Naniamo Bars

I am not a baker.  To be honest, I don’t have the patience to read a recipe and follow it step by step. Let’s just say I like to do my own thing. Not to mention the kitchen looks like a complete DISASTER at any attempt to baking in my house. I am lucky to have come across some foodie dietitian’s whom inspire me to be a better dietitian. We like to celebrate each other’s birthdays with something sweet. So when this foodie dietitian mentioned that she prefers Nanaimo bars over birthday cake, I thought no problem I am up for the challenge.

Have you ever made Nanaimo bars?  This was my first time. I don’t bake often because when it comes to chocolate my will power is out the door. Don’t get intimidated by the directions, just read the the recipe over a couple of times and make sure you have all the ingredients to avoid multiple grocery trips. Note to self meal planning and grocery list 101. I think I read this nanaimo bar recipe from foodess and this naniamo bar recipe from food 52 about 10 times before coming up with my own. Lucky for me it turned out pretty good for my first time. Instead of custard powder I opted to use vanilla powder. My decision was simply because they didn’t have custard powder at the store.

Naniamo Bars

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Zest Nutrition

Yields 18

30 minPrep Time

12 minCook Time

42 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

• Top Layer
• 1/4 cup of butter, melted
• 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1 cup of graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup of almond meal( or almonds finely crushed)
• 1/2 tsp of vanilla
• 1 large egg lightly beaten
• Middle Layer
• 1/4 cup of softened butter
• 3 TBSP vanilla or custard powder
• 2 cups of confectioners sugar
• 1 TBSP of 2% milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Top Layer
• 150 grams of 70% dark chocolate

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper, allow some to hang over the edges.
3. In a medium bowl, combine butter, cocoa, sugar, graham crackers, almond meal, vanilla. Add beaten egg and mix.
4. Place into baking pan, press firmly into pan. Bake for 12 minutes.
5. In a medium bowl, beat butter, pudding powder, and sugar until smooth. Add vanilla beat again. Add milk and lightly beat.
6. Spread evenly over bottom layer
7. In a double boiler or microwave, melt chocolate overflow- medium heat. Pour over middle layer. Using a spatula spread chocolate evenly.
8. Place in fridge for 2-3 hours. Cut into small bars. Remove from fridge after 30 minutes and cut into bars. Place back into fridge for 2 hours.

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https://www.dev.zestnutrition.ca/naniamo-bars/

These Nanaimo bars turned out DELICIOUS.  I might even agree that they are much better than birthday cake. A perfect coconut and chocolate layer with a creamy vanilla filling topped with chocolate. Let’s just say I am pretty excited to present these to the birthday girl.

Happy Birthday Lisa!