• It might take a little effort, but that’s what makes this chocolate millionaire’s shortbread cake taste like a million bucks.  Homemade biscuits and caramel make all the difference – you’ll be licking the plate clean!

    Whether enjoyed with a cup of coffee or as a luxurious after-dinner treat, this cake is sure to impress and satisfy any sweet tooth.

    Chocolate millionaire’s shortbread cake

    Serves: 12
    Cooking Time: 2 hrs

    Ingredients

    • Chocolate cake

    • 500ml (2 cups) water
    • 270ml vegetable oil
    • 450g brown sugar
    • 200g dark chocolate, chopped
    • 115g cocoa powder
    • 4 large eggs
    • 325g cake flour
    • 5ml baking powder
    • 2ml salt
    • 10g bicarbonate of soda
    • Shortbread

    • 250g butter, softened
    • ¼ cup castor sugar
    • 60g cornflour
    • 180g (1½ cups) cake flour
    • Salted caramel

    • 160ml fresh cream
    • 120g butter
    • 180g (1 cup) muscovado sugar
    • a pinch of sea salt flakes
    • Chocolate topping

    • 375ml (1½ cups) fresh cream
    • 450g dark chocolate

    Instructions

    1

    Preheat the oven to 160°C.

    2

    Boil the water, add oil and sugar, and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Pour over the chopped chocolate. Stir until smooth.

    3

    Whisk eggs lightly then stir into the chocolate mixture. Stir in the combined dry ingredients. Let the mixture stand, covered, for 1 hour.

    4

    Place the batter into 2 x 24cm springform cake tins lined with baking paper and bake in the preheated oven until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool the cakes slightly before turning out.

    5

    For the shortbread, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add the combined dry ingredients to form a soft dough. Roll out the dough and cut into 1 x 24cm disc. Place on a greased baking sheet, prick the base with a fork and bake until crisp and golden, 10 – 15 minutes. Bake any leftover shortbread to use as decoration.

    6

    For the salted caramel, combine the cream, butter and sugar in a saucepan and stir until dissolved. Turn up the heat and simmer until thickened, about 8 minutes. Add sea salt flakes. Allow to cool, up to 3 hours.

    7

    For the topping, heat the cream to boiling point and pour over the chopped chocolate. Stir until smooth then allow to stand or refrigerate until slightly thick.

    8

    Assemble the cake by starting with the shortbread layer. Spread one-third of the salted caramel on the shortbread then place the chocolate cake on top followed by some of the chocolate topping. Place another cake layer on top followed by chocolate and a drizzle of salted caramel. Decorate with leftover crushed shortbread and biscuits.

    ALSO SEE: CHOCOLATE COFFEE CAKE RECIPE 

    Chocolate coffee cake