The Dish | Nanaimo Bars

These no-baking-needed bars are named after the city of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Even though I’m not Canadian, they’ve been a part of our Christmas Eve cookie assortment since I was a little girl. They are very easy to make, but take some time as you have to make and chill each layer before you move on to the next. (I usually double the recipe and use a 9 x 13 pan.) They are always a popular treat.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 square unsweetened chocolate
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 Tbs instant vanilla pudding
• 3 Tbs half and half
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 4 squares semi-sweet chocolate
• 1 Tbs butter

DIRECTIONS:

• Layer One: Melt butter, sugar, vanilla, and unsweetened chocolate in a microwave. Add beaten egg slowly. Stir in walnuts, coconut, and graham cracker crumbs. Mix well and press into an 8×8 pan. Chill 15 mins.
• Layer Two: Cream butter, pudding and half and half. Slowly add powdered sugar and beat until light. Spread over layer one and chill 15 mins.
• Layer Three: Melt squares semi-sweet chocolate and butter and spread over chilled mixture quickly. Cut into serving pieces and chill again.