Hey hey, we’re back with another recipe!  But this time, not so much running-related. >.>

Last month we had an announcement for yet another baking fiesta at work.  This time it was for a fund raiser that happens each year within the company to help out employees in need; for $5 you could eat as much of all the baked goods you please.  It’s a good way to get a few extra dollars into the fund.  Plus, it’s delicious.

Unfortunately I came down with a wretched stomach ache the day of the bake sale, but I brought the bars in anyway (I’d be damned if I was going to leave it sitting in my apartment, calling my name).  Luckily I had been able to sample them the previous night; I’d never had a Nanaimo bar before, and I had to make sure I wasn’t going to poison my coworkers (for science, etc).

In fact, Nanaimo bars were something I’d only heard of previously, usual in regards to the confusion about how to pronouce them (it turns out it’s not really that difficult, just easy to mis-pronounce).  And as luck would have it, I had already almost all of the ingredients in my pantry (indeed, I live the baker’s life).  From Nanaimo, Canada, the middle layer is traditionally flavored with either mint or mocha, neither of which I did this time.  Maybe if I make them again!

The recipe is pretty straight-forward and doesn’t require any baking, and for my first try at this I’m impressed!  The bottom “crust” layer of graham cracker, butter, and coconut mellows out some of the more intensely sweet middle and top layers.  I’d still totally recommend cutting them into small pieces due to the intense sugar, but the layers balance fairly nicely.

Word is that people at work lied the bars too, which I was happy to hear.   You may have noticed that the middle layer is tinged a little orange…that’d be because I work for The Home Depot.  Ain’t it adorable?

At any rate, here’s the recipe!  The only issue I had was with the spreading of the chocolate on the top…I think some water got into it during the melting process and stiffened it up a bit making the spreading difficult.  Just an excuse to try it again, right?

Nanaimo Bar Recipe

Adapted from My Baking Addiction

Ingredients:

Bottom:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 5 tablespoons cocoa
• 1 egg beaten
• 1 1/4 cups chocolate graham crackercrumbs
• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 1 cup coconut

Middle:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons cream
• 2 tablespoons cook & serve vanilla pudding powder
• 2 cups confectioner’s sugar

Top:

• 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions:

Bottom:

1. Melt together the first 3 ingredients
2. Add egg & remove from heat.
3. Stir in crumbs, coconut, and nuts.
4. Press firmly into an ungreased 8″ x 8″ pan.

Middle:

1. Cream butter, cream, custard powder, and icing sugar together well.
2. Spread over bottom layer.

Top:

1. Melt chocolate and butter together & let it cool
2. Once cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator.
3. Slice with a sharp knife
4. CONSUME!