Nanaimo Bars

Day 24 : 25 Days of Christmas, Cookie Style

I was chatting with one of my co-workers about all the cookies I have been baking and stated I needed to bake a few more varieties.  She mentioned Nanaimo Bars and asked if I had ever had these before.  I actually never even heard of them until she told me about them.  I happened to google the name and found Betty Crocker had their own version recipe wise online.  Plus, it was a prize winning recipe in 2009.  I figured out of all the recipes to pick from, this one would be the one to start with.  Super easy to make.  These are very rich, a small piece goes a long way!

Nanaimo Bars

 

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Author: Sweet Dash of Sass

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 36 bars

Ingredients

• Cookie Base
• 1 pouch (17.5 oz) Betty Crocker Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• ½ cup chopped pecans
• ½ cup coconut
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 egg
• Filling
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 4 tablespoons vanilla instant pudding mix
• ⅓ cup butter, softened
• ¼ cup milk
• Topping
• 1 bag (12 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ¼ cup butter, softened

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottom and sides of 13×9 pan with foil, leaving foil overhanging at 2 opposite sides of pan. (I used parchment paper and it worked great!) In large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until mixed. Spread into pan; press lightly.
2. Bake 16 – 18 minutes or until set. Cool completely. about 1 hour.
3. In another large bowl, stir together powdered sugar and pudding mix.
4. Add ⅓ cup butter and the milk; beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth (filling will be very thick).
5. Spoon over cookie base; spread evenly to cover. Refrigerate while making the topping.
6. In small microwaveable bowl, microwave topping ingredients uncovered on HIGH 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and smooth. Spread over filling. Refrigerate uncovered until set, about 60 minutes.
7. Use foil to lift bars from pan; pull foil from sides of bars. Store in cool, airtight container.

3.2.2885

                                  

Did You Know?:  Canadian legend claims that the bar (chocolate crumb-base, layer of vanilla, covered in chocolate) originated in Nanaimo, Canada, in the 1950s.