I have always loved Nanaimo Bars mainly because of the creamy frosting layer as chocolate isn’t high on my favourite’s list. I find as I get older though my thoughts on chocolate have been changing. Now I appreciate a good brownie or slice of decadent chocolate cake once in a while.  Perusing through one of my favourite cookbooks on a hot afternoon at the lake I came across Nanaimo Bars and realized that I had never made this classic. So the day’s goal was set.  That decision required a trip to town for ingredients as coconut and walnuts aren’t something I regularly use.  So after a trip to our local bulk store  I was ready.  The first recipe I had found called for adding the egg to the melted butter and sugar and no baking- this just didn’t sit with me so then the digging began.  I found most recipes didn’t require baking of the bottom base layer but some did.  So I took a little from each and came up with this decadent bar.

I also used milk chocolate for the top layer as again that is what I had on hand.  It makes getting a clean cut of the bars more difficult as the chocolate melts so easily when you use a hot knife to slice the cold bars.  But I think a little smudging of chocolate is worth the creaminess in that first bite.  These bars are rich so cut them small, then you also won’t feel as guilty when you eat 3 or 4.

Nanaimo Bars are a Canadian concoction that originated in Nanaimo, British Columbia back in the 1950’s. There are many variations out there like Peanut Butter Nanaimo bars, but sometimes the classic is just best.  Enjoy!