Recipe: Perfect Millionaire Bars (Caramel Shortbread Bars)

Millionaire Bars (Caramel Shortbread Bars). Stir all Caramel ingredients together except vanilla in heavy-bottomed saucepan. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. (Caramel may be speckled with brown bits.) Pour caramel over baked crust and spread evenly (mixture will be very hot). Great recipe for Millionaire Bars (Caramel Shortbread Bars). This caramel shortbread bar has been around a long time. In trying to find its origin it seems most likely to have started in Scotland when milk, eggs and sugar were in short supply.

So the caramel was made with a sweetend condensed. This recipe of crisp shortbread topped with a layer of caramel was likey invented not long after the Second World War. The term "millionaire" is likely due to the fact that these bars are so rich and decadent. You can have Millionaire Bars (Caramel Shortbread Bars) using 15 ingredients and 20 steps. Here is how you cook that.

Ingredients of Millionaire Bars (Caramel Shortbread Bars)

1. It's of For the shortbread crust.
2. Prepare 3/4 cups of unsalted butter, at room temperature (1 1/2 sticks).
3. It's 1/3 cup of granulated sugar.
4. Prepare 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
5. You need 1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour.
6. Prepare 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
7. Prepare of For Caramel Layer.
8. You need 1 (14 ounce) of can sweetened condensed milk.
9. You need 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
10. You need 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla.
11. You need of For Chocolate Layer.
12. Prepare 4 ounces of good quality milk chocolate, I used Lindt Excellence Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate, chopped.
13. You need 2 ounces of good quality semi sweet bar chocolate, chopped.
14. Prepare 1/2 tablespoon of salted butter.
15. Prepare 1/2 cup of English toffee bits, I used Heath enlist toffee bits.

While the shortbread base cools, make the millionaire bar filling. Heat the butter, brown sugar and sweetened condensed milk over medium heat in a heavy saucepan. Stir frequently, and allow the mixture come to a gentle boil. Once this happens, turn the heat down to allow the caramel to simmer.

Millionaire Bars (Caramel Shortbread Bars) instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Line a 8 by 8 baking dish with foil with sides extending over the edge for easy removal of bars. Spray foil woth non stick spray.
2. Make Shortbread Crust.
3. In a bowl beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.
4. Add flour and salt and beat just until the dough forms clumps.
5. Press onto prepared pan evenly and bake about 25 to 30 minutes until light golden.
6. .
7. Cool completely on a wire rack.
8. Make Caramel Layer.
9. Pour sweetened condensed milk in to a heatproof bowl and stir in salt and vanilla.
10. Place bowl over simmering water, cover with foil and cook until a golden caramel forms about 60 to 90 minutes. Stir occasionally and check to be sure the water level is ok..
11. .
12. Remove from heat and beat until smooth with a whisk..
13. Spread caramel over cooled shortbread crust. Let caramel firm up about 60 minutes before adding chocolate layer.
14. Make Chocolate Layer.
15. Combine both chopped chocolates and butter in a microwave safe bowl, microwave carefully until just melted then stir smooth.
16. Let sit about 5 minutes to cool a bit then pour over caramel layer.
17. While chocolate is still warm evenly top with Toffee bits.
18. Let chocolate set before cutting g into bars. Refrigerate for easy cutting. To cut remove entire shortbread from pan in one piece, then cut. Store in refrigerator or freeze individual bars for layer.
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However, it is believed that the name actually came from Scotland. There are many names for this treat: caramel squares, millionaire's bars, caramel shortcake, or caramel slices. If you think about it, Twix bars are also a Millionaire's Shortbread! These millionaire bars have a perfectly crumbly crust, an ooey gooey caramel middle, and a thin layer of delicious semi-sweet chocolate on top. Bar desserts are convenient for parties and gatherings, because you make them in a single pan, but they make several servings.