Nanaimo bars are a classic Canadian dessert. This is mom's recipe and it is a bit less sweet than most - which is a good thing! They are made with a graham crumb, coconut, and nut crust then topped with a layer of buttery custard and finished with chocolate. You'll love this no-bake dessert!
Ingredients
Bottom Layer
½ cupbutter
5tablespoonscocoa powder
¼ cupgranulated sugar
1largeegg
1 ¾ cupGraham cracker crumbs, gluten-free if needed
¾ cupfine coconut
¼ cupchopped walnuts
Middle Layer
3cupspowdered sugar
¾ cupbutter, softened
¼ cupmilk
¼ cupBird's vanilla custard powder
Top Layer
8ouncesshaved dark chocolate or chocolate chips
4tablespoonsbutter
Instructions
Bottom layer
Lay a piece of parchment paper in a 9x11-inch pan, letting some hang over the sides. (This makes it easier to remove the Nanaimo bars.)
Melt the butter in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Whisk in the cocoa powder and sugar. Remove the pot from the heat then add the egg and whisk until it has thickened, about 30 seconds. Stir in the Graham cracker crumbs, coconut, and walnuts. Press the crust firmly into the prepared pan.
½ cup butter, 5 tablespoons cocoa powder, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 ¾ cup Graham cracker crumbs, ¾ cup fine coconut, ¼ cup chopped walnuts
Middle layer
Add all the middle layer ingredients to a large bowl and cream them together using electric beaters. Pour the custard over the first layer and smooth the top.
3 cups powdered sugar, ¾ cup butter, ¼ cup milk, ¼ cup Bird's vanilla custard powder
Place the pan into your fridge for at least 20 minutes, or until the custard is firm.
Top layer
Add the chocolate and butter to a medium-sized pan over low heat and let both melt. Whisk to combine and then pour the chocolate over the custard. Smooth the top first with a spatula then by gently tapping the pan on your counter.
8 ounces shaved dark chocolate or chocolate chips, 4 tablespoons butter
Chill in your fridge for about 20 minutes, or until the chocolate is soft-set. Cut the Nanaimo bars into bars then place them back in your fridge until they are completely set. (Cutting the bars first prevents the chocolate from cracking.)
Store the bars in a covered container in your fridge for a week or up to three months in your freezer. The bars can be eaten cold or at room temperature - they take about 10 minutes to warm once out of the fridge.