This is from Betsy's college days, given to her in 1974 by her UC Santa Barbara friend, Karen Hillery, from Karen's mother in Pasadena, CA. It has been a favorite for years. Betsy usually doubles the recipe and uses a 9"x13" pan.
Crust:
1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. cocoa (unsweetened)
1 t. vanilla
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 c. finely crushed graham crackers
1 c. flaked coconut
Filling:
1/2 c. butter
1/2 of a 3 3/4 oz. box of vanilla instant pudding
3 T. milk
2 c. sifted powdered sugar
Topping:
12 oz. (2 c.) chocolate chips
2 T. butter
(margarine can be used in place of all butter, but it may be saltier)
For crust:
Combine 1/2 c. butter, sugar and cocoa in top of a double boiler. When it's melted and cooled (cool till the egg won't cook when added) stir in the egg and vanilla.
Cook, stirring, (I use a wire whisk - it tends to separate otherwise) until thickened - about 3 minutes. If not cooked long enough the crust will taste raw.
Blend in crumbs and coconut.
Press into buttered or lined 9" square pan. You can use a bigger pan for thinner crust. The bigger the pan, the trickier it is to spread the next 2 layers.
Chill if desired. (I do)
For filling:
Cream 1/2 c. butter till fluffy. Stir in milk, pudding mix and powdered sugar, alternating milk with dry stuff several times or the milk may over-thin the mixture.
Beat till light and fluffy.
Spread over crust.
Chill until firm.
For topping:
Melt chocolate chips and 2 T. butter in double boiler.
Spread over top of chilled filling a little at a time (I do it from the edges inward).
Cut while chocolate is still warmish, not set rock hard.
Chill and eat!
Napoleon Cremes are actually quite a bit like Naniamo Bars, a Canadian treat.
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