Nanaimo Bars

By tammy1365

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch-process cocoa preferred
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup sweetened or unsweetened coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (made from about 13 whole crackers)
• 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (omit if you use salted butter)
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar or glazing sugar, sifted
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1/8 teaspoon coconut flavor
• 2 tablespoons Pastry Cream Filling mix or instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate (Belcolade bittersweet disks are good) or semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup heavy cream or 2 tablespoons butter
• 4 ounces unsalted butter, melted
• 1 3/4 ounces granulated sugar
• 1 ounce unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch-process cocoa preferred
• 1 large egg
• 3 ounces sweetened or unsweetened coconut
• 2 ounces chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 7 ounces graham cracker crumbs (made from about 13 whole crackers)
• 4 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (omit if you use salted butter)
• 8 ounces confectioners' sugar or glazing sugar, sifted
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1/8 teaspoon coconut flavor
• 3/4 ounce pastry cream mix or instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 ounce milk
• 6 ounces chopped bittersweet chocolate (Belcolade bittersweet disks are good) or semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 ounces heavy cream or 1 ounce butter
• 113 g unsalted butter, melted
• 50 g granulated sugar
• 28 g unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch-process cocoa preferred
• 1 large egg
• 85 g sweetened or unsweetened coconut
• 57 g chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 198 g graham cracker crumbs (made from about 13 whole crackers)
• 113 g unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (omit if you use salted butter)
• 227 g confectioners' sugar or glazing sugar, sifted
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1/8 teaspoon coconut flavor
• 21 g pastry cream mix or instant vanilla pudding mix
• 28 g milk
• 170 g chopped bittersweet chocolate (Belcolade bittersweet disks are good) or semisweet chocolate chips
• 57 g heavy cream or 1 ounce butter

Details

Servings 1
Preparation time 20mins
Cooking time 150mins
Adapted from kingarthurflour.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9" x 9" or 11" x 7" pan.

To make the crust: Place all of the crust ingredients in a mixing bowl, and beat at medium speed just until thoroughly combined.

Press the mixture into the prepared pan, and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, and set it aside to cool.

To make the filling: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, 1 cup of the sugar, and the vanilla, beating until smooth.

In a small bowl, combine the pastry cream filling mix or instant vanilla pudding mix with the milk, stirring until thick and smooth.

Add the pudding mix to the butter/sugar mixture, stirring to combine.

Add the remaining sugar, and beat until the filling is smooth. Spread it over the cooled crust, cover, and refrigerate until chilled.

To make the icing: Combine the chocolate and cream (or butter) in a saucepan or microwave-safe bowl. Heat until the cream is steaming. Stir until smooth.

Spread the frosting onto the bars. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set.

Cut into small bars or rectangles to serve. The bars will be very stiff when cold, but will soften quickly at room temperature.

Yield: about 25 small, rich bars.