Recipe: No-bake Nanaimo bars

What's a Nanaimo bar, you ask? Legend has it they were dreamed up by a housewife named Mabel in Nanaimo, British Columbia 60 years ago. Her recipe made it into a cookbook that was sold in tourist shops, and the cookie's fame quickly spread across Canada. It was even dubbed "Canada's Favourite Confection" by readers of a national newspaper.

Bottom Layer

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 5 tablespoons cocoa
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 cup coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

Middle Layer

• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 3 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 cups confectioners sugar

Top Layer

• 4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
• 1 tablespoon butter

Directions

1. Place a mixing bowl in hot water and add butter, sugar and cocoa. Cream well and add vanilla and egg. Mix until smooth. Add graham cracker crumbs, coconut and nuts and mix well. Pack in greased 9-inch square pan.

2. Mix the middle layer ingredients and spread over the bottom layer.

3. For the top layer, melt chocolate, add butter and mix. Spread over the middle layer and refrigerate.

Cut into squares with a knife heated in hot water.

 This recipe was adapted by Jessica Webster and originally posted on AnnArbor.com on Dec. 15, 2010.