In celebration of surviving our elementary school Christmas concert (why is it that it feels like my students' performance at the Christmas concert is as a direct reflection of my teaching ability or lack there of?), baking two hundred cookies with 23 seven year olds (I probably wouldn't eat them, I'm not going to lie), and a workout that made muscles that I didn't know I had SCREAM (sorry PB you may have to pull me in a sleigh tomorrow) I thought that it was time for Nanaimo bars or macaroons or maybe both.
* When did it become okay in my mind to wear spandex in public in a small space with strangers?
BASE
ingredients
* 1/4 C date paste
3 Tbsp ground cocoa nibs (you can find the nibs at the Bulk Barn)
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
1/2 C unsweetened coconut
3/4 C rolled oats
1/4 C chopped walnuts
2 Tbsp melted coconut oil
* You can make date paste by soaking 1 cup dried dates in water for an hour or so, save 3 Tbsp of the water that they were soaking in and microwave them with reserved date water for 1-2 minutes and then blend into a smooth paste.
Add cocoa, vanilla bean paste and melted coconut oil to date paste.
Add coconut, walnuts and rolled oats.
Divide and press into 6 silicone muffin cups. Place in the freezer until you are finished with the middle layer.
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| Not Your Mother's Macaroons + ground cocoa nibs + walnuts |
FILLING
ingredients
Cream 2 TBSP Earth Balance (or butter
1 TBSP brewed coffee
1.5 Tsp instant coffee
1 Tbsp vanilla Custard Pudding Powder (I used Birds)
1 Cups Icing Sugar, sifted
* it's very possible that you will have filling left over. I won't judge if you decide to eat it straight from the bowl.
Cream earth balance, then add brewed coffee, instant coffee and pudding powder. Mix well ensuring that the instant coffee has dissolved. Mix n the sifted icing sugar. Spread over the base layer. Freeze for 5-10 minutes.
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| is it wrong to eat just the filling? |
TOP LAYER
ingredients
1.5 ounces of dark chocolate
1 1/2 tsp earth balance (or butter)
* double if you prefer a thicker chocolate topping.
Melt the chocolate squares and butter together in a bowl.
You can do this in the microwave, 20 seconds ... stir...20 seconds stir....etc. Alternatively, place the smaller bowl of chocolate and earth balance into a larger bowl with just boiled water.
Pour and spread evenly over the top of the other layers. Freeze.
Personally I like to eat these directly out of the freezer. They are fairly large so you may want to cut them in half and share with a friend (or not).
If you are looking for a traditional Nanaimo square you can use the following for the base:
1/2 C butter
5 Tbsp cocoa
1 C coconut
1/2 C chopped walnuts
5 Tbsp sugar
2 C graham cracker crumbs
1 egg (or flax egg)
1/2 tsp vanilla
Press into a 9" square pan.
Double the filling recipe.
Double the chocolate topping.
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| the help was less than helpful but he's cute. |
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