Nanaimo Bars
These no-bake cookies combine a nutty, coconut, crumb base, a custard filling, and chocolate ganache on top. This is a basic, vanilla recipe, but there are numerous varieties. Try adding mint flavor and a bit of green food coloring to the custard layer to get mint, or use almonds instead of walnuts and almond flavoring instead of vanilla.
Ingredients
Base
- ½ cup butter softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 5 Tbsp baking cocoa
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1¾ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup walnuts finely chopped
- 1 cup coconut shredded or flaked
Filling
- ½ cup butter
- 3 Tbsp milk
- 2 Tbsp vanilla custard powder or instant pudding mix
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Top layer
- ⅔ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4 Tbsp butter
Instructions
Base
- Melt first 3 ingredients in top of double boiler or heavy saucepan. Add egg and stir to cook and thicken.
- Remove from heat. Stir in remaining base ingredients and press firmly into an ungreased 13 x 9-inch pan.
Filling
- Cream together butter, milk, custard powder, and powdered sugar; beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.
Top layer
- Melt chocolate chips and butter over low heat; cool. When cooled but still runny, spread over middle layer.
- Chill in refrigerator. Use a very sharp knife to cut into 2" x 1.5" squares.