Millionaire's shortbread

This treat is loved by children (of all ages!)  - and although it does not use a traditional shortbread recipe, it is available in bakery shops all over Scotland.  I think every child in Scotland grew up eating the stuff - no wonder we have the reputation of being sweet-toothed!

Shortbread base
8oz plain flour
6oz butter or margarine
4 oz caster sugar


Filling
A large tin of condensed milk
2oz butter or margarine
2oz brown sugar (not the very dark type)

Chocolate topping
8 oz bar of a good Milk chocolate (it just doesn't taste the same if you use the cookery grade of chocolate)

Base  Rub the butter or margarine and flour together in a bowl until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar. Spread the mixture evenly into a lined approx 9 inch square cake tin and prick all over with a fork. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 170C/340F for approximately 35 minutes until it is golden brown. Allow the base to cool in the tin.

Filling  Heat the filling ingredients together in a heavy bottomed saucepan, making sure that you stir it constantly until it begins to simmer. Continue stirring until it thickens (this takes a few minutes). Spread the filling evenly over the base and again allow to cool.

Topping  Melt the chocolate and then  spread it over the filling.

When it has cooled but not set, mark into squares. When fully cooled, remove from the cake tin and cut with a sharp knife