Nanaimo Bars

By MaryEllen

In 1986, Nanaimo mayor Graeme Roberts and the Harbour Park Mall ran a four-week contest, inviting the locals to submit their Nanaimo Bar recipe. This was the winning entry, by Joyce Hardcastle.

Ingredients

• Bottom Layer
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (European style cultured)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 5 tbsp cocoa
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 3/4 cups graham wafer crumbs
• 1/2 cup finely chopped almonds
• 1 cup coconut
• Second Layer
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp plus 2 tsp cream
• 2 tbsp vanilla custard powder
• 2 cups icing sugar
• Third Layer
• 4 squares semi-sweet chocolate (1 oz. each)
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• _______________________________

Preparation

Step 1

For the first layer:
Melt first three ingredients in top of a double boiler. Add egg and stir to cook and thicken. Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, coconut, and nuts. Press firmly into an ungreased 8x8 pan.

For the second layer:
Cream butter, cream, custard powder, and icing sugar together well. Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.

For the third layer:
Melt chocolate and butter over low heat. Cool. When cool but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator.