When I was little, my father was obsessed with Christmas baking. Since he’d grown up during the depression and WWII, he never had Christmas cookies. So when he became an adult with a family if his own, he became an avid baker, especially around the holidays. One of his favorite cookies was Nanaimo bars which he shortened to “nanimos”. This cookie, which dates back to the early 1950s, is named after the Canadian city of Nanaimo in British Columbia. It’s basically a no-bake cookie bar with three layers. A cookie crumb/chocolate layer, a custard icing layer, and a top layer of chocolate ganache. There are lots of recipes for this type of cookie, but my dad’s recipe is still my favorite.
This cookie also makes an appearance in my Christmas novella Eve’s Christmas Kiss which appears in Wanted: Mistletoe – A Hot Holiday Romance Collection.
Eve’s Christmas Kiss
To save his wife, he’ll have to let her go.
Kane Mosby, the former leader of an outlaw motorcycle club, is a sexy rebel with a cause. His unexpected return to Kingsmill, VA for his brother’s Christmas wedding has rocked the small town and caused a stir in the local MC. Except he doesn’t care about gossip and is counting the hours until he can leave. Until he discovers his estranged wife is involved with the man who betrayed Kane years ago, forcing him to abandon the woman he’s never forgotten.
Eve Crenshaw is a beautiful, brilliant accountant with a secret that could tear their tiny hometown apart. A secret with direct ties to her husband Kane. No one is more shocked than Eve when Kane appears at the wedding. But she’s even more distressed when she and Kane end up stranded together in a blizzard over Christmas and are forced to confront their past. A past that includes a failing marriage and a tragedy no parents should ever suffer.
It doesn’t take long for sparks to fly and buried emotions to take over in a passionate-yet-tender way that will change both of their lives–until Eve’s secret drives Kane away again. And this time he may disappear forever.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this wonderful layered bar dessert as much as Eve and Kane–and everyone else I’ve ever served it to!
Nanimos
Ingredients
Bottom Layer:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter diced into pieces
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 5 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 1 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup pecans finely chopped
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
Filling
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 Tablespoons whole milk
- 2 Tablespoons vanilla pudding mix dry powder
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
Top Layer
- 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate chopped
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
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Lightly grease an 8" x 9" glass baking dish. Set aside.
First Layer
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In the top of a double boiler over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the sugar, cocoa powder, and salt and whisk until well combined. Remove from heat and slowly whisk in the beaten egg, making sure not to cook it before it's blended. Stir in the graham cracker crumbs, chopped pecans, and shredded coconut Spread the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap and chill the bottom layer for at least 30 minutes.
Middle Layer
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In a medium bowl, and using a hand mixer, mix together the powdered sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, and pudding mix. Mix until fluffy, and you can add a bit more milk to thin it out, if needed.
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Once the bottom layer is chilled, spread this creamy filling over the bottom layer. Then cover and chill for another 30 minutes.
Top Layer
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In the top of a double boiler over medium heat, melt the butter and chocolate together. Spread the melted chocolate over the middle vanilla layer. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes.
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To serve, allow the cookies to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before cutting into bars. Store extra cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
