I made my all time favorite dessert ever! Have you heard of Nanaimo Bars? This is a dessert my Mother would make frequently, or even buy from a local bakery. They are a combination of rich chocolate with a pudding center and a delicious graham cracker base. Nanaimo bars are a true Canadian classic, and said to be dreamed up in a British Columbia kitchen. This dessert is a combination of three delicious layers. See ingredients and steps below!
Nanaimo Bars
Serves 24
Ingredients:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup baking cocoa
3/4 cup butter, cubbed
2 large eggs, beaten
2 cups of graham cracker crumbs
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 chopped almonds (optional)
Filling:
2 cups confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding mix
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons milk
Glaze:
5 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon butter
Step 1. The Base. Melt the butter and whisk the cocoa powder, sugar, and 2 eggs into that. The heat from the melted butter will cook the egg. Once combined, stir in the graham crackers crumbs, coconut, and nuts of choice until you have a thick batter. A Ninja Express is perfect for turning graham crackers to a smooth crumb consistency. We have made these with almonds and walnuts before. We have also made them nut free. Equally delicious!
You will want to line the pan with foil or parchment paper. The batter gets pushed into a baking pan to form the crust. Chill for 30 minutes.
Step 2. The Filling. Mix powdered sugar, instant pudding mix, and milk in a bowl. Then slowly mix in the melted butter. It is important to make sure this mixture is smooth and creamy.
Pour over the base, and chill for another 30 minutes.
Step 3. The Glaze. Melt 5 oz of semisweet chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of butter. Pour over the filling layer, covering the top. Chill for 30-60 minutes.
Once mixture is firm, slice and enjoy! This is an easy recipe to duplicate, and sure to please any house guest!
