Millionaire Bars

Yield: 16-20 bars

Ingredients:

Shortbread:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold, unsalted butter, cubed
1/4 cup sugar
2-3 tablespoons ice water
1/4 teaspoon salt

Caramel Filling:

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Chocolate Topping:

1 (12 oz.) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon sea salt, optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350º F and line a 9-inch square baking dish with aluminum foil, making sure to leave a 2-inch overhang on all sides.
Combine flour, sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse together. Add cubed butter and blend until mixture is coarse and crumbly.
Gradually pour in 2 tablespoons cold water and pulse until dough begins to come together.
Turn mixture out into lined baking dish and use your hands to press crust into an even layer.
Use a fork to pierce the crust all over, then place in oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside.
In a large saucepan, cook condensed milk, butter, brown sugar and corn syrup over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves.
Bring mixture to a boil, continuing to whisk, and cook until caramel reaches 225º F or until mixture is a deep amber color.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and sea salt, then pour caramel over cooled shortbread. Set aside to let cool. (You could also store caramel in an air-tight container for later use.)
For the chocolate topping, heat heavy cream (on the stove or in the microwave) until hot, but not boiling, then pour it over chocolate chips.
Stir until totally smooth and mix in sea salt, then pour over cooled caramel.
Refrigerate baking dish until chocolate is set, then cut into squares and serve chilled or at room temperature.
Enjoy!