According to local folklore about 35 years ago, a Nanaimo housewife entered her recipe for chocolate squares in a magazine contest. She chose to dub the entry after her home town "Nanaimo Bars". Her recipe won a prize, thereby publishing Nanaimo as much as her cooking. The official Nanaimo Bar recipe was available as a handout as well as on quality tea towel and apron souvenirs.
In 1986, Nanaimo Mayor Graeme Roberts, together with Harbour Park Mall, held a contest to find the ultimate Nanaimo Bar Recipe. During the four-week long contest, almost 100 different variations of the famous Nanaimo desert were submitted. The winner was Joyce Hardcastle.
(from http://www.mojographix.com/nanaimo_bar_recipes.htm)
½ cup unsalted butter (European style cultured)
¼ cup sugar
5 tbsp. cocoa
1 egg beaten
1 ¼ cups graham wafer crumbs
½ c. finely chapped almonds
1 cup coconut
Melt first 3 ingredients in top of double boiler. Add egg and stir to cook and thicken. Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, coconut, and nuts. Press firmly into an ungreased 8" x 8" pan.
½ cup unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. and 2 Tsp. cream
2 Tbsp. vanilla custard powder
2 cups icing sugar
Cream butter, cream, custard powder, and icing sugar together well. Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.
4 squares semi-sweet chocolate (1 oz. each)
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
Melt chocolate and butter over low heat. Cool. Once cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator.
Estimated calories per Nanaimo Bar = 143