Who doesn't love a millionaire's shortbread - the combination of chocolate, caramel and shortbread is such a winner! I'm a huge fan of them and I can never resist a slice, or two! I've created these Millionaire's Shortbread Cupcakes with all the same tasty flavours and textures, plus there's cake too! I've filled a fluffy vanilla sponge with caramel sauce, swirled some milk chocolate buttercream on top, drizzled on more carmel and added a buttery shortbread biscuit. I love doing filled cupcakes, and I probably most often fill them with caramel because it's so good! I also really went for it with the millionaire theme by using gold cupcakes and gold coin style sprinkles, of course this isn't necessary but it really adds to the effect and makes them more recognisable.
Step by step...
To make the sponge I started by creaming together the butter and sugar, then I whisked in the eggs and vanilla extract.
Then I added the self raising flour and whisked until smooth. I divided the mixture between the cupcake cases, and baked them for 25 minutes until golden.
Once the cupcakes were fully cooled I used a cupcake corer to make a hole in the centre.
I filled each hole with caramel sauce.
To make the buttercream I mixed together butter, icing sugar and cocoa powder. Then I mixed in melted chocolate, then some milk.
What caramel sauce should I use?
My favourite caramel sauce to use is my Homemade Caramel Sauce, it's rich, smooth and absolutely divine! You can also easily add salt to it to make it into a salted caramel sauce. If you don't want to make your own, it's quite easy nowadays to find a good quality ready made caramel (or salted caramel) sauce in the shops or online. I have used Tesco's Finest, Bonn Maman and Carnation Caramel in the past with great results.
Tips for making the Millionaire's Shortbread Cupcakes:
- If you are making the hole in the cupcake with a knife, don’t cut all the way to the bottom, go about two thirds down. If you can get hold of a cupcake corer, it makes the process much easier and quicker and they’re very cheap.
- I used milk chocolate for the buttercream, you can also use dark chocolate it you prefer!
- Don't add the shortbread biscuits until close to serving, as the moisture can make them go soft over time.
- If you prefer, you could decorate the cupcakes with a small piece of millionaire's shortbread!
Recommended equipment & ingredients*
| Cupcake tin | Electric hand mixer | Piping bags |
| Cupcake corer | Mixing bowls | Cooling rack |
| Kitchen scales | Edible glitter spray | Salted Caramel Sauce |
| Gold foil cupcake cases | Wilton 2D Piping nozzle |
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Millionaire's Shortbread Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the sponge
- 175 g Caster sugar
- 175 g Butter or baking spread
- 3 Eggs large
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 175 g Self raising flour
- 185 g Caramel sauce good quality shop bought, or homemade
For the buttercream
- 200 g Butter or baking spread
- 400 g Icing sugar
- 100 g Milk chocolate, melted or dark chocolate if you prefer
- 2 tbsp Cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp Milk
For decoration
- 25 g Caramel sauce good quality shop bought, or homemade
- 12 Shortbread biscuits
- Gold sprinkles optional
- Gold edible glitter optional
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 160C Fan/180C/350F/Gas Mark 4, and line a cupcake tin with cupcake cases
- To make the sponge, mix together the butter and sugar, using an electric mixer or by hand with a silicone or wooden spoon, until smooth
- Add the eggs and vanila extract and whisk well
- Then gently whisk in the self raising flour
- Divide the mixture between the 12 cupcake cases
- Bake them for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown and a skewer inserted in the centre of the cupcakes comes out clean. Leave to cool completely
- Use a cupcake corer or a knife to make a hole in the middle of each cupcake
- Fill the holes with the caramel sauce. You can do this using a spoon or put the sauce into a small piping bag, snip the end off and pipe it in
- Make the buttercream by mixing together the butter, cocoa powder and icing sugar, then add the melted chocolate, and mix until smooth. Finally add the milk. You can do this by hand or with an electric whisk
- Pipe the buttercream onto each cupcake using a piping bag fitted with your chosen nozzle. Or spread on with a spoon
- Drizzle over the caramel, you can do this using a spoon or put the sauce into a small piping bag, snip the end off and pipe a drizzle over
- Press a shortbread biscuit on top of each cupcake and add some sprinkles. Please note, the biscuits will go soft the longer they are in the buttercream because of the moisture, so add them as close to serving as possible
- Store in an airtight container in a cool place, eat leftovers within 3 days
Notes
If you like this, check out more of my Cupcake recipes!
Pin it for later!
I'm linking this recipe up with Cook Blog Share hosted by Peachicks Bakery, and Fiesta Fridays hosted by Angie.
Jessica Cantoni
LOVE Millionaire Shortbread! That buttercream looks amazing by the way xx
thebakingexplorer
Thank you!
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie
What a fab idea! I do so love a dessert mashup 😀 Eb x
Midge @ Peachicks' Bakery
Oh my!!! They look amazing!!! Thanks for sharing #CookBlogShare
Sheena
I made these and they went down a treat with everyone! Loved the caramel filling too. Your recipes are so simple to follow, thanks again!
thebakingexplorer
Thank you Sheena, so happy you enjoyed them 😀