Nanaimo Bars

Nanaimo Bars
Recipe http://www.nanaimo.ca/

The January 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Lauren of Celiac Teen. Lauren chose Gluten-Free Graham Wafers and Nanaimo Bars as the challenge for the month. The sources she based her recipe on are 101 Cookbooks and http://www.nanaimo.ca/.


Daring Bakers is a group of over 2000 bakers from all over the world. Each month this group takes the Internet by storm when they reveal a daring recipe that they have all made.

I have to admit that I didn't complete the entire challenge. I tried to make the gluten-free graham wafers but I ended up burning them. Thankfully I had a backup so the challenge wasn't a complete fail. :)

These Nanaimo Bars were really delicious and surprisingly easy to make. Enjoy!

Makes: 16 bars

Ingredients:
Bottom Layer
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup granulated vanilla sugar
5 tbsps unsweetened cocoa
1 Large Egg, beaten
1 1/4 cups (160 g)Graham Wafer Crumbs (See previous recipe)
1 cup Roasted peanuts (finely chopped)
1/2 cup shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)

Middle Layer
1/2 cup Unsalted Butter
2 tbsps and 2 tsps (40 mL) Cream
2 tbsps Vanilla Custard Powder
1 cup Icing Sugar

Top Layer
115 g Semi-sweet chocolate
2 tbsps Unsalted Butter

Directions:
1. For bottom Layer: Melt unsalted butter, sugar and cocoa in top of a double boiler. Add egg and stir to cook and thicken. Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, nuts and coconut. Press firmly into an ungreased 8 by 8 inch pan.

2. For Middle Layer: Cream butter, cream, custard powder, and icing sugar together well. Beat until light in colour. Spread over bottom layer.

3. For Top Layer: Melt chocolate and unsalted butter over low heat. Cool. Once cool, pour over middle layer and chill.

Additional Information:
These bars freeze very well, so don’t be afraid to pop some into the freezer.
The graham wafers may be kept in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Mine lasted about that long.

33 comments:

Priya Suresh said...

Omg, such a gorgeous nanaimo bars...

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Very pretty!

Cheers,

Rosa

chef_d said...

perfect-looking nanaimo bars!

Barbara Bakes said...

I had such a hard time cutting mine. Yours look perfect! Wow - I didn't realize there were over 2000 DB now!

Heather said...

Beautiful! They are so perfectly formed.

Deeba PAB said...

Paula...PERFECTO dear dragon, perfecto!! How nice they look! They were indeed delicious and simple to make. Cohosting the DB challenge next month...you better be there!
{HUGS dear girl}

Peter M said...

I never realized that these were considered "Canadian". They are, they are a tasty treat and you made them perfectly, Paula! ;)

Elle said...

Wow, those are gorgeous! I've *always* wanted to make those...

Sandy Smith said...

Nice cutting work! These are gorgeous.

Heather said...

I have just emailed you my address and I will be sitting at the mail box till they arrive. These are so good but I hate making them as I sample sample sample the whole time then never eat a complete bar because I am sick by the time they are done... lol

Maria said...

Nice job on the bars. They look perfect!

Nina said...

Saw these pics in the daringbakers site n cudnt stop visiting ur site.The bars looks fabulous...so neat n perfect:)

La Bella Cooks said...

These look absolutely perfect! You did a brilliant job and should think about opening up your own bakery. I would be first in line.

Anonymous said...

mmmm...these are making my tummy rumble!

Parita said...

Perfect! So neatly cut!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

What beautiful bars. I'm wishing my diet was over and I could dive into those.
Sam

Anonymous said...

picture perfect. great shots

Sue said...

WOW, your bars look utterly PERFECT!!!

Suz said...

Everyone else has said it, but it bears repeating - what perfect looking bars! That generous top slab of chocolate looks amazing.

Anonymous said...

How did you get such amazingly perfect cuts! They are so yummy, aren't they.

Rachel said...

The neatest bars I've seen around today :)

Tami said...

Well, I gotta say, your Nanaimo Bars of some of the nicest looking I've ever seen. They look simply perfect. Just needed to commend you on a beautiful job! I'm posting late. Funny, I haven't made these in years, so its fun to retry them again. Although I'm sure mine won't look this perfect. Fun challenge though!

Anonymous said...

These bars look really pretty!

Susie said...

yes, I have to say it too, perfect! And I already know they are delicious...

Carolyn said...

I am so excited to find your blog!Great writing and photography!

Jill @ Jillicious Discoveries said...

Your Nanaimo Bars look picture perfect! :)

Unknown said...

I'm just marveling at the perfection! Beautifully done.

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Good you had a back-up plan, because your bars look perfect.

Sara said...

Gorgeous! I'm amazed at your smooth edges on those nanaimo bars!! Beautiful! :)

Nina said...

Perfect as usual! Compliments! :)

Unknown said...

Being in Michigan, I'm not familiar with Vanilla Custard Powder. Any chance I can substitute something?

IDESIGN said...

Where does one find Vanilla Custard powder--and is there a subtitute? Thanks--they look delicious!

Dragon said...

There are several brand of vanilla custard powder available. Here are some http://tinyurl.com/y76fry6

You can always substitute the custard powder with regular vanilla pudding powder (jello).

 
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