The Lazy Gourmet’s classic Nanaimo bars

Ingredients

Layer 1
1/2 cup (125 mL) butter, softened
1/4 cup (60 mL) sugar
1 egg
2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla extract
2 Tbsp (30 mL) cocoa powder
2 cups (500 mL) graham wafer crumbs
1 cup (250 mL) long-thread coconut
½ cup (125 mL) walnuts or pecans, chopped

Layer 2
1/4 cup (60 mL) butter, softened
3 Tbsp (45 mL) milk
2 cups (500 mL) icing sugar
2 Tbsp (30 mL) custard powder

Layer 3
5 oz (140 g) semi-sweet chocolate
1 Tbsp (15 mL) butter

Method

    Grease a 9-inch square baking pan.

    Bring a medium pot of water to a rolling boil. In a heat-safe bowl, 
    use an electric mixer to mix together butter, sugar, egg, vanilla 
    extract, and cocoa powder from Layer 1. Set bowl over boiling water, 
    creating a bain-marie, and stir until mixture thickens slightly.

    Remove bowl from stove and add graham wafer crumbs, coconut, and nuts. 
    Pour mixture into the prepared baking pan. Using a spatula, spread 
    mixture evenly to form base layer of the bars. Let stand at room 
    temperature for 15 minutes.
    In a separate bowl, combine ingredients in Layer 2 using a whisk or 
    stand-alone mixer until smooth. Pour into the pan and spread evenly 
    over the base layer.
     
    In a small heat-safe bowl, melt chocolate in bain-marie or on a low setting 
    in the microwave. Stir in butter until combined. Carefully spread over the
    custard layer.
     
    Refrigerate baking pan until chocolate has hardened. Slice into 20 bars.

Yield: 20 Nanaimo bars.