Nanaimo bars

Need ideas for a coffee morning or afternoon tea? These bars from Canada are so moreish, with a crunchy biscuit base, custard layer and chocolate topping

  • Prep:25 mins
    Cook:5 mins
    plus 2 hrs 20 mins chilling
  • Serves 16
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 415
  • fat 29g
  • saturates 18g
  • carbs 33g
  • sugars 23g
  • fibre 0g
  • protein 3g
  • salt 0.6g

Ingredients

  • 125g softened butter
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 5 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 200g digestive biscuits, blitzed to crumbs
  • 100g desiccated coconut
  • 50g chopped almonds (optional)
  • 100g butter, softened
  • 4 tbsp double cream
  • 3 tbsp custard powder
  • 250g icing sugar
  • 150g dark chocolate
  • 50g butter

Method

  1. Start by making the biscuit base. In a bowl, over a pan of simmering water, melt the butter with the sugar and cocoa powder, stirring occasionally until smooth. Whisk in the egg for 2 to 3 mins until the mixture has thickened. Remove from heat and mix in the biscuit crumbs, coconut and almonds if using, then press into the base of a lined 20cm square tin. Chill for 10 mins.

  2. For the middle layer, make the custard icing; whisk together the butter, cream and custard powder until light and fluffy, then gradually add the icing sugar until fully incorporated. Spread over the bottom layer and chill in the fridge for at least 10 mins until the custard is no longer soft.

  3. Melt the chocolate and butter together in the microwave, then spread over the chilled bars and put back in the fridge. Leave until the chocolate has fully set (about 2 hrs). Take the mixture out of the tin and slice into squares to serve.

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