Author Notes
Nanaimo bars are a (traditionally) Canadian bar cookie. They are made up of three layers: a cocoa-coconut base, a creamy custard middle, and a chocolate coating top. This is the recipe my mom has been using since I was a kid. I'm not sure where she got it from, but they are the best nanaimo bars I have ever tasted! —jessicamclement
Ingredients
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1 cup
shredded coconut
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2 cups
graham cracker crumbs
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1/2 cup
chopped pecans
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14 tablespoons
butter (unsalted or semi-salted), separated into 8 tablespoons, 4 tablespoons, and 2 tablespoons
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1/4 cup
sugar
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5 tablespoons
cocoa powder
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1
egg, beaten
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2 cups
confectioner's sugar
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1 tablespoon
custard powder (we use Bird's)
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3 tablespoons
milk
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1 teaspoon
vanilla extract
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115 grams
semi-sweet chocolate
Directions
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First, to make the base, mix together the coconut, graham cracker crumbs, and chopped pecans in a large bowl. Set aside.
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Melt 8 tablespoons of butter over a double boiler.
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Add the cocoa powder and the sugar. Mix well.
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Add the egg slowly, while whisking constantly, and stir until smooth.
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Add the butter-cocoa mixture to the coconut-graham cracker mixture and combine well.
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Pat the mixture down firmly and evenly in a 8x12 inch baking dish.
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Allow the base to sit in the fridge for 3 - 4 hours.
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To make the filling, cream together 4 tablespoons of butter, the confectioner's sugar, the custard powder, the milk, and the vanilla extract.
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Spread the filling mixture over the chilled base evenly.
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Allow the nanaimo bars to sit in the fridge for 3 - 4 hours to set the filling.
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Finally, to make the chocolate coating, melt the remaining two tablespoons of butter and chocolate together (either over a double boiler or in the microwave).
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Pour the melted chocolate over the filling layer of the nanaimo bars and spread the chocolate out evenly.
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For the final time, allow the nanaimo bars to set in the fridge for a minimum of two hours.
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Bring the nanaimo bars to room temperature (15 minutes outside the fridge should do) before cutting into squares to avoid cracking the chocolate. Cut either square or bar shapes.
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