The Original Nanaimo Bars Recipes

NANAIMO BARS I

Steps:

• Mix 1/2 cup butter or margarine, white sugar, cocoa, egg and vanilla in a heavy sauce pan or double boiler. Stir over low heat until mixture is of custard like consistency.
• Combine graham crackers, coconut and walnuts and add to the melted mixture. Mix well and pack into buttered 9 inch square cake pan.
• Cream 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla custard powder and milk. Beat until creamy and spread over melted base.
• Refrigerate till hardened.
• Melt semi-sweet chocolate with 1 tablespoon butter and drizzle over custard icing. Refrigerate. When totally hard cut into square bars.

ORIGINAL NANAIMO BARS

Steps:

• Line 9 x 9 inch square pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Set aside. In a medium size bowl add graham crumbs, coconut and walnuts. Then using a medium saucepan over low heat combine the butter, sugar,cocoa, egg until the mixture boils. Boil for 2 minutes and add vanilla extract. Remove from heat and stir graham crumbs, coconut and walnuts. Press the base into the prepared lined pan. Place into to fridge until firm (about 30 minutes). Making Yellow Custard Icing Using a mixing bowl combine custard powder and milk. Stir until smooth. Add icing sugar and butter. Mix using the whisk attachment for about 3 to 5 minutes. (high speed) Spread the filling evenly over the base and return to fridge of freezer while you make the topping or chocolate ganache. Top Layer - Chocolate Ganache Using a double boiler method melt 5 oz chocolate and butter. (or oil if you are using) Spread over the second layer. Refrigerate one more time for at least one hour. Then cut the Nanaimo Bars to your favorite size or shape. And you made it. The best traditional Canadian Nanaimo Bars.

THE ORIGINAL NANAIMO BARS

Steps:

• BOTTOM LAYER: Melt first 3 ingredients in top of a double boiler.
• Add egg and stir to cook and thicken Remove from heat.
• Stir in crumbs, coconut and nuts.
• Press firmly into an ungreased 8 X 8 pan.
• SECOND LAYER: Cream butter, cream, custard powder and icing sugar together well.
• Beat until light.
• Spread over bottom layer.
• THIRD LAYER: Melt chocolate and butter over low heat.
• Cool
• When cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator.

CALGARY NANAIMO BARS

Steps:

• Line an 8-in. square baking pan with foil, letting ends extend over sides by 1 in. In a large heavy saucepan, combine sugar and cocoa; add butter. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until butter is melted. Whisk a small amount of hot mixture into eggs. Return all to the pan, whisking constantly. Cook and stir until mixture reaches 160°. Remove from heat., Stir in cracker crumbs, coconut and, if desired, almonds. Press into prepared pan. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until set., For filling, in a small bowl, beat confectioners' sugar, pudding mix, butter and milk until smooth; spread over crust., In a microwave, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Spread over top. Refrigerate until set. Using foil, lift bars out of pan. Discard foil; cut into bars.

AUTHENTIC NANAIMO BARS

Steps:

• Bottom Layer'.
• Melt first three ingredients in the top of a double boiler.
• Add egg when the butter and cocoa are warm (not hot) and stir hard to cook and thicken and not let the egg scramble .About 1 minute is good.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in crumbs, coconut and nuts.
• Press firmly into an ungreased 8 X 8 pan.
• Second Layer:.
• Cream butter, cream, custard powder and icing sugar together well.
• Beat until light.
• Spread over bottom layer.
• Third Layer:.
• Melt chocolate and butter over low heat.
• Cool.
• Once cool enough to not melt the middle layer, but still liquid, pour over second layer, tilt pan so it is evenly covered and chill in refrigerator.

NANAIMO BARS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from the heat; blend in sugar, cocoa, vanilla, egg, crumbs and coconut. Also add nuts if desired. Press into a 9-in. square pan. In a small bowl, cream 1/4 cup butter, pudding mix, milk and sugar. Spread over crumb layer; chill. Melt chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter; spread over pudding layer. Chill before cutting into bars.

NANAIMO BARS

Steps:

• For the base, first prepare a double boiler on your stove: Fill a large pot about a quarter full of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and place a heatproof bowl overtop. Make sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water.
• In the double boiler, melt the butter, sugar, and cocoa powder, mixing regularly until smooth. Add the egg, stirring constantly until the mixture has just started to thicken a bit, about 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the graham cracker crumbs, coconut, and salt.
• Line a 9- x 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Spoon the graham cracker mixture inside, press it down firmly and evenly, and refrigerate until solid, about 2 hours.
• For the creamy middle layer, in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, whip the butter until light and airy, about 2 minutes on medium speed.
• Add the milk, custard powder, salt, and icing sugar and mix on low speed until all the ingredients have been incorporated. Increase the speed to medium and whip until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Pour this creamy mix onto your solid base, make sure it's evenly spread out, and refrigerate for about 2 hours.
• For the chocolate topping, melt the chocolate and cream together in a double boiler over low heat, stirring constantly. When the chocolate has melted, remove from the heat and let rest for about 5 to 10 minutes. You want the temperature to come down but still keep the chocolate completely melted. Pour this over the cream layer and, using a rubber spatula, spread it out evenly. Chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours before serving.

NANAIMO BARS III

Steps:

• In the top of a double boiler, combine 1/2 cup butter, white sugar and cocoa powder. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Beat in the egg, stirring until thick, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and mix in the graham cracker crumbs, coconut and almonds (if you like). Press into the bottom of an ungreased 8x8 inch pan.
• For the middle layer, cream together 1/2 cup butter, heavy cream and custard powder until light and fluffy. Mix in the confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread over the bottom layer in the pan. Chill to set.
• While the second layer is chilling, melt the semisweet chocolate and 2 teaspoons butter together in the microwave or over low heat. Spread over the chilled bars. Let the chocolate set before cutting into squares.