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The Best Nanaimo Bar Recipe

Course Dessert
Cuisine Baking
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cooling Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

Bottom Layer:

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 4 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups crushed graham crackers
  • 1 cup coconut
  • 1/2 cup crushed nuts walnuts or almonds

Middle Layer:

  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup soft butter
  • 1/2 cup cream
  • 4 Tbsp instant vanilla pudding dry powder

Top Layer::

  • 6 ounces semisweet chocolate
  • 4 Tbsp butter

Instructions

  • Top Layer
  • Combine 1/2 cup butter (cut into 1 Tbsp chunks), 1/4 cup sugar, and 4 Tbsp cocoa powder in the top of a double boiler. Stir until completely combined.
  • Add 1 beaten egg, mixing well and cooking for about 1 minute.
  • Add 1 tsp vanilla
  • In a separate bowl, mix together 2 cups crushed graham crackers, 1 cup coconut, and 1/2 cup chopped nuts (I like to chop mine fine).
  • Combine the two mixtures together, and pat down firmly in a greased 9×13″ pan.

Middle Layer

  • Cream all icing ingredients (4 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 cup softened butter, 1/2 cup cream, and 4 Tbsp powdered instant vanilla pudding) together until thick.
  • Spread on top of the first layer. This can be thick and difficult to spread. You can add water to your spatula to aid in the process.
  • Refrigerate 2-3 hours.

Top Layer

  • After the bars have spent their 2-3 hours in the refrigerator, melt the chocolate and butter together in a double boiler, stirring as it melts. Spread quickly over the top. Refrigerate until solid.