This vegan millionaire shortbread recipe is sweet, simple, and ready in an hour! I'll show you how to make a vegan shortbread crust, caramel centre and chocolate topping using 7 ingredients.
Do you remember having millionaire shortbread as a kid?
I was determined to make this vegan millionaire shortbread taste exactly how I remembered growing up. Millionaire shortbread is flour, sugar, butter, caramel, milk chocolate, and more butter so not exactly the most vegan-friendly recipe in the world.
I discovered the perfect ingredients to make a delicious vegan version and had my friends try 3 different batches! I finally nailed this vegan millionaire shortbread recipe and I hope you really enjoy it!

How to make Vegan Millionaire Shortbread
This vegan millionaire shortbread recipe is easy despite three separate layers that need to be formed.
This recipe can be made relatively quickly, the one thing that takes the most time is allowing each layer to set and cool before adding the next layer to it. One thing I found helpful was putting the pan outside after each layer is added to allow it to cool faster. I live in northern Canada so it's freezing in winter.
If you live in a warmer climate, putting the pan in the freezer works just as well. It's important not to pour the layers on too soon or they won't set properly. We'll talk about that more as we're preparing the vegan millionaire shortbread down below.
Shortbread Crust:
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8x8 brownie pan with parchment paper or grease the sides and bottoms with vegan butter.
- In a mixing bowl combine flour, sugar and salt. Next you’re going to cut in the butter. I started this process with a dough cutter tool and finished kneading it by hand once the butter wasn’t so messy, but you can easily do the whole thing by hand. Knead the dough until there is no loose flour left. Pour the dough into the brownie pan and press it firmly in to the bottom of the pan until it is evenly spread. Take a fork and prick holes throughout the dough and then place in the oven for 20 minutes. Do not forget to set the timer like I always do! When it’s ready, remove from the oven and either put in the freezer/outside to cool or if you have time you can leave on the counter to cool it will just take longer. Important to remember that you shouldn’t pour the caramel over the shortbread if it’s hot still as it won’t allow the caramel to set properly.
Vegan Caramel Centre:
- While the dough is cooling in the freezer start making your vegan caramel centre. In a medium saucepan combine 1 can of sweetened condensed coconut milk, half a cup of butter and half a cup of dark brown sugar on low-medium heat, stirring frequently. Once all the ingredients have dissolved and mixed into each other, turn the heat up to medium-high and bring the caramel sauce to a boil stirring constantly. When it begins to boil turn the heat back down to low stirring constantly for 10 minutes to thicken.
- Once the caramel sauce is ready, pour over the cooled shortbread crust. Tap the sides and gently bump the bottom to help spread the caramel sauce and get rid of any air bubbles. Place in the freezer to set.
Chocolate Topping:
- While the caramel sauce is setting prepare your chocolate topping. Pour 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon coconut oil into a glass container (Tupperware or measuring cup). Place container in a pan with water on medium heat and melt ingredients into each other mixing frequently.
- When the chocolate is melted and combined pour over cooled caramel centre. Ensure an even spread across the top. Place in fridge to set.
- Top with your favourite toppings (ours is flaky salt) cut the squares however you like, serve and enjoy feeling like a millionaire!
Tasty Toppings For Vegan Millionaire Shortbread:
- Flaky Salt
- Gold Flakes
- Shaved Dark Chocolate
- Raspberry Puree
Kitchen Equipment I used for recipe:
- 8x8 Square "Brownie" Pan, Set of 2 - I actually had to buy a square pan for this recipe. I couldn't belive it, it's the most basic tool in the kitchen. Anyhow, this is a great quality set of two square pans for a super low price!
- Super Cute Teal Spatula Set - The spatula is easily the tool i use the most in the kitchen. It's so multi-faceted that there's really never not a good time to pull out a spatula! If you're going to use a tool that much you want it to be two things, 1. great quality and 2. super cute so you look great using it! That's exactly what this spatula set of four does!
Vegan Millionaire shortbread
Equipment
- Square Brownie Pan (8x8)
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust
- 1.5 cups All-Purpose Flour 250g
- ¾ cup Vegan Butter 175g
- ⅓ cup Granulated Sugar 75g
- 1 pinch salt
Vegan Caramel Layer
- 1 can Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk 320g
- ½ cup Vegan Butter 100g
- ½ cup Dark Brown Sugar 100g
Chocolate Layer
- 1.5 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips 150g
- 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil 14g
Instructions
Shortbread Crust
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8x8 brownie pan with parchment paper or grease the sides and bottom with vegan butter.
- In a mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, and salt. Next, you’re going to cut in the butter. I started this process with a dough cutter tool and finished kneading it by hand once the butter wasn’t so messy, but you can easily do the whole thing by hand. Knead the dough until there is no loose flour left. Pour the dough into the brownie pan and press it firmly into the bottom of the pan until it is evenly spread.
- Take a fork and prick holes throughout the dough and then place in the oven for 20 minutes. Do not forget to set the timer like I always do! When it’s ready, remove it from the oven and either put it in the freezer/outside to cool or if you have time you can leave it on the counter to cool it will just take longer.
Vegan Caramel Centre
- In a medium saucepan combine, 1 can of sweetened condensed coconut milk, half a cup of butter, and half a cup of dark brown sugar on low-medium heat, stirring frequently. Once all the ingredients have dissolved and mixed into each other, turn the heat up to medium-high and bring the caramel sauce to a boil stirring constantly. When it begins to boil turn the heat back down to low stirring constantly for 10 minutes to thicken.
- Once the caramel sauce is ready, pour over the cooled shortbread crust. Tap the sides and gently bump the bottom to help spread the caramel sauce and get rid of any air bubbles. Place in the freezer to set.
Chocolate Topping
- Pour 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon coconut oil into a glass container (Tupperware or measuring cup). Place the container in a pan with water on medium heat and melt ingredients into each other mixing frequently.
- When the chocolate is melted and combined pour over the cooled caramel centre. Ensure an even spread across the top. Place in fridge to set.
- Top with your favourite toppings (ours is flaky salt) cut the squares however you like, serve, and enjoy feeling like a millionaire!
Pups Notes
- Important to remember that you shouldn’t pour the caramel over the shortbread if it’s hot still as it won’t allow the caramel to set properly.
If you try this recipe, please leave it a 5-star review in the comments section below! I’d love to hear from you! You can rate it, comment about it, send us pictures about it on Instagram @RescueDogKitchen.
Nutrition Facts for Vegan Millionaire Shortbread
The nutrition information presented here is for all of the ingredients. I take all of the nutritional information from Cronometer a nutritional tracker website that provides you with a lot of great information, especially regarding micronutrients!
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size1 g
- Amount Per ServingCalories157
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat
10g
16%
- Saturated Fat 4g 20%
- Sodium 67mg 3%
- Potassium 41mg 2%
- Total Carbohydrate
15.5g
6%
- Dietary Fiber 0.5g 2%
- Sugars 10g
- Protein 1g 2%
- Iron 6%
- Vitamin E 5%
- Thiamin 4%
- Riboflavin 3%
- Niacin 3%
- Folate 3%
- Pantothenic Acid 1%
- Phosphorus 2%
- Magnesium 2%
- Zinc 1%
- Selenium 8%
- Copper 5%
- Manganese 4%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
This should come as no surprise to anyone but vegan millionaire shortbread isn't the most nutritious food you can eat. As previously discussed it is essentially, flour, butter, sugar, chocolate, and more sugar. As is the case with most pastries.
Foods high in refined carbs (which is what processed sugar is) should be avoided if possible and limited if not possible. Studies should that diets high in refined carbs call lead to a whole host of health problems, including but not limited to diabetes and hypertension.
Practicing moderation when it comes to this vegan millionaire shortbread is important. If you were to eat the whole recipe to yourself it would be over 5000 calories, and as you can see most of those calories would be empty as it doesn't provide a lot of nutrition otherwise. This recipe is the ultimate "make and bring to a holiday get together" or "give to friends" recipe.
Other recipes you might like:
J
I made these in December for the holidays... It's now coming to the end of January and I cannot stop thinking of them... I need to get to the shop to buy more coconut condensed milk...
John
There so good but so dangerous!
Muriel
Love this recipe! It is my new favorite! This is wonderful, John! Thanks for coming up with the best vegan recipes for us.
John
I'm so glad you're loving them Muriel! 🙂
Ryan
Just made these today and don’t really rate recipes but definitely needed to rate these very good!
Michelle
OMG!! these were sooooooo good! I made them for our friends christmas dinner party and they were all gone before the food even came out!
John
We love to hear that!
Jade
To die for! I’m not even gifting these I am keeping them all for myself!!
John
We don't blame you!
Hales
These are my absolute favourite!! The layers make for the perfect ratio of chocolate and caramel while remaining true to the shortbread cookie. You’d never know they were vegan; the texture and taste are just like my grandmother used to make. I’ll be bringing these to my family Christmas party next week!!
John
Omg yes so happy you loved them Hales 🙂
Andy
Hi! Where can you buy sweetened condensed coconut milk?
John
We were able to buy it at a local health food store called Vita Health so presumably, other health food stores would also have it! 🙂
Shib
Never tried these before not even non vegan but my wife made them and they absolutely slap def my cheat meal every week for foreseeable future
John
Yay so glad to hear!