Nanaimo Cookie Bars

By littlefish

Prize-Winning Recipe 2009! Try this easier cookie-mix take on a classic layered chocolate and vanilla bar.

Ingredients

• Cookie Base
• 1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® double chocolate chunk cookie mix
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup chopped nut topping or chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup coconut
• 1 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1 egg
• Filling
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 4 tablespoons vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1/4 cup milk
• Topping
• 1 bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine

Details

Servings 36
Preparation time 45mins
Cooking time 150mins

Preparation

Step 1

1 Heat oven to 350°F. Line bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with foil, leaving foil overhanging at 2 opposite sides of pan. In large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until well mixed. Spread into pan; press lightly. Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until set. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
2 In another large bowl, stir together powdered sugar and pudding mix. Add 1/3 cup butter and the milk; beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth (filling will be very thick). Spoon over cookie base; press evenly to cover. Refrigerate while making topping.
3 In small microwaveable bowl, microwave topping ingredients uncovered on High 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and smooth. Spread over filling. Refrigerate uncovered until set, about 30 minutes.
4 Use foil to lift bars from pan; pull foil from sides of bars. Cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Tips "Using a cookie mix makes this traditional Christmas classic super easy! So now I make them all year round."

Bars are easiest to cut if they're chilled for 30 minutes.

Canadian legend claims that the bar (chocolate crumb-base, layer of vanilla, covered in chocolate) originated in Nanaimo, Canada, in the 1950s. Although unsubstantiated, the story is that a local housewife submitted the recipe under the name "Nanaimo Bars" for a recipe contest