For this month's Secret Recipe Club, I was assigned to an English blog. I was a little discouraged at first because of the differences in measurements. Grams do not convert exactly to cups or tablespoons, so there is a lot of guesswork and rounding. I found a website that made this "translation" relatively easy. Knowing I could make any recipe on the site, I was on a mission to find the perfect one.
With a name like "Millionaire's Shortbread:" this recipe instantly intrigued me. When I read the description on Corina's blog Searching for Spice, I knew I would love it. Really, how could you go wrong with shortbread topped with caramel and dark chocolate? Apparently these bars are very popular in the UK and in Canada, but not so much in the States. This should change, because they are delicious! This was my other contribution to the Superbowl party we attended last weekend. They were a huge hit, and several people asked me for the recipe.
After reading Corina's description and intro to the recipe, I opted to go the less sugary route by making Dulce de Leche basically the way the recipe on the side of the can of sweetened condensed milk details. I was so glad I did. The bars came out with just the right amount of sweetness, and of course I added a little saltiness because of my recent obsession with salted caramel.
2/3 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
1-1/3 cup flour
(egg?)
1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp vanilla
4-5 oz dark chocolate (I used squares from a dark chocolate candy bar)
With a name like "Millionaire's Shortbread:" this recipe instantly intrigued me. When I read the description on Corina's blog Searching for Spice, I knew I would love it. Really, how could you go wrong with shortbread topped with caramel and dark chocolate? Apparently these bars are very popular in the UK and in Canada, but not so much in the States. This should change, because they are delicious! This was my other contribution to the Superbowl party we attended last weekend. They were a huge hit, and several people asked me for the recipe.
After reading Corina's description and intro to the recipe, I opted to go the less sugary route by making Dulce de Leche basically the way the recipe on the side of the can of sweetened condensed milk details. I was so glad I did. The bars came out with just the right amount of sweetness, and of course I added a little saltiness because of my recent obsession with salted caramel.
2/3 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
1-1/3 cup flour
(egg?)
1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp vanilla
4-5 oz dark chocolate (I used squares from a dark chocolate candy bar)
- Preheat the oven to 350*
- Line an 8x8 baking dish with foil leaving a little overhang. Butter or spray the foiled pan.
- Cream the sugar and butter together for the base layer. Then add the flour and mix until it forms a dough. I had to add an egg too. The dough was very crumbly (before egg), which is probably due to the translation from English to American measurements not being exact. Egg helps hold things together, so I thought it was a good choice.
- Put the dough into the prepared dish, and press down so it covers the bottom.
- Bake 20-25 minutes until a very light golden brown and toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely.
- To make the caramel: Pour sweetened condensed milk into a medium microwave safe bowl. Cook on medium (50% power) for 4 minutes, stirring well halfway through. Continue to cook on medium-low (30-40% power) for another 12-15 minutes until the milk has turned into thick, golden, caramel. Stir every couple of minutes.
- Stir in the salt and vanilla.
- Pour the caramel over the cooled shortbread and spread evenly.
- Let the caramel firm up for about an hour in the refrigerator (or less in the freezer)
- For the chocolate layer: Melt some chocolate in a bowl over a pan of boiling water (or in a double boiler---which I don't own).
- Pour onto the caramel and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle with more sea salt or kosher salt.
- Put in the refrigerator to set.
- Cut into small squares to serve.
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