Nanaimo Bars
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Canadian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 25
 
Ingredients
Bottom Layer:
  • ½ cup butter
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ⅓ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
  • ½ cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
Filling:
  • ¼ cup butter, room temperature
  • 2-3 Tbsp milk or cream
  • 2 Tbsp vanilla custard powder (I use Bird's brand)
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups confectioner's sugar
Topping:
  • 4 oz semisweet chocolate
  • 1 Tbsp butter
Instructions
For the Bottom Layer:
  1. Grease a 9x9-inch pan.
  2. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the butter.
  3. Add the sugar and cocoa powder and gradually beat in egg.
  4. Cook, stirring, until the mixture thickens (about 1-2 minutes).
  5. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract, graham cracker crumbs, coconut, and chopped nuts.
  6. Press mixture evenly into prepared pan. Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour, or until firm.
For the Filling:
  1. In a large bowl, cream butter. Beat in remaining filling ingredients. If the mixture is too thick to spread, add a little more milk or cream. Spread filling over bottom layer as evenly as you can.
  2. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about ½ hour.
For the Topping:
  1. In the top of a double boiler over simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter. Spread over the cooled filling. Refrigerate until firm, about ½ hour.
To Serve:
  1. To prevent the chocolate from cracking, let the pan of nanaimo bars sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. Cut into 25 squares with a sharp knife.
Recipe by Kiku Corner at https://www.kikucorner.com/2015/03/07/nanaimo-bars/