The Ultimate Nanaimo Bar Food

NANAIMO BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat an 8 by 8 inch baking pan with nonstick vegetable spray.
• For the Bottom Layer: In a dry bowl, set over barely simmering water, melt the 5 pats butter and 4 ounces of semisweet chocolate. Remove from the heat and stir in the Graham crumbs, coconut and walnuts. Pat the mixture into the bottom of the baking pan to form a crust. Bake for 9 minutes until set. Let cool to room temperature, then chill.
• For the Buttercream: Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes Slowly beat in the maple syrup and Grand Marnier. Spread over the cooled crust and chill for 20 minutes to set.
• For the Chocolate Glaze: In a dry bowl, set over barely simmering water, melt the chocolate. Remove from heat and stir in the vegetable shortening and corn syrup. Spread the chocolate glaze over the buttercream layer and chill for 5 more minutes. Cut into 2 by 2 inch bars

THE ULTIMATE NANAIMO BAR

Steps:

• Pour 2 cups (500 mL) water into bottom of double boiler. Place on stove over medium heat and bring water to simmer.
• In top of double boiler; combine butter, cocoa and sugar; place over simmering water. Heat, stirring, until butter has melted and mixture is smooth.
• Add beaten egg; stir until thick. Remove top of double boiler from heat. Stir in graham wafer crumbs, coconut and almonds.
• Scrape into parchment paper-lined 8-inch (2 L) square baking dish. Press firmly to create even bottom layer.
• Tip: If you don't have a double boiler, half-fill a saucepan with water and heat over medium heat until water begins to simmer. Then, place a metal or glass bowl over the simmering water and proceed as directed.
• In bowl, cream together butter, cream and custard powder. Gradually add icing sugar; beat until light and fluffy. Scrape over bottom layer, smoothing top with spatula or palette knife.
• In clean double boiler, melt chocolate and butter together. Remove from heat; let cool slightly. When cool, but still liquid, pour over custard layer.
• Cover and refrigerate until cold.

NANAIMO BARS I

Steps:

• Mix 1/2 cup butter or margarine, white sugar, cocoa, egg and vanilla in a heavy sauce pan or double boiler. Stir over low heat until mixture is of custard like consistency.
• Combine graham crackers, coconut and walnuts and add to the melted mixture. Mix well and pack into buttered 9 inch square cake pan.
• Cream 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla custard powder and milk. Beat until creamy and spread over melted base.
• Refrigerate till hardened.
• Melt semi-sweet chocolate with 1 tablespoon butter and drizzle over custard icing. Refrigerate. When totally hard cut into square bars.

AUTHENTIC NANAIMO BARS

Steps:

• Bottom Layer'.
• Melt first three ingredients in the top of a double boiler.
• Add egg when the butter and cocoa are warm (not hot) and stir hard to cook and thicken and not let the egg scramble .About 1 minute is good.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in crumbs, coconut and nuts.
• Press firmly into an ungreased 8 X 8 pan.
• Second Layer:.
• Cream butter, cream, custard powder and icing sugar together well.
• Beat until light.
• Spread over bottom layer.
• Third Layer:.
• Melt chocolate and butter over low heat.
• Cool.
• Once cool enough to not melt the middle layer, but still liquid, pour over second layer, tilt pan so it is evenly covered and chill in refrigerator.