Cherry Nanaimo Bars

A great twist on the classic Canadian Nanaimo bar, these no-bake cherry Nanaimo bars have a maraschino cherry-flavored middle layer.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 118 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter
• ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• ½ cup shredded coconut
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter
• ¼ cup butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• ⅓ cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 ¾ cups graham cracker crumbs
• ⅓ cup finely chopped walnuts
• ⅓ cup chopped maraschino cherries, well drained

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat 1/2 cup butter, white sugar, and cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir just until butter melts, about 2 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in beaten egg. Return pan to stove; cook and stir until cocoa mixture thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat.

Step 2

Stir graham cracker crumbs, coconut, and walnuts into cocoa mixture. Press mixture firmly into an ungreased 9x9-inch baking pan.

Step 3

Beat 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, cherry juice, and almond extract in a bowl with an electric mixer until smooth; stir in cherries. Drop cherry mixture by spoonfuls over base layer, then spread evenly. Let cherry mixture layer stand until slightly firm, about 10 minutes. Using your hand, pat cherry mixture layer to smooth.

Step 4

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small saucepan over low heat; stir in chocolate chips. Cook and stir mixture until melted and smooth, about 3 minutes. Pour chocolate mixture over middle layer. Working quickly, smooth chocolate with the back of a spoon. Chill before cutting into bars, about 30 minutes.