Chocolate Orange Nanaimo Bars

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Chocolate Orange Nanaimo Bars

Okay, so maybe I'm a sucker for anything chocolate orange but I don't know why I didn't think of this idea before...shocked actually! I'm thinking it's because I don't make Nanaimo Bars very often; and I don't make them very often because they are one treat I cannot resist. With many of the treats I make, I am content to sample one or two and pass the rest on to family and friends but Nanaimo bars would never make it out of the house. They are the best thing to ever come out of that beautiful British Columbia town.

I've sampled many different versions of this classic Canadian favorite sweet, including mint, mocha, Irish cream, even peanut butter but I have never seen a chocolate orange version. When Spouse and I were talking about which cookie recipes we could add to our growing on-line collection, she mentioned that I hadn't included Nanaimo bars. As always, my mind goes to, "How can I put a little twist on that?" and almost immediately the chocolate orange idea came straight to mind. With just a little orange juice concentrate and the finely minced zest of a single orange, these amazing no-bake bars are transformed into something new and spectacular. You MUST try these...and no, none of these left the house; we all fought over the last crumbs.

Base Layer

Melt together over low heat

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 5 tbsp cocoa

Add 

• one beaten egg

continue to cook, stirring constantly to fully cook the egg to a soft scrambled texture. Add

• 
  
• 1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 3/4 cup fine or medium unsweetened coconut
• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts 

Mix together until well combined then, press into the bottom of a parchment paper lined 9x9 inch baking pan.

Orange Frosting Filling

With an electric mixer, beat together until smooth

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tbsp frozen orange juice concentrate
• zest of one small orange, finely minced
• 2 cups icing sugar (i.e., powdered sugar or confectioners sugar)

This frosting should be very stiff but spreadable. If you think it's too thick, you may add a few drops of milk at a time to bring it to the right consistency. Spread evenly over the bottom layer. Chill in the fridge for a couple of hours before adding the chocolate topping.

Chocolate Topping

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp butter

Melt together over low heat, just until the chocolate is melted, don't over heat it.

Spread quickly over the chilled frosted layer. Return to the fridge until the chocolate sets. Cut into squares or bars. These freeze very well.