Cherry almond Nanaimo bars

We’ll be featuring recipes from the 2013 Cityline Holiday Cookie Swap all month long! Today, we feature Cherry almond nanaimo bars.

We’ll be featuring recipes from the 2013 Cityline Holiday Cookie Swap all month long! Don’t forget to download this year’s cookie book — it has 31 delectable viewer-submitted recipes for you to try!

Cherry almond Nanaimo bars

Bottom layer ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup (125ml) butter
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup (50ml) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (250ml) desiccated coconut
  • 1/3 cup (75ml) cocoa
  • 1 3/4 cups (425ml) graham wafer crumbs
  • 1 tsp. (5ml) vanilla
  • 1/2 cup (125ml) chopped almonds

Filling ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup (50ml) butter, softened
  • 2 cups (500) sifted icing sugar
  • 2 tbsp (25ml) cherry juice
  • 1/3 cup (75ml) chopped maraschino cherries
  • 1 tsp (5ml) almond extract

Top layer ingredients:

  • 2 squares semi-sweet chocolate
  • 1 tbsp(15ml) butter

Method:

Bottom layer: Cook butter, sugar, cocoa, vanilla and beaten egg in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to thicken. Remove from heat and stir in coconut, graham wafer crumbs, and almonds. Pat firmly into a greased 9″ (2.5 L) square cake pan. Chill for at least 1 hour.

Filling: Cream butter, cherry juice and almond extract. Gradually beat in icing sugar to make a smooth spreading consistency. Stir in cherries. Spread over first layer in pan. Chill until firm.

Top layer: Heat chocolate and butter, stirring until smoothly melted. Drizzle chocolate over filling. Chill.

Submitted by Ruth C.
Medicine Hat, AB