Millionaireโ€™s Shortbread (Caramel Shortbread Bars)

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This chewy Millionaireโ€™s Shortbread is the best dessert to satisfy your sweet and salty cravings! A buttery shortbread base is topped with a layer of Rice Krispie caramel followed by a rich chocolate topping and a sprinkle of sea salt.

A Close-Up Shot of Three Stacked Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars Topped with Sea Salt

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Enter your email below & we'll send it to your inbox. Plus get great new recipes from us every week!

    We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
     

    Easy Millionaireโ€™s Shortbread Recipe

    Iโ€™ve been wanting to make these for quite some time now. I love caramel, and these bars are like wrapping caramel up in a beautiful, semi-baked sweet and salty package. I could not be happier with the results!

    The shortbread is very easy to put together. Just a few ingredients are combined in a food processor and pressed into a pan. It only needs to bake for 15 minutes, then the rest of the recipe is completely oven-free!

    The caramel layer is made using my favorite store-bought caramels. Homemade caramel isnโ€™t hard to make, but in the interest of keeping this recipe as simple as can be, I like to defer to my favorite brand. Plus, caramel sauce wonโ€™t firm up the same way.

    I put my own twist on millionaireโ€™s shortbread by adding Rice Krispies to the caramel layer to give it a little crunch. I dig variation in texture and that totally achieved it! The added crunch brought these already-heavenly treats to a whole new level.

    The silky chocolate topping compliments the shortbread and the crunchy caramel perfectly. With a sprinkle of sea salt to top it all off, an irresistible sweet and salty treat is born!

    Three Millionaire's Shortbread Bars Stacked on Top of a Piece of Parchment Paper

    Why is it Called Millionaireโ€™s Shortbread?

    Well, no one really knows for sure. I think itโ€™s because these bars are so yummy, each bite makes you feel like a million bucks! But it could also have something to do with how rich and indulgent they are.

    A Bunch of Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars on Top of a White Cake Stand

    Recipe Ingredients

    Despite how luxurious these bars are, the ingredients you need for them are simple! Hereโ€™s the roster for each component:

    For the Shortbread Layer

    • Flour: Youโ€™ll Need 1 cup.
    • Sugar: For both sweetness and chewiness.
    • Butter: Diced.
    • Vanilla Extract: Use a high-quality extract for the best results.

    For the Caramel Layer

    • Milk: Whatever kind you have on hand will do.
    • Butter: Youโ€™ll need 1/4 cup.
    • Kraft Caramels: Wrappers removed.
    • Rice Krispies Cereal: To add that satisfying crunch.

    For the Chocolate Topping

    • Chocolate Chips: I use semi-sweet.
    • Heavy Cream: Just a few tablespoons!
    • Sea Salt: For sprinkling on top.
    A Pile of Caramel Shortbread Bars Sitting on a Blue Towel Over a Straw Placemat

    How to Make Millionaireโ€™s Shortbread

    These cookie bars come together with ease. Just follow the detailed instructions below and watch these tasty treats come to life!

    Make the Shortbread Base

    1. Prep for Baking: Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF. Line a 9ร—9-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving some sticking above the sides of the pan to lift the bars out later.
    2. Make Dough: Add the flour, sugar, butter and vanilla to a food processor and pulse until it comes together and forms a ball.
    3. Add to Pan: Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the pan.
    4. Bake: Bake the shortbread for 15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
    5. Let Cool: Remove the pan from the oven and set it aside so the shortbread can cool.

    Make the Caramel Layer

    1. Heat Milk, Butter & Caramels: Put the milk, butter and caramels into a large pot over medium heat. Allow everything to melt, stirring often so that the mixture doesnโ€™t boil.
    2. Add Rice Krispies: Add the Rice Krispies and mix until incorporated.
    3. Pour Over Shortbread: Pour the caramel mixture evenly over the cooled shortbread. Set the pan aside.

    Make the Chocolate Topping

    1. Melt Cream & Chocolate: Heat the heavy cream and chocolate chips in the microwave for 30 second increments, stirring between each one, until the mixture is melted.
    2. Pour Over Caramel: Pour the chocolate evenly over the caramel layer.
    3. Let Cool: Allow the bars to cool completely.
    4. Remove From Pan & Cut: Lift the bars out of the pan using the excess parchment paper and cut them into squares.
    5. Enjoy! Serve millionaireโ€™s shortbread cold or at room temperature.
    A Caramel Shortbread Bar on a Blue Kitchen Towel with More Bars

    Tips for Success

    Want to make sure your caramel bars are fit for a millionaire? These tips and tricks will help you get them just right.

    • Leave Enough Overhanging Parchment Paper: Nobody wants their fresh batch of cookie bars to get stuck inside the pan! Be sure to leave plenty of extra parchment paper on both sides so you can lift the bars out with ease.
    • Donโ€™t Boil the Caramel Mixture: Stir your caramel mixture frequently so that it doesnโ€™t come to a boil. If it does boil, it may burn and take on a bitter flavor.
    • Let the Bars Cool in the Fridge: You can cool these bars in the fridge rather than letting them cool on the counter to save time, if desired.
    • Cool Completely for Easy Cutting: If your bars are cooled to room temperature or chilled, youโ€™ll be able to cut them so much easier. They taste great cold too, so donโ€™t be afraid to enjoy one straight from the fridge!
    Three Servings of Millionaire's Shortbread Piled Up on a Sheet of Parchment Paper with Kraft Caramels in the Background

    How to Store Leftovers

    You can refrigerate these bars or store them at room temperature โ€“ up to you โ€“ as long as theyโ€™re kept in an airtight container. I personally prefer them cold because theyโ€™re firmer, but both ways are delicious! Be sure to enjoy your bars within 1 week unless you decide to store them in the freezer.

    Can I Freeze These?

    Yes! Frozen millionaireโ€™s shortbread will last for up to 3 months. Place your cooled bars into a freezer-safe container and freeze. Thaw them out in the fridge before digging in.

    More Caramel Desserts to Try

    If youโ€™re a caramel addict like me, you will adore the decadent treats below. Donโ€™t forget to check them out next!

    Print
    clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon facebook facebook icon print print icon squares squares icon
    Caramel Shortbread Bars stacked on wax paper
    Recipe

    Millionaireโ€™s Shortbread (Caramel Shortbread Bars)

    • Author: Lindsay
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 25 minutes
    • Total Time: 40 minutes
    • Yield: 10
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: American

    Description

    This chewy Millionaireโ€™s Shortbread is the best dessert to satisfy your sweet and salty cravings! A buttery shortbread base is topped with a layer of Rice Krispie caramel followed by a rich chocolate topping and a sprinkle of sea salt.


    Ingredients

    For the Shortbread Layer

    • 1 cup flour
    • 1/4 cup sugar
    • 6 tbsp butter, diced
    • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

    For the Caramel Layer

    • 1/4 cup milk
    • 1/4 cup butter
    • 1 11 oz bag Kraft Caramels, wrappers removed
    • 2 cups Rice Krispies cereal

    For the Chocolate Topping

    • 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
    • 3 tbsp heavy cream
    • sea salt


    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    2. Line a 9ร—9 pan with parchment paper, leaving some sticking above the sides of the pan to lift the bars out later.
    3. Add flour, sugar, butter and vanilla to a food processor and pulse until it comes together and forms a ball.
    4. Press dough evenly into the bottom of the pan.
    5. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
    6. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
    7. Put milk, butter and caramels into a large pot on medium heat. Allow everything to melt, stirring often so that the mixture doesnโ€™t boil.
    8. Add the rice krispies and mix until incorporated.
    9. Pour caramel mixture evenly over shortbread. Set pan aside.
    10. Heat heavy cream and chocolate chips in the microwave at 30 second increments, stirring between increments, until melted.
    11. Pour chocolate evenly over caramel layer.
    12. Allow bars to cool. You can put them in the refrigerator to cool more quickly.
    13. Lift bars out of the pan and cut into squares. Itโ€™s easier to cut them if they are cold.
    14. Serve bars cold or at room temperature.

    Notes

    Makes 9-12 bars.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 Bar
    • Calories: 368
    • Sugar: 33 g
    • Sodium: 290.8 mg
    • Fat: 18.8 g
    • Carbohydrates: 48.5 g
    • Protein: 4.4 g
    • Cholesterol: 29.8 mg

    Categories

    Share a Comment

    Have a question? Use the form below to submit your question or comment. I love hearing from you and seeing what you made!

    Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    35 Comments
    1. Linda

      O My Gosh, these are incredible! I was a little concerned about making these, I only had the caramel bits instead of that wrapped caramels, so I just cooked them on low o melt them. I didnโ€™t have my food processor, so I just used my manual pastry blender tool, and then squeezed all of the shortbread trying to make it into a ball which didnโ€™t work well good, and pressed down on it with my finger tips really good. It all turned out incredibly good! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, it is definitely a keeper! The family went wild over them! I directed them to your website, which is my go to site for dessert recipes!

    2. Staci

      I have a ton of caramel chips and wanted your opinion on using these in this recipe instead of the wrapped caramels. Iโ€™m not much of a baker and would love your thoughts!!

      1. Lindsay

        I have played around with the caramel bits versus the wrapped caramels and in my opinion they donโ€™t have the same texture and such when melted. Iโ€™d probably go with the wrapped caramels to avoid it not working out, but you could try it if you wanted to use the chips up.

    3. Heather

      These are very tasty but the Rice Krispies got soggy. What happened? Does the caramel need to cool before adding the krispies orโ€ฆ

    4. Amy Lynch

      How much caramel sauce would you need if you made your own for this instead of  using the wrapped caramels? Your recipes are amazing!!

      1. Lindsay

        Iโ€™m not sure. Keep in mind though that if you make your own, it needs to be firm at room temperature, like the candies.

    Lindsay
    About Lindsay

    Iโ€™m the baker, recipe developer and photographer behind Life, Love and Sugar. I love sharing trusted recipes with helpful tips to give you great results.

    NEVER MISS A RECIPE

    โ€‹

    Get an email when new recipes are published. Don't miss out on the best cupcakes, cheesecakes, cakes or cookies!

      We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

      Scripture Iโ€™m Loving

      โ€œCome to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.โ€ Matthew 11:28-29

      Lindsay's Top 10 Summer Desserts!

      FREE EMAIL BONUS
      โ€‹
      Crowd-pleasing desserts that bring the sunshine to every bite.

        We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.