This is the quickest Nanaimo Bar recipe I have ever made! These squares are made in the microwave! In fact, I don’t make any other recipe anymore!! Not for many years… I love this one
The recipe is from 1989…when I thought that using my microwave to cook & bake was great! I hardly ever use it for that now!
Anyway…the cookbook this recipe is in is called MICRO WAYS by NORENE GILLETZ.. if you have the book the recipe is on page 351
There are the 3 layers to make… and then the bars are chilled
Easy & delish!
Here is the recipe… with permission from Norene Gilletz, I have not changed it except that recipe calls for nuts in the base layer & I did not put nuts in, so I have left them out of this recipe
Ingredients
Layer 1
1/2 cup butter
1.4 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup graham wafer crumbs
1 cup flaked coconut
Layer 2
6 tbsp soft butter
3 tbsp vanilla pudding powder, I used the instant vanilla pudding
5 tbsp milk
3 cup icing sugar
Glaze Layer
4 squares send-sweet chocolate
2 tbsp butter
Method
You will need a 7 x 11 inch pan
Grease the pan, I used cooking spray
Base Layer
- Use a large microwave safe bowl
- Put the butter in the bowl and microwave uncovered on high until it is melted, about 1 minute
- Add the sugar, cocoa, egg & vanilla & blend well
- Microwave this for 1 minute, uncovered, stir after 30 seconds
- Add the crumbs & coconut. Mix well
- Press this mixture evenly into the prepared pan, set aside
Custard Layer
- You can mix this layer in a food processor, makes it very easy
- Mix the butter, vanilla pudding powder, milk & icing sugar together until smooth
- Spread this evenly over the bottom layer
- Be careful not to pull the bottom layer into this layer, I used an off-set spatula to spread this but a butter knife will work well
Chill these 2 layers in the refrigerator while you make the glaze.
Glaze Layer
- Microwave the chocolate & butter together in a microwave safe bowl, until the chocolate if melted… uncovered for about 1 1/2 minutes
- Mix well
- Let the glaze cool for 10 minutes
Pour the glaze over the chilled layers… tilt the pan around back & forth so that the glaze spreads out evenly over the custard layer
Chill until firm
Cut into squares
Enjoy!!!













These bars look so delicious & tempting!