The real Nanaimo bar base is NOT baked. The butter, sugar, cocoa and egg that you have listed are cooked together for 5 minutes in the top of a double boiler to thicken, then the add-ins are added. This makes a difference in the texture. Us Canucks can tell the difference. In the base, you CAN substitute anything you like for allergies--use gluten free crumbs, skip nuts, skip coconut, whatever. Use some crumbs--the base is too soft to hold up on its own. You can use liquid of choice (booze, coffee syrup, maple syrup, orange liqueur, maraschino cherry juice) in the middle layer too, if you can't do dairy. PS anybody notice how the base sorta resembles the biscuit cake that Prince William requested for his wedding? I did notice the biscuit cake resemblance, Irene - albeit sans coconut... Thanks for all the good info. here! PJH

• Reply