Nanaimo Bars
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Author Notes: These Canadian treats are named after a town on Vancouver Island. Since Canada is my home and native land, I've been eating and making them for as long as I can remember. This is my favourite version, a modification of a recipe from Time-Honoured Recipes of the Canadian West. - biffbourgeois
Makes a 9 x 9-inch pan
- 1/2 cup butter
- 5 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 cup coconut
- 5 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 2 1/2 tablespoons custard powder
- 2 cups icing sugar
- 2 ounces semisweet chocolate
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 1 1/2 tablespoon butter
- Place the 1/2 cup butter, sugar and cocoa in a bowl. Set bowl in pan of hot water. Stir until butter is melted. Add egg and vanilla extract. Mix in graham cracker crumbs and coconut. Pack into ungreased 9x9 pan. (If you are worried about the raw egg you can bake in a hot oven for a few minutes.)
- Combine the 5 tablespoons of butter, milk, custard powder and icing sugar. Mix until smooth spread over first mixture in pan. Chill until firm.
- Melt semisweet and unsweetened chocolate with the one tablespoon of butter and spread evenly over top. Chill until firm. Cut into bars to serve.
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6 months ago carbonarasuz
Susan is a recipe tester for Food52.
guess what Tim, Kate and I are eating RIGHT NOW!
6 months ago biffbourgeois
Stephanie is the Head Recipe Tester of Food52.
Hooray! I knew I was doing the right thing leaving them there. I already gave Tim the recipe.
about 2 years ago midnitechef
My grandma use to make green ones, maybe they were mint in the middle. I could never eat them due to allergies to the nuts she would add. Maybe I'll have to experiment!
over 2 years ago Kristen Miglore
Kristen is the Senior Editor of Food52
Wish I had a tinful of these right about now...
over 2 years ago biffbourgeois
Stephanie is the Head Recipe Tester of Food52.
And that's from someone whose had them!
I wish I had a tinful too. Perhaps my cookie cutters need to find another home for a little while. ;)
over 2 years ago bistro_gal
Biffbourgeouis, I believe you forgot to list the walnuts in the ingredients. It would be great if you amended the recipe; I would like to make these beauties this weekend. Thanks!
over 2 years ago biffbourgeois
Stephanie is the Head Recipe Tester of Food52.
Actually, I prefer without walnuts and don't include them. If you prefer with walnuts, you can include 1/2 cup or so of chopped walnuts when you add the coconut and graham cracker crumbs.
over 2 years ago bistro_gal
Sounds good and thanks for the response. You listed walnuts in step one, that's why I asked. They really are scrumptious!
over 2 years ago biffbourgeois
Stephanie is the Head Recipe Tester of Food52.
Sorry, bistro_gal. It's fixed now.
over 2 years ago SallyCan
This looks outrageously delicious! Is there a good substitution for custard powder?
over 2 years ago bistro_gal
Sally, you can find custard powder on amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp...
These do look amazing; I wish I could have one right now!!
over 2 years ago biffbourgeois
Stephanie is the Head Recipe Tester of Food52.
You can just substitute a few tablespoons of vanilla pudding powder or even vanilla extract to taste. The bars' middle layer won't be yellow, but it will taste similar.
about 2 years ago Midge
You've probably procured some by now, but I've seen custard powder in the "international" section of big supermarkets. biffbourgeois, I am dying to make these!
over 2 years ago thirschfeld
Can I eat the picture to hold me over till I get to make some of these