Nanaimo Bars in Nanaimo

By Nicole

Rich and sweet, chocolaty and coconutty, creamy and delicious.  That’s a Nanaimo Bar for you.  And when in Nanaimo, British Columbia?  Eat a Nanaimo Bar.

Our taste for Nanaimo Bars developed only recently, with a confession to our good (Canadian) friend, Deborah, that we’d never tried this famous dessert.  So come November, Deborah sweetly whipped up a batch for my birthday… and we were hooked.  It’s not something I need to eat all the time (like, say, ice cream or gelato – although I hear they make Nanaimo Bar ice cream here), but with a cup of coffee, it’s the perfect treat.

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Make your own Nanaimo Bars using the “ultimate” recipe (according to the City of Nanaimo’s website), and read more about Deborah and Marty’s quest for the best Nanaimo Bar on Three Sheets Northwest.

Nanaimo Bar Recipe

Bottom Layer
½ cup unsalted butter (European style cultured)
¼ cup sugar
5 tbsp. cocoa
1 egg beaten
1 ¼ cups graham wafer crumbs
½ c. finely chopped almonds
1 cup coconut

Melt first 3 ingredients in top of 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
½ cup unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. and 2 Tsp. cream
2 Tbsp. vanilla custard powder
2 cups icing sugar

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

Third Layer
4 squares semi-sweet chocolate (1 oz. each)
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter

Melt chocolate and butter over low heat. Cool. Once cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator.