Poppy Seed Squares

Name: Poppy Seed Squares
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 42 squares
Ingredients: 3 eggs, separated; 3/4 cup sugar; 1/2 cup oil; 1/2 cup milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 1 cup flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 cup poppy seed, plus 3 tablespoons poppy seeds; 1/4 cup chopped walnuts; 1/4 cup chopped glaces cherries; walnuts or cherries can be gently folded into the batter after adding the beaten egg white; 6 tablespoons butter; 3 tablespoons vanilla custard powder; 3 tablespoons milk; 3 cups sifted icing sugar; 1 teaspoon almond extract; 4 semi-sweet chocolate baking squares; 1/4 cup butter

Submitted by Dotty2

"This is a poppy seed square with a twist. A cake like base with the topping of a nanaimo bar. This square is totally addictive,but not as sweet as a nanaimo bar. It will become a regular on your dainty tray. I have been making this for years and it is our favorite. Get it into the freezer quick or you will pick at it until it all gone."

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photo by Starry

Ready In:: 1hr 5mins
Ingredients:: 18
Yields:: 42 squares

ingredients

Cake
3 eggs, separated
³⁄₄ cup sugar
¹⁄₂ cup oil
¹⁄₂ cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
¹⁄₂ teaspoon baking powder
¹⁄₂ cup poppy seed, plus 3 tablespoons poppy seeds
OPTIONAL
¹⁄₄ cup chopped walnuts
¹⁄₄ cup chopped glaces cherries
walnuts or cherries can be gently folded into the batter after adding the beaten egg white
Filling
6 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons vanilla custard powder
3 tablespoons milk
3 cups sifted icing sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
Glaze
4 semi-sweet chocolate baking squares
¹⁄₄ cup butter

directions

Beat egg whites until stiff and set aside.
Beat egg yolks and sugar.
Add oil, milk and vanilla.
Mix.
Add dry ingredients.
Mix.
Fold in beaten egg whites.
If adding the cherries or nuts they can be folded in now.
Pour into greased and floured 9x13 cake pan.
Bake at 325F 35-40 minutes ( until tester comes out clean).
cool.
Filling:
cream butter.
Combine milk with custard powder and add to butter.
Mix in icing sugar. ( add a bit more milk if you need to).
Spread over cooled base.
Let set in fridge for about 30 minutes then add glaze.
Glaze:
Melt chocolate and butter ( I usually do this step in the microwave) and spread over filling.
Refridgerate, then cut into squares.
This Square can be frozen.
Prep time is approximate.
Enjoy.

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Reviews

Made this for my Christmas dainty trays. It was a hit. Only baked base for 35 mins. Omited the opts. and didn't add the 3 extra tbsps. of poppy seeds. Will be going on my dainty tray next year.

jorgydee
I did add finely chopped glace cherries into my cake base as I had them on hand from another recipe, left our any nuts. Only made half the quantity of the chocolate glaze for the top, everything turned out great. It was an easy recipe to make and I will be making these at Christmas again for sure.

andypandy
This recipe is great. The cake part is moist and tasty, and of course the filling & chocolate glaze is delectible! A fantastic choice as an alternate to traditional nanaimo squares (and for those of us who do not like coconut). Presents nicely, and is not overly finnicky to make. I didn't use the nuts or cherries the first time, but it was a hit ! Will make again for sure, and might just experiment with the nuts! Thanks for the recipe, Dotty2 !

Starry
OMG, everyone make these bars, your right Dotty, these are very habit-forming, the cake base is wonderful and the filling is similar to Nanaimo bars, I thought that I had custard powder on hand, I usually do to make Naniamo bars, but I did not have any so I subbed dry vanilla pudding mix, and that worked fine. Wasn't quite certain where to add in the cherries and nuts, so I just omitted them, just as well as I think that the bars would have been way to rich with the cherries added. My sweet-tooth DS loved these bars. Thanks Dotty for a wonderful recipe!...Kitten:)

Kittencalrecipezazz
Wow. This is absolutely irresistible, a fantastic new to me recipe to add to my holiday collection. So rich and wonderful but so worth the splurge. The poppy seed base is incredibly good, along with the nanaimo like topping it makes for a great dainty to have on the holiday tray. I know I best have printouts handy when my guests taste this one! Thank you Dotty for another of your winners.

Gerry

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Dotty2

Canada

I have just recently retired. I worked in the banking industry for 25 yrs. My husband and I own a cottage and have spent most of this last summer at the lake. We go there in the winter as well. I love to cook and I collect recipes. <img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/jewelies/Pohutukawa-2-1.jpg"> <img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/jewelies/pick0GuXD-1.jpg"> <img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/jewelies/picNW72Oj-1.jpg"> <img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/jewelies/picx2XGjA-1.jpg"> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3316/3345270671_dd30334798.jpg"> <img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/jewelies/picx2XGjA-1.jpg">

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