Desserts · United Kingdom

Caramel Squares

Name: Caramel Squares
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 8–12
Cuisine: United Kingdom
Ingredients: 350 g self-raising flour; 225 g unsalted butter; 110 g caster sugar; 225 g caster sugar; 225 g unsalted butter; 5 Tablespoons golden syrup; 400 ml full-fat condensed milk; 340 g good-quality chocolate (milk or dark), melted

Caramel squares (alternatively: caramel slices, caramel shortbread, or millionaire's shortbread) are a wonderfully rich and classic treat, very popular all over Britain and Ireland. They can often be found in cafes, served with morning coffee or afternoon tea. They're perfect for picnics, lunches and your guests will love them! They have a crunchy base with a creamy caramel filling, topped off with chocolate.

Published October 16, 2026

EST. TOTAL TIME1h 30m

DIFFICULTYMedium

SERVES8–12

Time and difficulty are editorial estimates; allow extra time for your equipment and experience.

Jump to recipe ↓

What you’ll need

Tap an ingredient as you get it ready.

Let’s make it

Step 1
Preheat the oven to 180°C (gas mark 4; 350°F). Rub flour, butter, and caster sugar together until it resembles breadcrumbs.
Step 2
Press into a 25 x 38 x 4 cm Swiss roll pan.
Step 3
Bake for 20 minutes or till golden.
Step 4
Melt butter in a heavy-based saucepan over a low heat; add sugar, golden syrup, and condensed milk.
Step 5
Stir continuously for 40–50 minutes. It should be golden brown in colour when ready to eat. To test, drop a little blob into a bowl of cold water; it should firm up.
Step 6
Pour this caramel mixture over the base, and let it cool.
Step 7
Pour melted chocolate over the top.
Step 8
Spread the chocolate evenly, and let set.

Caramel Squares

What you’ll need

Let’s make it

More to savor

Koeksisters (Fried Braided Pastry in Syrup)

English Breakfast

Turkish Coffee: A Small Pot and a Rich Serving Tradition

Afternoon Tea or Dinner? Britain's Many Meanings of Tea