Triple Layer Nutella Bars

We are travelling to Nanaimo, British Columbia this summer so I wanted to make some Nanaimo bars. I have made a couple of different Nanaimo bars, with different flavors in the filling. It being so hot this summer, Nanaimo bars are perfect as they are no bake cookies. I was searching online and found this recipe, which were originally called Nutella Nanaimo Bars.

These cookies take a lot of liberty with the classic Nanaimo bar recipe, so much so that I didn’t want to call them Nanaimo bars. You have to bake the bottom crust, and it’s a chocolate crust rather than a graham/coconut crust. A traditional Nanaimo bar has a custard powder-based filling. I have made other variations that didn’t use custard powder, so I guess that isn’t so terrible. I feel more comfortable calling these Triple Layer Nutella Bars.

I made these over the course of a couple of days. When my house is so hot, it’s hard to do much of anything so one step a day was sufficient. I did have a problem with the base, as the original recipe called for ½ cup butter, which was way too much. I had to keep dabbing away pools of melted butter as the base baked. I changed the recipe to read ¼ cup, which is the amount I think would work best. Despite that struggle, these bars are fantastic! I love the Nutella filling, and the chocolate base is very tasty. These won’t last long!

Triple Layer Nutella Bars

2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 cup shredded coconut

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 tablespoons butter, room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup Nutella

1 tablespoon milk or cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

2 tablespoons shortening

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 or 9-inch pan with foil.

In a large bowl, combine the cookie crumbs, sugar, cocoa powder, and coconut. Add the butter, egg and vanilla and stir with a spatula to combine. The mixture will be crumbly. Press into the base of the prepared pan.

Bake for 15 minutes, until set. Cool on a wire rack while you make the filling. 

In a large mixer bowl, beat the butter and powdered sugar on medium until light. Add the Nutella, milk and vanilla and stir on low until smooth. Spread over the partially cooled crust. Refrigerate until cold.

Combine the chocolate chips and shortening in a small bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth. Drizzle the chocolate on the chilled bars and smooth the chocolate so that it evenly covers the bars. Chill until set.

Lift the bars from the pan and peel away the foil. Cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator.

Recipe from Sweet Twist of Blogging