Millionaire Brownies Recipe: A Caramel Shortbread Treat
Millionaire brownies are one of those desserts that is perfect to make when you need an easy show-stopper treat. As a layered brownie, these bars are packed with tons of flavor. Every bite is full of crunchy shortbread, a fudgy brownie, and gooey caramel. And it’s topped with a chocolate ganache and chopped pecans. A decadent dessert that is easy to make.
About Millionaire Brownies
Millionaire bars are a dessert that’s popular in the United Kingdom. It’s a cookie that is based off of the Scottish shortbread. With a layer of caramel, and a layer of chocolate on top of the shortbread, these yummy treats resemble a Twix bar. But a millionaire cookie is much more rich and decadent. And that is where the name comes from. A rich and luxurious dessert that is sure to please.
This millionaire brownies recipe takes all of the flavors that come in a millionaire bar, and adds a fudgy brownie as one of the layers. It’s kind of like a brookie- a cookie and brownie combined to give you the best of both.
Tips for Success
Don’t let the number of layers in this millionaire brownies recipe intimidate you. It’s really a very easy recipe. Especially since it takes advantage of using a boxed brownie mix, and dulce de leche. Sure you could make homemade brownies and caramel if you wanted, but I think that using a brownie mix is so much easier.
There are so many layers of flavor in these shortbread brownies, including a layer of pecans in the middle. Plus, extra pecans sprinkled on top. One thing that I always do when baking with nuts is I toast them. So I highly recommend toasting the pecans before using them. It’s super easy to do. I like to toast the pecans as I preheat the oven.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the pecans on a baking sheet and place in the oven. This way the pecans toast as the oven heats up.
- Toast for about 5-8 minutes, or until you start to smell the nuttiness. Be sure you don’t overcook them.
- Remove from the oven and let them cool as you prepare the brownies. By the time you need the pecans for that layer in the brownies, they will have cooled down and be the perfect temperature.
These millionaire brownies have a dulce de leche layer in the middle. This is another thing that you could make from scratch. However, for me the store bought varieties are perfect for this recipe. If you don’t want to make a special trip to the store, a jar of caramel sauce will also work. It won’t be the exact consistency of dulce de leche, but the flavors are close enough that I feel you can substitute whichever one you prefer.
Step by Step With Pictures
In addition to your favorite boxed brownie mix for chocolate brownies, and dulce de leche, you’ll also need the following ingredients.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re toasting the pecans, place them on a baking sheet and toast as the oven heats up.
Line an 8″x8″ baking pan with parchment paper. Let the paper overhang the edges of the pan so that you can use the excess paper as handles to easily lift the brownies out of the pan when they’re done baking. Set aside as you make the shortbread cookie dough.
Place the softened butter and sugar in a bowl and mix on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix again until creamy. Then add the flour, cornstarch, and salt and mix just until combined.
Pour the shortbread cookie dough into the baking pan. Use your hands, the back of a spoon, or the bottom of a measuring cup to flatten the dough evenly in the pan.
The next layer for the millionaire brownies is the chocolate brownie layer. Mix the boxed brownies according to the directions on the package. Once mixed, pour the brownie batter on top of the shortbread. Bake the brownies for 25-30 minutes until the brownie layer has set. Cool the brownies completely before adding the next layer.
Once the brownies have cooled, add the dulce de leche and spread evenly on top of the brownies. Then add the pecans on top. They are going to be covered with the chocolate ganache so you don’t have to worry about how they look. However, I do like to arrange them in rows so that they are evenly placed on top of the caramel layer. That way I know that each bite has the perfect ratio of ingredients.
Now it’s time to make the final layer for the brownies. With the shortbread, brownie, caramel, and pecan layers in place, it’s time to top it all off with a chocolate ganache. Make the ganache by placing the chocolate chips in a bowl.
Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan, just until it starts to simmer. This is when you’ll start to see tiny little bubbles forming in the cream. Remove the cream from the heat and immediately pour over the chocolate chips. Let the mixture sit for a couple of minutes, and then stir together until creamy. Pour the ganache on top of the brownies and spread evenly. Add some pecan pieces on top if you’d like. Then place the brownies in the refrigerator and chill for an hour.
Once the brownies have set, use the parchment paper to remove the brownies from the pan. Then cut the brownies into 9 squares. You can either serve the brownies chilled, or at room temperature. Any left over brownies should be stored in the refrigerator. In an airtight container they will keep for 2-3 days.
I hope you make these millionaire brownies for your next party, or holiday. It’s not just the flavor that’s special with these brownies. It’s also the way they look. And to me that makes them the perfect dessert to make when you want to impress your guests.
This millionaire brownie recipe reminds me of Twix candy bars, since it has a lot of the same flavors. Another easy treat for Twix lovers are these Twix Sugar Cookie Bites. It’s such an easy recipe, and is perfect when you need a quick dessert for a party. And I mentioned that these millionaire shortbread brownies remind me of brookies. The popular brownie and cookie mashup. These Brookie Cheesecake Cups are another twist on the classic brownie and chocolate chip cookie combo.
If you tried this Millionaire Brownies recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and tell me how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting and happy baking!
Millionaire Shortbread Brownies
Equipment
- 8×8 Baking Dish
- Parchment Paper
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- 2 Mixing Bowls
- Saucepan
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
Brownie Layer
- 1 box brownie mix + ingredients
- 2 cans dulce de leche
- 2 cups pecan halves
Ganache Topping
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, letting the excess overhang the sides for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Add the flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir until a soft dough forms.
- Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the shortbread crust.
- Prepare the brownie mix according to the instructions on the package. Pour the batter over the shortbread crust and spread evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the brownie layer is set and a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Let cool completely in the pan.
- Once the brownies are cool, spread the dulce de leche evenly over the brownie layer. Arrange the pecan halves evenly on top, gently pressing them into the caramel.
- To make the ganache, heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it begins to simmer.
- Place the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl, then pour the heated cream over the chocolate chips and let sit for 1–2 minutes. Stir until smooth and glossy.
- Pour the ganache over the pecan layer and spread into an even layer. Chill the brownies for at least 1 hour or until fully set.
- Once chilled, lift the brownies from the pan using the parchment overhang and slice into 9 bars.
Notes
- Serve chilled or at room temperature.
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
- Toasting pecans accentuates their flavor. Toast in a 350 degree oven for 5-8 minutes. Cool before using in the recipe.
Follow me on Pinterest for more fun and easy cookie recipes to make for any occasion. And if you try this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and let me know how it went.
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