Hungry Healthy Happy

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Meal Plans
  • Recipes To Your Inbox
  • Shop
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Meal Plans
  • Recipes To Your Inbox
  • Shop
×
Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Dessert

Healthy Millionaire Shortbread (High Protein)

Published: Jan 24, 2025 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 4 Comments

31 shares
  • 2
Diet: Gluten Free / High Protein / Vegetarian
Jump to Recipe
Healthy millionaire shortbread with a text title overlay.
Healthy millionaire shortbread with a text title overlay.

These healthy millionaire shortbreads are INCREDIBLE! There isn't much more than needs to be said about them! Layers of crumbly shortbread alternative, a healthy homemade caramel and then a layer of dark chocolate on top. Refined sugar free, they taste far more indulgent than they actually are but just 194 calories per slice.

Millionaire's shortbread on a plate in front of more shortbread.

We love finding healthy ways to make our favorite treats and we grew up eating millionaires shortbread. We swapped the usual buttery shortbread base for our version made with oats.

Then we made our own caramel with dates, nut butter and maple syrup to keep it refined sugar free (but it seriously still tastes like real caramel). We kept the chocolate topping but used sugar-free dark chocolate chips.

Low calories? Not really! But, these are all good ingredients. Refined sugar free sweetening, high protein nut butter, fibre packed oats, dates and sugar free chocolate.

Portion control is key, but one square of this is a good portion and curbs a sweet craving. They might look messy, and they might be messy to eat, but these are one of the best things we have ever made!

No baking is required here, as these are raw millionaire shortbread. You just need to put them in the freezer to set. They can also be kept in the freezer the whole time which is actually a good thing, as these could easily tempt you to eat them all.

Looking for more healthy dessert recipes? Why not try our easy Chocolate Raspberry Peanut Butter Cups, delicious Chocolate Frozen Yogurt or our creamy Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • Variations
  • How To Make Healthy Millionaire Shortbread - Step by Step
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Extra Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Recipes with Dates
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Ingredients and Substitutions

All the ingredients needed to make this recipe, each with a text overlay label.

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

  • Oats - This is the base of our shortbread. You could swap it for almond flour instead, but it would make it more crumbly.
  • Protein powder - This is what helps to make it a high protein millionaire shortbread. We used a vanilla protein powder, but you could use flavorless or even a caramel version.
  • Vanilla - This adds a lovely warm flavor. Use extract and not essence.
  • Pure maple syrup - This is where the majority of the sweetness comes from, and helps to make it refined sugar free. You could use another liquid sweetener like honey or agave.
  • Nut butter - Here is where the majority of the protein comes from. It also helps to bind the base and also thicken the healthy caramel. You can use any nut butter you like. We used almond butter, but peanut would make it cheaper.
  • Sea salt - This really helps to bring out the sweetness in everything.
  • Dates - This is the key ingredient to make homemade healthy caramel. Medjool dates are best and they will need to be soaked in hot water to soften.
  • Chocolate - We always use these Refined Sugar Free Dark Chocolate Chips and we use them in anything with chocolate. You can use any chocolate for the top though.
  • Coconut oil - This is melted with the chocolate to give it that shiny finish.

Variations

Nut free - Our kids LOVE these and they begged to take them to school as their snack. But being a nut free school, like most are, I had to disappoint them. However, you can swap the nuts for sunflower seed butter to make these nut free.

Vegan - To make these vegan, make sure the protein powder you are using is vegan. You can always swap it for more oats instead. Make sure the dark chocolate is vegan too.

How To Make Healthy Millionaire Shortbread - Step by Step

Prep: Put your kettle on to boil. Line a small baking tin with parchment paper (baking paper).

Medjool dates soaking in water.
  1. Step 1: Put the dates into a bowl and cover with the boiled water. Allow to soak for 10 minutes.
A mixing bowl containing oats, protein powder, vanilla, maple syrup and almond butter in it.
  1. Step 2: In a mixing bowl add the oats, protein powder, vanilla, maple syrup and almond butter.
Everything mixed together in the bowl.
  1. Step 3: Mix well to form a dough like consistency.
A lined baking tin with the oat mixture packed into the bottom.
  1. Step 4: Put the oat mixture into the lined tin and press down.
    It may be a bit sticky, so place another piece of parchment paper on top and press that down.
A blender jug with softened dates, almond butter and maple syrup in it.
  1. Step 5: Drain the dates and put them into a blender with the nut butter, maple syrup and salt.
A small round bowl with healthy caramel in it.
  1. Step 6: Blend until it forms a caramel consistency.
A saucepan with chocolate chips and coconut oil in it.
  1. Step 7: Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small pan over a low heat. This will take 3-4 minutes.
The healthy caramel spread over the oat mixture base.
  1. Step 8: Spread the date caramel layer over the oat base.
Melted chocolate and a sprinkle of salt on top of the caramel.
  1. Step 9: Pour the melted chocolate over the caramel. Sprinkle the salt over the chocolate.
Millionaire's shortbread cut into bars.
  1. Step 10: Put into the freezer for about 20 minutes, or until the chocolate has set.

Serving Suggestions

A big glass of milk is the best thing to serve with these healthy millionaire shortbread! However, if you want something a bit more indulgent, then you can't go wrong with a hot chocolate.

Why not try our Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate, Oat Milk Hot Chocolate or Microwave Hot Chocolate.

A slab of millionaire's shortbread cut into bars next to plate with some bars on it.

Extra Tips

  • Why not make billionaire shortbread? This involves adding something extra on top like some crushed pretzels. And add some edible gold spray to make them really fancy!
  • We don't mind that these are messy. "Humble and rustic" as Jamie Oliver would say! However, if you want these to look neater when cutting them, then run a large knife under very hot water. The hot knife makes it easier to slice through the chocolate.
Four pieces of millionaire shortbread on a round plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to store healthy millionaire shortbread

You can keep these in the fridge or the freezer in an airtight container. In the fridge they will keep for up to a week. In the freezer they will keep for up to 3 months. We prefer them out of sight in the freezer.

Why is my caramel too runny?

Every nut butter is different, and it might not have been mixed very well, so it was more oily. You can use less date water if you like it's going to be too runny, or after blending add some more nut butter.

How to use date water

You can reserve the water used to soak dates and use it as a natural sweetener.

More Recipes with Dates

  • A pile of chocolate covered raw brownie balls on a wooden board.
    Chocolate Covered Raw Brownies
  • Four pieces of individual date bark on a wooden surface.
    Individual Date Bark Bites
  • No Bake Brownies stacked up surrounded by almonds and chopped dates.
    No Bake Brownies
  • A stack of homemade protein bars on a wooden serving board.
    No Bake Homemade Protein Bar Recipe

If you’ve tried this raw millionaire shortbread recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

Four pieces of healthy millionaire shortbread on a round blue plate.

Healthy Millionaire Shortbread (High Protein)

By: Dannii Martin
Satisfy your sweet cravings with these irresistible healthy millionaire shortbreads. Made with nutritious ingredients, they're a high protein delight.
A circular logo saying GF.
Gluten Free
A circular logo saying HP.
High Protein
An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
Vegetarian
5 from 1 vote
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: British
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Freezing time: 20 minutes mins
Total: 30 minutes mins
Servings: 15 servings
Calories: 194kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of a carton of milk.
Dairy
An illustration of four different nuts.
Nuts

Ingredients

For the base

  • 90 g (1 cups) Oats - blended into flour
  • 20 g (0.25 cups) Protein powder - vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 80 ml (0.33 cups) Maple syrup
  • 70 g (0.25 cups) Almond butter

For the caramel

  • 70 g (0.25 cups) Almond butter
  • 60 ml (0.25 cups) Maple syrup
  • 6 Medjool dates - pitted
  • 2 tablespoon Reserved date water
  • 1 pinch Sea salt

For the chocolate

  • 100 g (0.5 cups) Dark chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon Coconut oil
  • 1 pinch Sea salt

Instructions

  • Put your kettle on to boil. Line a small baking tin with parchment paper (baking paper).
  • Put 6 Medjool dates into a bowl and cover with the boiled water. Allow to soak for 10 minutes.
  • In a mixing bowl add 90 g Oats, 20 g Protein powder, 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract, 80 ml Maple syrup and 70 g Almond butter.
  • Mix well to form a dough like consistency.
  • Put the oat mixture into the lined tin and press down.
    It may be a bit sticky, so place another piece of parchment paper on top and press that down.
  • Drain the dates and put them into a blender with 70 g Almond butter, 60 ml Maple syrup, 2 tablespoon Reserved date water and 1 pinch Sea salt.
  • Blend until it forms a caramel consistency.
  • Melt 100 g Dark chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon Coconut oil in a small pan over a low heat. This will take 3-4 minutes.
  • Spread the caramel over the oat base.
  • Pour the melted chocolate over the caramel. Sprinkle 1 pinch Sea salt over the chocolate.
  • Put into the freezer for about 20 minutes, or until the chocolate has set.

Recipe Tips

  • Why not make billionaire shortbread? This involves adding something extra on top like some crushed pretzels. And add some edible gold spray to make them really fancy!
  • We don't mind that these are messy. "Humble and rustic" as Jamie Oliver would say! However, if you want these to look neater when cutting them, then run a large knife under very hot water. The hot knife makes it easier to slice through the chocolate.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 17mg | Potassium: 187mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 14IU | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

You'll love these too...

  • Two slices of chocolate dipped watermelon on a wooden board.
    Chocolate Dipped Watermelon
  • Chocolate Date Caramels stacked up in a tower.
    Chocolate Date Caramels
  • A serving glass containing two scoops of Ninja Creami cookies and cream ice cream.
    Ninja Creami Cookies and Cream
  • Birthday cake Ninja Creami in a glass ice cream bowl.
    Birthday Cake Ninja Creami

Comments

  1. Christine says

    May 23, 2025 at 5:48 pm

    I would give this minus stars if I could because of the waste of ingredients.
    It really turns out gooey. Only the chocolate has any hope of setting if you follow the instructions. Too messy to serve up to visitors.

    Reply
    • Dannii Martin says

      May 25, 2025 at 7:05 pm

      As you can clearly see in the photos, the caramels filling is gooey. It doesn't set or go hard like a traditional caramel because it's a healthy version. But, again, you can see that in the photos. the base does set, and there is nothing in it that would make it gooey if you have followed the recipe exactly. As for a waste, even if you didn't follow the recipe correctly, everything is still edible and would not be wasted.

      Reply
  2. Bev says

    January 30, 2025 at 5:44 pm

    5 stars
    Made these today for my husband, who loves a good Millionaire Shortbread. I omitted the protein powder and upped the oat flour instead.
    A bit messy to eat, but delish! Seal of approval from hubby!

    Reply
    • Dannii Martin says

      February 03, 2025 at 10:46 am

      Usually it's the messiest food that tastes the best haha. I am glad you enjoyed them and that it worked without the protein powder too.

      Reply
5 from 1 vote

Made this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Dannii with a sunset behind her.

Welcome

My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

About me...

Salad Recipes

  • Roasted Vegetable Winter Salad in a white dish surrounded by crumbled feta.
    Roasted Vegetable Winter Salad
  • A plate of kale, watermelon and feta salad surrounded by watermelon slices.
    Kale, Watermelon and Feta Salad
  • A large bowl of chickpea tuna salad with a serving spoon in it.
    Chickpea Tuna Salad
  • Chopped Blue Cheese Salad in a large white bowl.
    Chopped Blue Cheese Salad
  • A bowl of watercress salad with a wooden fork and spoon in it.
    Watercress Salad
  • Little Gem Salad in a round white bowl.
    Little Gem Salad

Recipe Books

The Hungry Healthy Happy book cover.
The healthy slow cooker book cover.
the front cover of The Picky Plate eBook.

Popular Recipes

  • Leftover chicken pasta on a black plate.
    Leftover Chicken Pasta
  • Mediterranean Rice Salad in a large round serving dish.
    Mediterranean Rice Salad
  • Fourteen healthy flapjacks on a sheet of parchment paper.
    Healthy Flapjacks
  • A tortilla chip being dipped into some nacho cheese sauce.
    2 Minute Nacho Cheese Sauce
  • Sticky Ginger Beef in a bowl with rice and broccoli.
    10 Minute Sticky Ginger Beef Mince
  • Baked Egg Tortilla in a round baking dish.
    Baked Egg Tortilla (Tortilla Quiche)

Footer

Help & Information

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Advertising
  • Blog

About us

  • About us
  • Newsletter Sign Up!
  • Press enquiries
  • FAQ

Follow us


Featured in

A selection of publications that Hungry Healthy Happy has been featured in

As an Amazon Associate we earn certain commissions from qualifying purchases. By using our site, you agree that we can collect and use your data. Our privacy statement has more details.

Copyright © 2011-2024 Hungry Healthy Happy • All Rights Reserved

  • 2

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.