Nutella Nanaimo Bars

Superbowl and National Nutella Day all in one day.     This might be the biggest day of indulgence yet!

I am going out to a bar for the Superbowl.  Do I care who wins, not really.  I like football, but I don't watch it often.   I just randomly follow my team and pay attention if they do well.   Since my team is not in the Superbowl, it is just a fun evening out.   Today also happens to be the day before my Sister's birthday so it's a chance to spend the evening with her and some friends and family.

I was trying to think of a recipe I would make with Nutella, that at least I haven't seen before.    I have been flipping through my cookbooks for some random ideas of what could be spun to use Nutella. I was eyeing a peanut butter Nanaimo recipe for the last few months and thought how about Nutella instead of peanut butter?  Let's just see...

Nutella Nanaimo Bars
(Adapted from Anna Olson- Back to Baking)

INGREDIENTS:


Base

• 2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder, sifted
• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Filling

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup icing sugar, sifted
• 1/2 cup Nutella
• 1 tbsp heavy cream
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Topping

• 5 oz dark chocolate (72%)
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 8 inch square pan with parchment and spray with non-stick spray. 

2) Make the base : In a large bowl combine cookie crumbs, sugar, cocoa and coconut and mix together. 

3) Stir in the melted butter, egg and vanilla, mix all together until damp. 

4)  Press the crumbs flat into the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes.    Let cool while preparing the filling.

5) Make the filling :  In a medium bowl , add butter and icing sugar and beat together to form a thick paste.  Add the Nutella, cream and vanilla and beat until smooth.    

6) Using an offset spatula spread the filling on to the crust.  Cover with plastic wrap, directly on the filling pressing flat and let chill until firm.  

7) When firm make the topping.   Melt chocolate and butter over a double boiler.   When completely melted let cool slightly and spread over the filling layer.    Chill again to completely set.   Slice in to bars and store in the refrigerator. 

Dreamy.    Next time I might add some finely chopped hazelnuts to the base and increase the Nutella layer to be a bit thicker, just to kick up the Nutella a bit more. 

P.S - How are Nutella and Nanaimo not considered words spelled correctly?

MEG's RATING : D-EEEE-LICIOUS

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