£15 and Under Recipes | Chocolate | Millionaire Shortbread | Recipes

M&M Millionaire Shortbread

2 April 202026 July 2025

This M&M Millionaire Shortbread has a melt-in-your-mouth candy-filled Shortbread, easy homemade caramel, and is topped off with Milk Chocolate, M&M Spread, and of course more M&Ms.

This is the first Millionaire Shortbread recipe on my blog, so I thought it was about time I gave it a little update and get new photos.

I haven’t changed too much about the recipe. the only main difference being that I added M&Ms to the shortbread, similar to my Mini Egg Millionaire Shortbread. I also updated the recipe for the caramel as I just find this recipe is so much easier to follow and makes a thicker caramel.

If you haven’t guessed already, I am OBSESSED with Millionaire Shortbread at the moment. I have a few different variations of it on my blog, from my Jammie Dodger Millionaire Shortbread to my Millionaire Blondies.

The stacked combination of soft shortbread cookie, buttery homemade caramel, and chocolate topping is just absolutely heavenly, and it is so much easier to make than you might think.

There are a few different options for the topping which I will explain in more detail in the alternatives section below. I used a combination of milk chocolate and M&M Spread, but you could use just milk chocolate, or you switch it up and use dark chocolate or maybe white chocolate. I wouldn’t recommend using just the M&M spread as it likely won’t set properly.

If you haven’t come across M&M spread before, where have you been?!! It’s basically your typical chocolate spread, but with bits of the crispy hard candy mixed in, adding texture. You can find it in most supermarkets, and it is normally in the same aisle as the other jams and spreads like Biscoff and Nutella.

Shortbread

Making shortbread is super easy and only includes three main ingredients. To start with mix together the flour, sugar, and butter until it forms a crumbly, sand-like consistency. Next, add in the M&MS and mix again until they are evenly distributed. To mix the shortbread I used the paddle attachment on my stand mixer, but you could also use a hand mixer or a wooden spoon.

Once the M&Ms are evenly distributed the mixture should still be quite crumbly. Using your hands bring the shortbread together with your hands.

Pop the shortbread into the bottom of your lined cake tin and press it down using your hands or the back of a spoon. If you find the shortbread is sticking to your hands or the spoon you can coat them in flour, and it should stop this from happening.

Once you have pressed the shortbread into the bottom of the tin, bake in the oven until it is golden brown in colour and looks dry.

Caramel

Once your shortbread is ready you can make the caramel. I normally make the caramel while the shortbread is cooling as the shortbread doesn’t need to be completely cooled, but you could also make it beforehand to save on time.

Now I know I say this on literally every Millionaire Shortbread but please make your own caramel. I promise it isn’t nearly as complicated as you may think.

Jammie Dodger Millionaire Shortbread

M&M Cupcakes

M&M Piñata Cake

In a saucepan heat up all the ingredients stirring constantly until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. You will know the sugar has dissolved because when you stir the mixture it won’t feel grainy. You need to do this step on a low heat and stir the mixture continuously so that it doesn’t catch.

Once your butter has melted and sugar dissolved turn the heat up to medium and stir continuously. The caramel will start boiling so please be careful you don’t burn yourself.

How Long do I Boil the Caramel For?

So, unfortunately, there isn’t a particular time or temperature you want to get to. You will notice the mixture starts to become a lot thicker and will turn a lovely amber/caramelly colour.

Keep stirring because you don’t want it to catch and burn. I normally boil my caramel for around 4 minutes but again this totally depends it could be up to 8 minutes it just depends. If you would prefer salted caramel, you could add a teaspoon of salt when you take it off heat

Once your caramel is ready pour it over the shortbread case and spread using a spatula. Pop it into the fridge to set.

Top Tips for Making Caramel

You need to stir the mixture continuously until it is ready. Please don’t put it on and leave it.

If you find you get little dark flecks in your caramel these are bits that have caught and burned slightly. They will still be fine to eat, but you could just pass your caramel through a seive before pouring it over your shortbread.

You need to use Unsalted Butter for the caramel rather than a baking spread like Stork. It just helps the caramel set better.

Depending on where you live in the world Golden Syrup might not be as readily available. An alternative would be Corn Syrup, but I would highly recommend trying your best to get Golden Syrup.

Chocolate M&M Topping

Once your caramel has cooled and set you can make the chocolatey topping. To make this I melted my milk chocolate in the microwave in 20-second bursts until it was completely melted and smooth. If you do it all at once, theres a chance it could burn. I then added the M&M spread and stirred until it was fully incorporated and smooth.

Pour the chocolate topping over the top of the caramel and smooth using a spatula or palette knife. Decorate with your M&Ms and put it back into the fridge for the chocolate to set.

Due to the M&M Spread, your topping won’t set as firmly as it would if it was just milk chocolate. It will still hold its shape when cut, it will just be slightly softer and chewier.

Alternatives

You don’t need to add the M&Ms into the shortbread if you don’t want to. You also don’t need to use the M&M spread if you can’t find it. Just use 400g of Milk Chocolate.

Please don’t use shop-bought caramel.

You could also use dark or white chocolate for the topping. If you are using white chocolate, I wouldn’t mix it with the M&M spread.

Equipment

*I earn a small amount of money if you buy any of these products. You won’t be charged anything extra for this. Thank you for supporting A Spoonful of Vanilla.

Pin it For Later!

Print Recipe