CLASSIC NANAIMO BARS

The pride of Nanaimo, B.C., these bars have a coconutty crumb crust layered
with a creamy custard filling and a smooth chocolate topping. Best served at room
temperature, the bars keep well refrigerated or frozen.

HANDS-ON TIME
20 minutes
TOTAL TIME
2¾ hours
MAKES
25 bars

Ingredients:

• Crumb Crust:
  • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut
  • ⅓ cup finely chopped walnuts
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup butter, melted
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
• Filling:
  • ¼ cup butter, softened
  • 2 tbsp custard powder
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups icing sugar
  • 2 tbsp milk (approx)
• Topping:
  • 115 g semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 1 tbsp butter

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9-inch (2.5 L) square cake pan with parchment paper.
2. To make the Crumb Crust, in a bowl, stir together the graham crumbs, coconut, walnuts, cocoa powder, and sugar. Drizzle with melted butter and beaten egg, stirring until combined.
3. Press the mixture into the prepared cake pan. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until firm. Let cool in the pan on a rack.
4. To make the Filling, in a bowl, beat together the softened butter, custard powder, and vanilla. Beat in the icing sugar, alternating with the milk, making 3 additions of sugar and 2 of milk, adding up to 1 tsp more milk if too thick to spread.
5. Spread the filling over the cooled Crumb Crust. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
6. To make the Topping, in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of hot (not boiling) water, melt the chocolate with the butter. Using an offset palette knife, spread the mixture over the filling. Refrigerate until the chocolate is almost set, about 30 minutes.
7. With the tip of a sharp knife, score the mixture into bars. Refrigerate until the chocolate is completely set, about 30 minutes. Cut into bars.
8. (Optional) Wrap and refrigerate for up to 4 days or overwrap in foil and freeze for up to 2 weeks.

Nutritional Information (per bar):

• 150 calories
• 1g protein
• 9g total fat (5g saturated fat)
• 19g carbohydrates
• 1g fiber
• 20mg cholesterol
• 65mg sodium
• 62mg potassium

% Recommended Daily Intake:

• Calcium: 1%
• Iron: 4%
• Vitamin A: 4%
• Folate: 2%