About the bake
Nanaimo Bars are a custard centred treat from the Canadian city of Nanaimo. If you have never tasted this before we really recommend that you give this recipe a try. Nanaimo Bars require no baking, so there is no need to pre-heat an oven. The only cooking to happen in this recipe will be microwaving the chocolate for the topping.
Method
Step 1:
To make the base, line a shallow 28x20 cm cake tin with baking parchment.
Step 2:
Melt the butter and chocolate together in a small pan or in the microwave. Stir in the biscuit crumbs, coconut and walnuts. Press the mixture firmly into the cake tin and leave in the fridge to set for about 30 minutes.
Step 3:
To make the filling, place the egg yolk and milk in a small bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bowl does not touch the water. Whisk until the milk is warm then add the custard powder and gradually add the butter and vanilla, whisking until smooth and soft. Gradually beat in the icing sugar, then spread over the chilled biscuit base.
Step 4:
Chill for 30 minutes until set.
Step 5:
Melt the chocolate in the microwave or in a bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water. Spread over the chilled icing and leave to set for a couple of hours. Cut into squares.
Ingredients
For the base
- 75g Butter (unsalted)
- 100g Dark chocolate
- 75g Digestive biscuits (finely crushed)
- 75g Dessicated coconut
- 75g Walnuts (roughly chopped)
For the filling
- 1 Egg yolk(s) (free range)
- 1 tbsp Milk (whole)
- 1 tsp Custard powder
- 100g Butter (unsalted)
- Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract (a few drops)
- 150g Silver Spoon Icing Sugar
For the topping
- 125g Dark chocolate
Utensils
- 28 x 20cm cake tin
- Baking parchment
- Saucepan
- Bowl
- Whisk
Recipe Reviews
I reduced the quantities by a third for this recipe and used a smaller tray. The quantities for the filling do not cover even the smaller tray. I had to make more custard filling and that did not set. Also the chocolate topping broke up when I tried to cut the cake into bars. I have found similar problems with the filling quantities in other for Nanaimo bar recipes as well.
Ingredients
For the base
- 75g Butter (unsalted)
- 100g Dark chocolate
- 75g Digestive biscuits (finely crushed)
- 75g Dessicated coconut
- 75g Walnuts (roughly chopped)
For the filling
- 1 Egg yolk(s) (free range)
- 1 tbsp Milk (whole)
- 1 tsp Custard powder
- 100g Butter (unsalted)
- Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract (a few drops)
- 150g Silver Spoon Icing Sugar
For the topping
- 125g Dark chocolate
Utensils
- 28 x 20cm cake tin
- Baking parchment
- Saucepan
- Bowl
- Whisk