Nanaimo Bar

I made Nanaimo Bar today.

     The Nanaimo Bar is a dessert which requires no baking and is named after the west coast city of Nanaimo, British Columbia.

     The exact origin of the Nanaimo Bar is unknown.  The earliest confirmed printed copy of the recipe called "Nanaimo Bars" appears in a cookbook from 1953.  However, the same recipe was published in the Vancouver Sun earlier that same year and called "London Fog Bar."

     Legend dates the bars back to the 1930s when they were called "Chocolate Fridge Cake."

source:  Wikipedia

Here is the recipe I used:

Nanaimo Bar

Bottom Layer:
     1/2 cup unsalted butter
     1/4 cup sugar
     5 tablespoons cocoa
     1 egg, beaten
     1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
     1/2 cup finely chopped almonds
     1 cup coconut

Melt butter, sugar, and cocoa in top of double boiler.  Add egg and stir to cook and thicken.  Remove from heat.  Stir in crumbs, almonds, and coconut.  Press firmly into ungreased 8x8-inch pan.

Second Layer:
     1/2 cup unsalted butter
     2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons cream
     2 tablespoons vanilla custard powder*
     2 cups confectioners' sugar

Cream butter, cream, custard powder, and confectioners' sugar.  Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.

Top Layer:
     4 1-ounce squares semi-sweet chocolate
     2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Melt chocolate and butter over low heat.  Cool slightly and pour over second layer.

Chill in refrigerator.

You can find the original version of this recipe here.

     *Custard powder was created in Birmingham (a city in England, UK) by Alfred Bird in 1837, because his wife was allergic to eggs, the key ingredient used to thicken traditional custard.  The product is a cornstarch-based powder which thickens to form a custard-like sauce when mixed with milk and heated.

source:  Wikipedia

You can make your own custard powder or can find substitutes for custard powder.  Here is a source I came across with information and directions for replacing custard powder.

I ordered Bird's Custard Powder from Amazon.

It shipped from the United Kingdom.

The Nanaimo Bar tastes delightful...and unlike anything I've tasted before!

Linked to:
   Recipe of the Week
   Best Recipes & DIY Projects
   Titus 2 Tuesday
   Family Fun Friday