Cherry Almond Nanaimo Bars

Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 30
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup coconut
• 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons cherry juice
• 1 tablespoon almond extract
• 2 cups icing sugar, sifted
• 1/3 cup chopped maraschino cherry
• 1/2 semi-sweet chocolate baking square
• 1 tablespoon butter

Recipe

• 1 bottom layer: cook butter, sugar, cocoa, vanilla and beaten egg in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to thicken. remove from heat and stir in coconut, graham crumbs and almonds. pat firmly into 9 x 13 pan. chill for at least 1 hour.
• 2 filling: cream butter, cherry juice and almond extract. gradually beat in icing sugar to make a smooth spreading consistency. stir in cherries. spread over the first layer in the pan. chill until firm.
• 3 top layer: heat chocolate and butter, stirring constantly until smoothly melted. drizzle chocolate over filling. chill.