury cars. Caviar is back. Truffle is in everything. Gold leaf? Practically a seasoning now. The most expensive dessert ever sold? That title belongs to the “Frrrozen Haute Chocolate” at Serendipity 3 in New York City—at $25,000, it includes edible gold and a diamond-studded spoon you get to keep (thankfully)…
But let’s pause for a moment.
While we toast with champagne and drizzle honey over our hand-crafted cheeses, there are families who don’t know where their next meal is coming from.
Food insecurity is real and growing—even as food trends become ever more extravagant.
A Mindful Call to Action:
Before you splurge on that rare Himalayan salt or a bottle of tequila filtered through meteorite dust, consider supporting a local food charity. In South Africa, you could:
- Donate to FoodForward SA
- Support Ladles of Love
- Contribute to Meals on Wheels Community Services
- Or simply volunteer at your local soup kitchen or food bank
Being mindful of others doesn’t diminish your right to indulge—it simply makes your indulgence more meaningful. After all, the real mark of luxury is generosity.
