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Rich layered dessert bar with chocolate glaze and creamy filling.

Homemade Nanaimo Bars

Bree Hester
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Course Dessert
Cuisine north american
Servings 12
Calories 382 kcal

Ingredients
  

Crust:

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons cocoa
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 cup coconut
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Middle Layer:

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup room temperature butter
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 2 Tablespoons custard powder

Chocolate layer:

  • 3 ounces chocolate chips
  • 1/4 butter

Instructions
 

  • Start with the crust. Melt together the butter, brown sugar, and cocoa.
    Melting butter, brown sugar, and cocoa in a mixing bowl for Homemade Nanaimo Bars.
  • I did mine over a double boiler, but if I had a microwave, I probably would have done it that way.
    Melting butter, brown sugar, and cocoa for the Homemade Nanaimo Bars crust in a stainless steel bowl.
  • Beat the egg, and quickly whisk it into the hot chocolate mixture. You need to add the egg slowly and keep the whisk moving, otherwise you will have scrambled eggs. Not good.
    Whisking an egg into the melted butter, brown sugar, and cocoa mixture for homemade Nanaimo bars.
  • Mix in the graham crackers, coconut, and walnuts.
    Mixing graham crackers, coconut, and walnuts into the base for Homemade Nanaimo Bars.
  • Press the crust into an 8×8 pan that has been lined with parchment. Put the crust into the fridge to chill for a half hour.
    Pressing the graham cracker, coconut, and walnut crust for Homemade Nanaimo Bars into a lined square pan.
  • Make the buttercream layer, but creaming together the powdered sugar, butter, and custard powder. Add the cream slowly, and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
    Adding the fluffy buttercream layer for Homemade Nanaimo Bars to the crust in a baking pan.
  • Spread the cream layer evenly over the crust. Back in the fridge for another half hour or so.
    Spreading the cream layer evenly over the crust for Homemade Nanaimo Bars.
  • Melt together the butter and chocolate (either a double boiler or microwave) and pour over the chilled cream layer.
    Pouring melted chocolate and butter over the chilled buttercream layer for Homemade Nanaimo Bars.
  • Back in the fridge to set up.
    Homemade Nanaimo Bars, a layered dessert with chocolate, cream, and a nutty crust.
  • Cut into small squares (they are really rich) and keep in the fridge.
    Homemade Nanaimo Bars with chocolate, creamy, and crumb layers, stacked on a white platter.

Nutrition

Calories: 382kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 3gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 12gSodium: 200mgFiber: 2g
Keyword Homemade Nanaimo Bars
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