The Best Easy No-Bake Millionaire’s Shortbread

Have you ever dreamed of a dessert with three perfect, outrageously decadent layers: a buttery shortbread crust, a thick and chewy caramel filling, and a rich, snappy chocolate ganache on top? What if I told you that you could make the famous, luxurious Millionaire’s Shortbread without ever turning on your oven? This incredible, easy, and completely No-Bake Millionaire’s Shortbread recipe is the ultimate indulgent treat.

This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a game-changer. We’re taking the beloved, classic British bar and making it unbelievably simple with a brilliant no-bake almond flour crust that is naturally gluten-free! This is topped with a foolproof, 3-ingredient caramel and a silky, two-tone chocolate ganache. It’s a show-stopping dessert that looks and tastes like it came from a high-end bakery but is secretly simple to make at home.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Recipe Overview: The Ultimate No-Bake Indulgence

What makes this No-Bake Millionaire’s Shortbread so special is its perfect trio of textures and its incredible ease. The recipe brilliantly deconstructs a classic pastry into simple, no-fuss steps. The tender, nutty, no-bake crust, the rich, chewy, stovetop caramel, and the smooth, decadent chocolate ganache come together to create three layers of pure bliss. It’s the perfect make-ahead dessert for holidays, bake sales, or any time a truly special treat is in order.

Metric	Time / Level
Total Time	3 hours 30 minutes (includes chilling)
Active Prep Time	30 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy
Servings	16 small bars

The Essential Ingredients for This Decadent Treat

This recipe uses a handful of high-quality ingredients to create its three distinct and delicious layers.

• The No-Bake Almond Flour Crust: The buttery, nutty, and tender foundation.
  • Almond Flour: This is the secret to our no-bake crust! Finely ground almond flour has a wonderful, nutty flavor and a tender texture that, when combined with melted butter, creates a perfect press-in crust that sets up beautifully in the fridge—no baking required! It also makes these bars naturally gluten-free.
• The Foolproof 3-Ingredient Caramel: This is the rich, chewy heart of the bars.
  • Brown Sugar, Butter, and Sweetened Condensed Milk: This magical trio is cooked briefly on the stovetop to create a thick, rich, and completely foolproof caramel. The sweetened condensed milk ensures it stays soft and chewy, never hard or grainy.
• The Silky Chocolate Ganache: The beautiful and decadent topping.
  • Dark and White Chocolate: We use a rich, bittersweet dark chocolate for the main ganache layer, which perfectly balances the sweet caramel. A little bit of white chocolate is used to create the stunning, professional-looking marbled pattern on top.
  • Heavy Cream: Hot heavy cream is poured over the chocolate to gently melt it, creating an impossibly smooth, silky, and rich ganache that sets to a perfect, snappy finish.

Step-by-Step to Perfect No-Bake Bars

This recipe is a rewarding project with three simple parts. Follow these detailed steps for a perfect result every time.

Part 1: The No-Bake Almond Flour Shortbread

Step 1: First, line an 8×8-inch square pan with two crisscrossing pieces of parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to act as “handles.” This is the secret to easily removing the bars later.

Step 2: In a medium bowl, stir together the 200g of almond flour, the 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, and the 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

Step 3: Pour the melted butter and vanilla extract into the flour mixture. Stir with a fork until all the dry ingredients are completely saturated and the mixture has the consistency of wet sand.

Step 4: Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan. Use the flat bottom of a measuring cup or a glass to pack it down into a tight, compact layer.

Step 5: Chill the crust in the refrigerator while you prepare the caramel. This helps it to set and firm up.

Part 2: The Foolproof 3-Ingredient Caramel

Step 1: In a small, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, combine the 100g of brown sugar, the 75g of unsalted butter, and the 300g of sweetened condensed milk.

Step 2: Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula to prevent the bottom from scorching.

Step 3: Once it is boiling, continue to cook and stir for 2-3 minutes as the caramel thickens. You’ll know it’s ready when you can drag your spatula through the caramel and the line it creates takes 1-2 seconds to come back together.

Step 4: While the caramel is still warm, pour it over the chilled shortbread layer. Use a small offset spatula to quickly and gently smooth it into an even layer.

Step 5: Let the caramel layer chill in the refrigerator while you prepare the chocolate ganache.

Part 3: The Silky Chocolate Ganache Topping

Step 1: Set aside your chopped dark chocolate and chopped white chocolate in two separate, heat-safe bowls.

Step 2: Heat the 125g of heavy cream in a small pot over medium heat until small bubbles just begin to form around the edges and it starts to simmer. Do not let it come to a full, rolling boil.

Step 3: Pour about 100g of the hot cream over the dark chocolate and the remaining 25g over the white chocolate. Let both bowls sit completely undisturbed for 1-2 minutes. This allows the heat to gently melt the chocolate.

Step 4: After a minute, begin to stir or whisk both chocolate mixtures until they are completely melted, smooth, and glossy.

Pro Tip: At first, the ganache might look chunky or curdled. Don’t worry! Just keep stirring gently and consistently in circles, and it will magically come together into a smooth, beautiful emulsion.

Part 4: Assemble and Chill Your Bars

Step 1: Pour the dark chocolate ganache over the set caramel layer and smooth it into an even layer with an offset spatula.

Step 2: Use a small spoon to place little blobs or dollops of the white chocolate ganache on top of the dark chocolate layer.

Step 3: To create the beautiful marbled pattern, gently run the tip of a chopstick or a thin knife through the ganache layer (just the top chocolate layer, not the caramel). Move in a zigzag pattern from left to right, and then in an up-and-down motion, without lifting up your tool.

Step 4 (The Final Chill!): Let the entire dish chill in the refrigerator again for at least 1 hour, or until all the layers have completely set and the chocolate is firm.

To serve, use the parchment paper handles to lift the entire block out of the pan. Run a long, sharp knife under hot water and wipe it dry between each slice to get beautiful, clean cuts. Cut into 16 small, square bars.

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Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

These No-Bake Millionaire’s Shortbread Bars are the perfect make-ahead treat.

• Make-Ahead: You can make these bars completely up to 5 days in advance. The flavors will meld and they will be perfectly set and ready to go.
• Storage: Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Because of the butter and cream, they will become too soft if left at room temperature for a long time. They will stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week.
• Freezing: These bars also freeze beautifully! You can freeze the entire block or individual, pre-cut bars. Wrap them well in plastic wrap and foil. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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Creative Recipe Variations

This decadent, layered bar is a wonderful base for other delicious and creative flavor combinations.

1. Add a Sprinkle of Flaky Sea Salt: For a classic, sophisticated flavor that perfectly balances the sweetness, sprinkle a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt (like Maldon sea salt) over the top of the chocolate ganache just before you chill it.
2. Peanut Butter Millionaire’s Bars: For a delicious peanut butter cup twist, you can gently swirl 1/4 cup of melted, creamy peanut butter into the caramel layer just after you’ve poured it over the crust, before it sets.
3. Use a Different Crust: If you don’t have almond flour, you can easily make a delicious no-bake crust by substituting an equal weight of finely crushed shortbread cookies, Biscoff cookies, or even pretzels for a sweet and salty version.

Enjoy Your Outrageously Decadent Treat!

You’ve just created a truly spectacular dessert that is a perfect trifecta of texture and taste. This Easy No-Bake Millionaire’s Shortbread is a rich, satisfying, and incredibly impressive treat that is sure to wow anyone you share it with. It’s a decadent recipe that proves you don’t need an oven to create something truly special and bakery-worthy.

We hope you enjoy every last, rich, chewy, and chocolatey bite!

If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a decadent dessert!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)