#MeatlessMonday-Nanaimo Bars #dessert

Photo via Joy from Flickr

Licensed under the 

Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license 

I thought I'd take a break from my usual healthy recipes to share a sinfully delicious dessert from my childhood--Nanaimo Bars. A traditional Canadian cookie bar which requires no baking, they are named after the city of Nanaimo in British Columbia. The popularity of the bar has led Canadians to vote it "Canada's Favorite Confection."

Enjoy!

Nanaimo Bars

Bottom Layer:

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
5 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg, beaten
1-3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup coconut

Melt first 3 ingredients in 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 8X8 pan.

Middle Layer:

1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 T plus 2 tsp. cream
2 T Birds custard powder (or any vanilla custard powder)
2 cups powdered sugar

Cream butter, cream, custard powder and powdered sugar together. Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.

Top Layer:

4-1 oz.squares semi-sweet chocolate
2 T butter

Melt chocolate and butter over low heat. Cool slightly and pour over middle layer.
Chill in refrigerator and cut into bars.