[lara]

caramel shortcake consists of a layer of shortcake,a layer of caramel and a topping of chocolate.
shortcake
75g icing sugar
75g caster sugar
200g plain flour
200g self raising flour
200g butter
100g margarine
pinch salt.
put all ingredients into a food processor and blitz to make like breadcrumbs, tip out onto a baking sheet ( I use 9.5 x 13.5 inches)which has been lines with a sheet of foil. press into tin with fingers quite firmly . bake for about 30 mins. gas reg 5 until quite firm to touch ( if getting too brown cover with foil whilst baking). remove from oven but leave it tin to cool. - shortcake is best made a day or 2 before caramel so that it can soften a bit.


Caramel layer

200g golden syrup
100g butter (not marg)
300g sugar
200ml evaporated milk
melt all ingredients, stirring together in a large heavy bottomed saucepan until sugar is dissolved and bring to boil, rapid boil on a med to high heat -DO NOT LEAVE THE PAN WHILST BOILING. rapid boil for 15 - 20 mins ( if you have a sugar thermometer boil up to 215 deg -not quite soft ball stage). when the caramel is getting quite thick after  the first 10 mins you should stir constantly to check it isn't burning, remove from heat when thick and a medium caramel colour - TAKE CARE THE PAN AND CARAMEL WILL BE BURNING HOT  . and leave in pan for 10 mins to cool, spread evenly over shortcake whilst still warm. leave to cool.
When caramel is cold melt a 200g bar of good quality proper milk chocolate (don't be tempted to use the cheap stuff  ) and spread over caramel ,cool slightly,mark into squares.
If you can, leave for one day before cutting then eat and enjoy....share with friends .

If you don't want to make your own caramel just buy a couple of bags of fudge from the supermarket, melt in microwave & spread over your shortcake,alternatively nestles make it in a tin.( but not a patch on homemade.)
I know its all a bit of a faff but well worth it

[Roxy]

This is what I call millionaires shortbread - I adore it!!  Its so expensive to buy at the supermarket in those little squares. much better to do it at home, so you can cut big chunks off!!

[Rosemary]

If you put an unopened tin of condensed milk in a pan of boiling water for about 20 minutes or so, it turns into caramel or something very like it. Keeps for ages too, if you don't open the tin.

[doganjo]

If I made that I'd eat it all and I'd get even fatter than I am now so I think I'll stick with the Thornton's mini squares!

[dixie]

Oh No another yummy recipe that will make me binge and get fat   (note to self, stop looking at recipes)!!

[doganjo]

I think I must be growing up at long last - can you believe I actually walked past a display of Thornton's Caramel shortcake without putting any in my trolley.  I did get a few odd looks as I went by saying "No, you do NOT need these.  No, you must NOT buy these. No, you must NOT put them in your trolley"

I feel slightly self righteous - and a LOT depressed because I have no chocolate in the house.

[Roxy]

Well done ....its hard though when you like chocolate.  I hate being without chocolate, and its not as though we have a shop on the corner to pop to and get a bar either!!!  I have been known to spoon chocolate spread into my mouth, and even tuck into some squares of cooking chocolate when I am desperate.

[doganjo]

So long as you don't take the kids chocolate wrappers out of the bin to lick them clean you aren't a chocoholic 

[lara]

yep, I'm guilty of eating nuttella spread from pot....

[Lizmar]

Thanks, the recipe looks yummy.  Will def make some this weekend

[lara]

yes,you should Liz, I was going to take a pic of the C.S. birthday cake but OH put it on top of wardrobe and it too heavy for me to lift down  , daughter collecting it tonight so will have to snap it quickly before it goes ....
 I made up 3 circles of shortcake of different sizes, covered each with caramel and choc, then piles them on top of each other (I wanted it to look like a birthday cake), and decorated the edges with malteesers and mini marshmallows. - OH thinks I'm crazy .... god knows how she's going to cut into it.
I do go a bit ott, at Christmas I made her a gingerbread house,- she didn't eat it for ages cos she didn't know where to start 

[lara]

have got pic of birthday cake , but dont know how to put it from my documents onto here .... help please.

[Lizmar]

Would love to see, but me and technology don't really get on. It made my mouth water just reading about it.  Going to have to go and get a bit of chocolate to make me feel better now!

[lara]

oh heck ... now i'm thinking about chocolate   ... so will have to go get some too ( if there's any left... that is )