Nanaimo Bars
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5.0
6 reviews
Excellent
Nanaimo Bars
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Canadian triple-layer Nanaimo Bars combine chocolate, nuts, buttercream, and coconut, for a sweet and decadent (“no-bake”) dessert.Adapted from Joyce Hardcastle via The City of Nanaimo
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Ingredients
Base
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 egg , lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-1/4 cups Graham cracker crumbs
- 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
- 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, or pecans)
Buttercream
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter , at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons vanilla custard powder
- 2 cups confectioner's sugar
Top Layer
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate , chopped (or use chips)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
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Instructions
Make the base
- Lightly coat an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. To make it easier to cut and remove the completed bars, line the pan with a piece of parchment paper with a 2-inch overhang on two of the sides.
- In a bowl over simmering water, melt butter with cocoa powder and sugar, stirring until smooth. Slowly add beaten egg and vanilla extract, whisking until thickened. Mixture may look slightly curdled at first; continue whisking until smooth.
- Remove from heat and stir in graham cracker crumbs, coconut, and nuts. Press mixture into the prepared baking pan (a tart tamper or the bottom of a dry measuring cup are helpful in pressing an even layer).
- Refrigerate until cooled and firm, about 1 hour.
Make the buttercream
- In the bowl of an electric mixer (or a large bowl with a hand mixer), cream butter until light. Add custard powder, heavy cream, and confectioner's sugar, and beat until fluffy and spreadable.
- Using an offset spatula, spread an even layer of buttercream over the chilled base.
- Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.
Make the top layer
- In a bowl over simmering water, melt chocolate and butter until smooth and glossy. Cool slightly (you don't want to melt the buttercream). Using an offset spatula, quickly spread chocolate over the buttercream layer.
- Chill 10 minutes, until just set. For ease of cutting, remove from refrigerator and score bars in 2-inch increments, barely slicing into the top chocolate layer. Return to refrigerator for an additional 20-30 minutes.
- Using the parchment overhang, lift bars out of pan and transfer to a cutting board. Peel off parchment and cut along score marks using a sharp knife (cleaning between cuts for neat slices).
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Bars are best if allowed to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- *There’s a lot of discussion on the Web about which nut varieties do and don't belong in Nanaimo Bars. From what I can gather, almonds and walnuts are tied for the most traditional, with pecans in a close second. I used walnuts and the results were delicious.
- **I'd never heard of custard powder before shopping for this recipe. Lo and behold, I easily found a canister of the Bird's brand in the International section of my grocery store. While custard powder is traditional, some recipes claim that you can substitute instant vanilla pudding mix. I'd be careful of this. From a quick taste of the custard powder on my fingertip, it’s quite a bit less sweet than pudding mix. I can imagine that the substitution would make the already sweet buttercream much sweeter. Proceed with caution.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
328kcal
(16%)
Carbohydrates
30g
(10%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
22g
(34%)
Saturated Fat
13g
(65%)
Cholesterol
54mg
(18%)
Sodium
37mg
(2%)
Potassium
135mg
(4%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
24g
(48%)
Vitamin A
470IU
(9%)
Calcium
24mg
(2%)
Iron
1.2mg
(7%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 16(2-inch) squares
Amount Per Serving
Calories 328 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 328kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 30g | 10% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 22g | 34% |
| Saturated Fat | 13g | 65% |
| Cholesterol | 54mg | 18% |
| Sodium | 37mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 135mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 24g | 48% |
| Vitamin A | 470IU | 9% |
| Calcium | 24mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1.2mg | 7% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
6 reviews
Excellent
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