Cherry Almond Nanaimo Bars

Yield: 30 bars

Ingredients

Base

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup desiccated coconut
• 1 3/4 cups Graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds

Filling

• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon cherry juice
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/3 cup chopped maraschino cherries

Topping

• 2 ounces semisweet chocolate
• 1 tablespoon butter or vegetable shortening

Instructions

1. Grease a 9 inch square pan.

Base

1. Cook butter, sugar, cocoa, vanilla extract and egg in saucepan over low heat , stirring constantly until custard begins to thicken. Remove from heat and stir in coconut, crumbs and almonds. Pat firmly into prepared pan.
2. Chill for 1 hour.

Filling

1. Cream butter, cherry juice and extract. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar to a make a smooth spreading consistency. Stir in cherries. Spread over base and chill until firm.

Topping

1. Heat chocolate and butter or vegetable shortening, stirring until smoothly melted. Drizzle chocolate over filling. Chill.
2. Cut into bars.