Standard Nanaimo Bars

Ingredients:

Base:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
5 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
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Filling:
1/3 cup butter
3 Tbsp custard powder, Bird's brand (ask your grocer)
(or substitute vanilla jello pudding powder)
1/4 cup milk
3 cups icing sugar
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Topping:
8 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 Tbsp butter
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Base: melt butter in heavy saucepan. Stir in sugar and cocoa until smooth.
Whisk egg with vanilla and stir into butter mixture. Remove from heat.
Stir in crumbs, coconut and nuts. Press evenly over bottom of greased
9" square pan. Chill until set, at least 20 min.
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Filling: Beat butter with wooden spoon until light. Beat in custard powder and milk.
Gradually beat in sugar. Spread over chilled base and let set in fridge.
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Topping: Melt together chocolate and butter; stir until smooth.
Spread in even layer over chilled filling. Store in fridge until choc. topping
begins to harden. Score topping into bars. Cut before totally solid, use a hot knife,
wipe clean between cuts. Store in fridge or freeze for up to 2 months.
NOTE: These look wonderful on a try of goodies and people love them.
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VARIATION: Peanut Butter Filling
2 T Custard powder
1/4 c Milk
2 Tbsp Butter; softened
1/2 c Peanut butter, smooth
2 c Sugar icing sugar or confectioners -sifted
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VARIATION: Grand Marnier Filling
2 c Icing Sugar
1/4 c Butter; softened
1/4 c Grand Marnier or orange -liqueur
1 tb Orange rind; coarsely grated
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VARIATION: Cherry Filling
1/4 c Butter; softened
1 Tbsp. Cherry juice
2 c Icing sugar
1/3 c Maraschino cherries; chopped
drop or 2 of red food coloring
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VARIATION: Mint Filling
1/3 cup butter
3 Tbsp custard powder, Bird's brand
(or substitute jello pudding powder)
1/4 cup milk
3 cups icing sugar
1 tsp. peppermint flavoring
1 or 2 drops green food coloring as desired.
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VARIATION: Cappuccino Filling
2 Tbsp milk
3 Tbsp unsalted butter
2 tsp instant coffee or espresso powder
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups icing sugar (aka powdered or confectioners)
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VARIATION: Bailey's Irish Cream
1/3 cup butter
3 Tbsp custard powder, Bird's brand
(or substitute vanilla jello pudding powder)
1/4 cup Bailey's Irish Cream
2 - 3 cups icing sugar

Thanks to Lis!