Oh Canada! Classic Nanaimo Bar Recipe (2024)

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Nanaimo Bars are a Canadian classic! Decadent, sweet, creamy and delicious dessert bars from our neighbors to the north. I first discovered the Nanaimo Bar recipe from an Internet friend from Canada who clued me on as the perfect Christmas dessert (or anytime of the year!)

The Canadian Nanaimo Bar is a bar dessert with a graham cracker, coconut, chocolate crust topped with a layer of custard and then a layer of chocolate which equals yummy to me.

Oh Canada! Classic Nanaimo Bar Recipe (1)

How To Make Nanaimo Bars

Ingredients

6 oz. Semi-Sweet Chocolate (I used Tollhouse semi sweet chocolate chips)

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon butter, softened

1 egg

1 tsp.vanilla

2 cups graham crumbs

1 cup flaked coconut

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I used pecans)

2 tablespoons Bird’s Custard Powder (double if you love a custard layer)

3 tablespoons milk

2 cups confectioners sugar

This dessert is not difficult to make, but it does take time as there the layers must set in the refrigerator.

Oh Canada! Classic Nanaimo Bar Recipe (2)

Directions

  1. Oven temperature 350 degrees.
  2. Line a 9 inch square dish with parchment paper.
  3. In a microwave safe bowl melt 1/3 rd or 2 ounces of the chocolate with 1/2 cup of butter until the butter is melted. All microwaves differ especially when melting chocolate. I usually begin with 30 seconds and increase the intervals by 15 seconds until the chocolate and butter have melted.
  4. Add vanilla and eggs into the bowl. Mix.
  5. Add nuts, graham crackers and coconut. Gently mix.
  6. This will form the Nanaimo crust. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and gently press to form the bottom crust.
  7. Bake at 8 minutes.
  8. Cool.
  9. Now make the custard layer. (I double the custard powder and milk as I love a thick custard layer.)
  10. Add the milk and custard powder to the bowl and whisk.
  11. Add 1/4 cup of the softened butter and mix.
  12. Add the sugar gradually and beat until the mixture is smooth.
  13. Spoon on top of the cooled crust.
  14. Refrigerate 15-20 minutes.
  15. Now make the third layer.
  16. Microwave 4 ounces of chocolate and 1 tablespoon of butter until melted and smooth.
  17. Remove the Nanaimo crust from the refrigerator and spread on top.
  18. Refrigerate a few hours until the Nanaimo Bars have set.
  19. Cut into small servings as this is a very sweet dessert.

Canadian Nanaimo Bar Tips

Doubling the custard added a nice layer of custard in the bar. I highly recommend the pan is lined with parchment paper for ease of clean up and ease of cutting the bar once set. Next time I would also try decreasing the sugar as recommended by the reviewers.

The final verdict! The Nanaimo was worth the wait of waiting for the delivery of the custard powder. The bar is very rich so one bar does go along way. I loved the custard filling in the middle of the dessert bar and was glad I doubled the custard filling. The most difficulty I had was tracking down custard powder versus making the dessert bar.

After a little research I found recipes for mint Nanaimo Bars, Jello Nanaimo Bars, peanut butter Nanaimo bars which I will be interested in trying in the future. I am adding the Nanaimo Bar Recipe to my list of Christmas Cookie Bars.

Where To Find Bird’s Custard Powder

Oh Canada! Classic Nanaimo Bar Recipe (3)My first road block into gathering the ingredients for the Nanaimo Bar was finding custard powder. I love custard and the image of a custard layer in the Nanaimo image was enticing enough. I checked the specialty stores and struck out.

I read reports on the internet of Kroger and Cost Plus carrying custard powder and strike 2 and 3. I considered driving to Canada … which actually is not that far flung for those of us in border states and fairly common.

Slightly deterred, but still on the hunt for Bird’s Custard Powder I of course utilized our friend in a time of need (aka as Amazon Prime) and struck custard powder gold. Yeah!

I’m looking forward to using this new ingredient in my repertoire for more goodies!

Oh Canada! Classic Nanaimo Bar Recipe (4)

Print Pin

Nanaimo Bars

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Nanaimo Bars

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Setting time 2 hours hours

Total Time 3 hours hours

Author The Savvy Age

Ingredients

  • 6 oz. Semi-Sweet Chocolate I used Tollhouse semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon butter softened
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp.vanilla
  • 2 cups graham crumbs
  • 1 cup flaked coconut
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts I used pecans
  • 2 tablespoons Bird's Custard Powder double if you love a custard layer
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 2 cups confectioners sugar

Instructions

  • Oven temperature 350 degrees.

  • Line a 9 inch square dish with parchment paper.

  • In a microwave safe bowl melt 1/3 rd or 2 ounces of the chocolate with 1/2 cup of butter until the butter is melted. All microwaves differ especially when melting chocolate. I usually begin with 30 seconds and increase the intervals by 15 seconds until the chocolate and butter have melted.

  • Add vanilla and eggs into the bowl. Mix.

  • Add nuts, graham crackers and coconut. Gently mix.

  • This will form the Nanaimo crust. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and gently press to form the bottom crust.

  • Bake at 8 minutes.

  • Cool.

  • Now make the custard layer. (I double the custard powder and milk as I love a thick custard layer.)

  • Add the milk and custard powder to the bowl and whisk.

  • Add 1/4 cup of the softened butter and mix.

  • Add the sugar gradually and beat until the mixture is smooth.

  • Spoon on top of the cooled crust.

  • Refrigerate 15-20 minutes.

  • Now make the third layer.

  • Microwave 4 ounces of chocolate and 1 tablespoon of butter until melted and smooth.

  • Remove the Nanaimo crust from the refrigerator and spread on top.

  • Refrigerate a few hours until the Nanaimo Bars have set.

Notes

Cut into small servings as this is a very sweet dessert.

Oh Canada! Classic Nanaimo Bar Recipe (5)

Day One: Scrumptious Hello Dolly Bars

Day Two: Original Fantasy Fudge Recipe (not the imitation!)

Day Three: Top 3 Christmas Crack recipes

Day Four: Frozen Hot Chocolate

Day Five: Nanaimo Bars

Day Six:Christmas Puffcorn

Day Seven: DIY Christmas Vegetable Tree

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Comments

  1. Sandy KS says

    I have heard of thsi dessert but never tried them myself. It does sound yummy!!

    Reply

    • tab says

      It was yummy 🙂 – I can see why so many speak highly of this dessert.

      Reply

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Oh Canada! Classic Nanaimo Bar Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you get Nanaimo bars in the USA? ›

After that, the Nanaimo bar began to be sold on BC Ferries and spread in popularity across Canada. It can now be found in Costco, Starbucks and countless cafes in Canada and the United States. A variation known as “prayer bars” is also popular in the American Midwest.

What are some facts about the Nanaimo bars in Canada? ›

The Nanaimo bar (/nəˈnaɪmoʊ/ nə-NY-moh) is a bar dessert that requires no baking and is named after the Canadian city of Nanaimo in British Columbia. It consists of three layers: a wafer, nut (walnuts, almonds, or pecans), and coconut crumb base; custard icing in the middle; and a layer of chocolate ganache on top.

Do Nanaimo bars go bad? ›

In the Refrigerator: Nanaimo bars will keep in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Serve straight from the fridge. In the Freezer: You can also keep your Nanaimo bars in the freezer for 2-3 months in an airtight container.

Why are Nanaimo bars so good? ›

The trifecta of sugary deliciousness in the original Nanaimo bar is what gives it its unmistakable appearance and buttery-chocolate flavour explosion, but its eye-catching triple-layer design and no-bake assembly also make it an excellent springboard for tasty variations and original creations.

Can you ship Nanaimo Bars? ›

Butter Tarts, Nanaimo Bars, and Other Baked Goods

Sending Canadian baked classics will surely bring a smile to your recipient's face—just be sure to seal them in an airtight container and add parchment or wax paper at the bottom and/or in between layers.

How do I get Nanaimo? ›

Ferry. Two ferry terminals service Nanaimo from the Vancouver area. Depart Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver and arrive 1 hour 40 min later to Nanaimo's Departure Bay. Depart Tsawwassen and arrive in Duke Point, 15 minutes south of Nanaimo just 2 hours later.

What is the old name for Nanaimo? ›

Founded as Colvilletown around a Hudson's Bay Company trading post, it developed after 1849 when coalfields were discovered nearby by local Indigenous people. In 1860 the settlement was renamed Sne-ny-mo (whence Nanaimo) from an Indigenous word meaning “a big, strong tribe,” which was applied to a tribal confederation.

What are Nanaimo people called? ›

The Indigenous peoples of the area that is now known as Nanaimo are the Snuneymuxw. An anglicised spelling and pronunciation of that word gave the city its current name. The first Europeans known to reach Nanaimo Harbour were members of the 1791 Spanish voyage of Juan Carrasco, under the command of Francisco de Eliza.

What is the meaning of Nanaimo? ›

Nanaimo is the corruption of the name they gave the area, meaning "gathering place." During 1792 the Spanish explorer Alejandro Malaspina dispatched the gallettes SUTIL AND MEXICANA, under the command of Alcalá-Galiano and Cayetano Valdés, to explore the Strait of Georgia.

What is a custard powder substitute? ›

Instead we would suggest replacing the custard powder with a combination of cornflour (cornstarch) and vanilla. For the sponge batter replace the 3 tablespoons of custard powder with 3 tablespoons of cornflour and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

What do Nanaimo bars taste like? ›

These classic Nanaimo bars are one of Canada's most popular desserts. They have a fudgy chocolate and coconut cookie base, a creamy custard buttercream filling, and a smooth chocolate ganache on top. Every bite is like a taste of heaven that will keep you coming back for more!

Can you eat a year old chocolate bar? ›

Dark chocolate, with its higher cacao content, can be good to eat for as long as three years past the best before. Due to their high milk contents, milk and white chocolates might not last as long as dark, but their longevity is still nothing to sniff at — you can expect to get another 8 months or so out of it.

What are Nanaimo bars called in the USA? ›

The Legendary Nanaimo Bar. This creamy, chocolatey treat's origin is elusive, shrouded in mystery, and claimed by many as their own. Of course, we know that Nanaimo Bars originated in Nanaimo, or they would be called New York Bars, or New Brunswick Bars.

What is a fun fact about Nanaimo bar? ›

The Nanaimo bar is a bar dessert that requires no baking and is named after the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia. It consists of three layers: a wafer, nut (walnuts, almonds, or pecans), and coconut crumb base; custard icing in the middle; and a layer of chocolate ganache on top.

What are the other names for Nanaimo bars? ›

Other names for Nanaimo Bars include but are not limited to New York Slice, New York Special, Mississauga Bars, Edmonton Esks, Georgia Street Slices, Georgia Strait Smog Squares, London Fog Bars and London Smog Bars — coincidentally the London Fog (a hot drink consisting of steamed milk, vanilla syrup and Earl Grey Tea ...

Can you get aero bars in the US? ›

The Aero bar was made available for a short time in the United States by Nestlé during the 1980s, though it seems not to have been a commercial success. However, they are still available at certain speciality vendors or supermarkets such as Big Y, Wegmans and Publix that import the bars.

What state is Nanaimo in? ›

Nanaimo, city, southwestern British Columbia, Canada, on Vancouver Island and the Georgia Strait.

How expensive is Nanaimo? ›

Summary of cost of living in Nanaimo, BC, Canada: A family of four estimated monthly costs are 3,563.0$ (4,861.6C$) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 989.0$ (1,349.4C$) without rent. Nanaimo is 38.3% less expensive than New York (without rent).

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