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 www.nanaimo.ca. An optional part of the challenge was to make the bars gluten-free, but since I procrastinated slightly (ahem!) I had to make them with what I had already in the pantry.
The 1st layer of Nanaimo bars is a mixture of chocolate, graham crackers (we had to make our own!), coconut, and almonds.
The 2nd layer is a thick buttery custard layer.
The final layer is a semisweet chocolate layer.
I doubled the recipe so that we would have extra to share and also so that I could freeze some (they freeze well!) to serve for the opening ceremonies of the olympics. I would recommend cutting the bars into small pieces because they are very rich. Bug taste tested these for me and gave them two thumbs up. She would like me to mention that now that she is one she has a very refined palate.
The chocolatey/nutty/coconuty flavors mixed with the creamy buttery center are pretty divine. These are dangerous for me to have around. If you live near me, please come take some off my hands.
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Nanaimo Bars
Adapted from the City of Nanaimo Recipe
Makes one 8×8-inch pan
Bottom Layer
1/2 cup (115 g) (4 ounces) unsalted butter
1/4 cup (50 g) (1.8 ounces) granulated sugar
5 tablespoons (75 mL) unsweetened cocoa
1 large egg, beaten
1 1/4 cups (300 mL) (160 g) (5.6 ounces) graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup (55 g) (1.9 ounces) almonds (any type, finely chopped)
1 cup (130 g) (4.5 ounces) coconut (shredded, sweetened or unsweetened)
Middle Layer
1/2 cup (115 g) (4 ounces) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons (40 mL) heavy cream
2 tablespoons (30 mL) vanilla custard powder (such as Bird’s. Vanilla pudding mix may be substituted.)
2 cups (254 g) (8.9 ounces) confectioner’s sugar
Top Layer
4 ounces (115 g) semi-sweet chocolate
2 tablespoons (28 g) (1 ounce) unsalted butter
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.
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* These bars freeze very well, so don’t be afraid to pop some into the freezer.
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
oh my gosh! These look so good!
Hail to the Great White North! Looks like a great recipe (pretty close to all the “authentic” ones I’ve seen––since, being such a Canadian tradition, there are many)! How I wished we lived closer! YUM!
Leave it to you to find a Canadian treat with an Asian (well, to my mind at least) sound to it. Sound delish…and look pretty easy to make so adding this to my menu for Girls Nite Out this Friday. I LOVE TWITTER! I need a recipe and your post shows up..very timely and thank you!
Hehehe, I am Canadian and I must say that Nanaimo bars are a definite favourite in my family (although I will not lie, I’m not really a huge fan)! Hmmm, maybe I should whip up a batch for my friends and family for the Olympics!
Yum! Yours look great. Looks like the kiddos enjoyed them, too. :)
Wow, the bars are dangerous enough, yet taste heavenly! Super yummy!
I can tell it from the pictures, esp. the kids’ expressions. ^0^
Can I have a small piece?
Mmm these look good. Your custard layer is thicker than mine. Looks like the kids like them!
Oh my goodness these look good. I’m on my way over right now.
Adorable photos of Squirrel and Bug! Also love your idea of freezing these to enjoy for the Opening Ceremonies. Notice you’re on the list for Camp Blog-Away and look forward to meeting you there.
Well I am a third Canadian and I heart Nanaimo Bars about as much as I love macarons and lamingtons. You did a great job Rachael – and BUG! SQUIRREL!! Adorable!
Nice looking nanaimos (but your kids are just too cute!)
My, they do look rich….and good. Again, great pics! I would love just a bite please!
Wow…looks sinful.Great pics too:)Very well done!!!!
Great job! Your bars look fantastic! And your photos are so cute!
Well Rachael – I know my nanaimo bars well (My parents were born and raised in Canada and my favorite aunts lived in Vancouver and Victoria) and I am giving you an A+, along with ten points of extra credit, for a batch of the finest bars I’ve seen in a long time. I know they tasted perfect because they look perfect! Thanks for “makin’ my day!” Eileen
We made these once, on a whim for Canada Day. I don’t know if the recipe we used was exactly the same as yours, but they were yummy. I’m glad you reminded me about the Olympics, it will be a good excuse to make them again!
You did a beautiful job and your kids are too cute!
ohhhh yummmmmmmm. a friend of ours makes these, and we have been blessed to be on the receiving end several times. mmmmmmmmmmm.
This post is amazing!! The photos, your writing, the detail,the recipe…. Thank you so much. Of course I will be baking these…PRONTO!
Hope you are having a great start to 2010
Cheers
SAUCY
Wow, being that I’m from BC I can say that those Nanaimo bars are the best I’ve seen around for a long, long time. I never make them myself because they’re all over the place. Good job, Rachael.
Fresh from a taste, they are definitely thumbs up! Bring on the Olympics.
while the bars were nice i preferred the graham crackers – i doubled the recipe there! adorable kids!
mmmm! Nanaimo bars are a Christmas favorite in my family. I’ve never been a coconut fan, however, so really should try making a batch myself and substituting for the coconut. Mmmm…
OH MY GOD! I must confess that your post forced me to join the Daring Kitchen!
Your result is fantastic, as well as your pics, not to talk about your wonderful daughters!!
I’d never heard of nanaimo bars until this edition of Daring Bakers… they look interesting, to say the least! They look very kid-friendly, too!
You did beautifully on my challenge! I love love love the photos, especially of your little bug and squirrel =D. So glad they enjoyed them, especially with those refined palates ;D.
These bar cookies are my favorite weakness ever! A little deli in Billings makes them and I have been visiting them regularly for years just to buy one. Now I’m going to have to buy some elastic waist pants cause I can MAKE MY OWN STASH! Thanks (I think)! A. Chris
Such cute pictures with your kids–You can tell they are loving those bars. :)
wow, look at that, I’m already drooling, great color, looks delicious
Such cute pictures!! Great job Rachael!!
hULLO RACHAEL….sugar plum here and today am here with joy in my heart n a smile on my lips….u sure have a beautiful v precious background and a fantastic blog….
infact am so so thrilled to have to as my inpiration and mentor for 3 months…..delightfully excited…yeah have been adopted by u at dine and dish and am taking a good stroll all over ur world….
And am i love with the adorable cute ,very precious squirrel….shes a doll…..
And the pics here are fantastic…..
LOVE IS IN THE AIR,SO IS ROMANCE…WISHING YA LOADS OF IT @365
well I’ve been seeing these all over the web this week, but for some reason yours really made me want to eat them. I love the pics of your little beauties eating them, priceless!
Your kids outshine nanaimo bars and they look plenty good. Enjoy.
Great pics! I looove nanaimo bars!
I am looking for a no nut alternative to the coconut. I know it won’t be quite the same but I want to make some to bring to my son at school, which is a nut free facility. Any ideas?!
Thanks!
I know this is an old post, but in case anyone else is looking for a substitute… Quick oats are a good substitute, or you can even just ramp up the graham cracker content until the texture it right. Nanaimo bars are incredibly flexible. I often use apple sauce instead of egg in the bottom layer so they travel better and are vegan friendly (once I sub margarine and almond milk for butter and cream).
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