Squares Of Delight Drifted With Cocoa
It’s a two year blog anniverssary for Belleau Kitchen. Congratulations to Dom and with pleasure, I’ve baked him a cake as part of Random Recipes
I’d hoped my random pick of cook book and pages would result in some fabulous and suitably over the top confection. Beautifully iced or decorated with jazzle Scotty dogs (I really wanted to try those).
Jazzle Scotty Dog Cake
However it wasn’t to be. I landed on page 54 of The Boy Who Bakes by Edd Kimber (winner of The Great British Bake Off) and Nanaimo Bars, ‘…a quintessentially Canadian Recipe, hailing from the small town of Nanaimo.’ Bet you’re none the wiser. This is a wonderful cake hiding behind a very non showy exterior.
I’m sorry Dom, I didn’t even ‘bake’ you a cake as this one is a three layered refrigerator cake. But with it’s base layer of nuts, butter, cocoa, coconut and digestives. And two further layers of rich buttercream and ganache, it’s a cube of wonderful chocolatey, chewy, vanilla delight. You only need the smallest square, so it lasts a while too. Here’s to plenty more blogging years to come….nom….nom.
Nanaimo Bars
Celebrate With Cake
- 300g crushed digestive biscuits
- 170g unsalted butter
- 75g caster sugar
- 45g good quality cocoa
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla paste
- 100g desiccated coconut
- 75g pecan nuts
For the centre
- 85g unsalted butter
- 345g icing sugar
- 3 tablespoons custard powder
- 100ml double cream
For the topping
- 225g good quality dark chocolate
- 200ml double cream
- 40g softened unsalted butter
Method
For the base
- Line a brownie tray with foil
- Melt the butter in a large pan over a moderate heat
- Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the cocoa powder and sugar, the heat from the butter will make the mixture start to thicken
- Replace on the heat until the mixture is thick
- Stir in the vanilla paste, biscuits, pecans and coconut
- Press the mixture firmly into the base of the brownie tin
- Refrigerate for about 1 hour
For the middle layer
- Beat the softened butter until pale and fluffy
- Add the icing sugar slowly, beating into the butter, add a little of the measured cream if the mixture needs liquid to combine
- Once smooth add the remaining cream and custard powder
- Beat on high speed until very light and easily spreadable
- Spread over the base and refrigerate for about 30 minutes
For the top layer
- Break the chocolate into small pieces set aside
- Bring the cream to the boil and pour over the chocolate to melt it
- Leave to stand for for a minute or two, not longer
- Stir until smooth, add the butter and stir until completely melted
- Pour over the custard buttercream layer and refrigerate for a further 30 minutes
- Sprinkle with cocoa if desired
- Cut into small squares and enjoy
Stack Of Wonderful Chocolate Deliciousness
These look wonderful! A Stack of Wonderful Chocolate Deliciousness–truly it is.
Really chocolatey and can be eaten in tiny squares, to make you feel less guilty. GG
I have actually eaten Nanaimo bars! I had a Canadian workmate who generously decided to educate us one morning and bought in a batch (Hi Jim!). They were rich and delicious.
Congrats to Dom.
Reeally good and as I’ve said plenty to share. A great recipe for friends. GG
How good does this look though. Love the stacking.
Thank you. Makes enough to share with everyone. GG
STUNNING!… they look so incredible and I will eat them with glee (once they arrive….?) I love Edd’s book, it’s great isn’t it? Thank you so much for joining i the celebrations… love the photo’s too, they’re beautiful. x
Thanks for your comment. I love Random Recipe it’s a fun challenge as you never know what you’ll be making. I hadn’t made much from the Edd Kimber’s book, it’s made me take a second look. GG
Absolutely delicious-looking cake. Who needs to bake? I’m just imagining eating far more of these than is good for me.
Unfortunately one is more than is good for anybody! They have all been eaten though. GG
Nanaimo bars are so delicious (and sweet too!). You got such perfect layers on yours!
I wish I’d discovered them sooner GG
YUM
I could really do with one now! I have been SO stressed out lately ~ So sweet hehe Thanks for sharing!
I’m sorry you’ve been stressed, but cake can cure lots of things. GG
What beautiful looking chocolate bars. They look very indulgent and sweet! The cake with the little dogs is so cute! xx
I love the cake with the little dogs, but the bars taste really good. GG
They look gorgeous! And so perfectly layered and neat… I have already heard somewhere about Nanaimo bars and remember I loved the idea. Thanks for reminding me about them.
I’d never heard of them so it was a great find for me. GG
Dear GG,
I think that Scotty Dog takes the cake for cuteness!
I’m with you, I love the Scotties. GG
I love the look of these…the 3 different layers are quite eyecatching. I haven’t made anything out of my Edd Kimber book yet but I really must get on to it! And would you believe I have actually been to Nanaimo!!!!
I’ve now met several people who’ve been to Nanaimo and I’d never heard of the place until I made these. Edd Kimber’s book is great, have a play with it. GG
P.S where are the jazzie spotty dogs from???
I’ll email you with the Scotty Dog info. GG
Wow! What a stunning layered cake!! I’m from Vancouver, BC, and Nanaimo bars are super popular here since Nanaimo’s a city in BC! haha.. I love that you made the base with pecans too! yummyyyy
Thank you. I’m really pleased I discovered these. GG
These look absolutely killer decadent! That creamy custard center with all that chocolate … a match made in heaven! And … I just want to know how you got them cut sooooo perfectly! That is always my downfall … I smush things up trying to get the perfect slice! Damnit!
Thank you. As to cutting the squares, I dipped the knife in very hot water and then dried it, before cutting the cake. Hope that helps. GG
oooh this looks amazing!! I have the recipe bookmarked in my book but have not gotten round to it yet. I can imagine it’s addictive and one small slice may not be enough
ps did you make the scottie dog cake too – I love it 
Do get round to making them, they are so worth it. I didn’t make the scotty dog cake, just photographed it. That is one I’ve got bookmarked, it’s very cute isn’t it? GG
These look very easy and yummy to make
I think I’m gonna give these a go soon because I have all the recipes at home hehe thanks for sharing!
Do have a go. Let me know how they come out. GG