Mom's Nanaimo Bars Recipe

User Reviews

4.7

210 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    40 mins

  • Additional Time

    1 hr

  • Total Time

    1 hr 40 mins

  • Servings

    40 bars

  • Calories

    150 kcal

  • Course

    Dessert

  • Cuisine

    Canadian

Mom's Nanaimo Bars Recipe

Nanaimo bars are a classic Canadian dessert. This is mom's recipe and it is a bit less sweet than most - which is a good thing! They are made with a graham crumb, coconut, and nut crust then topped with a layer of buttery custard and finished with chocolate. You'll love this no-bake dessert!

I Made This!

157 people made this

Save this

126 people saved this

Ingredients

Servings

Bottom Layer

  • ½ ½ cup butter
  • 5 5 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • ¼ ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1 large egg
  • 1 ¾ 1 ¾ cup Graham cracker crumbs gluten-free if needed
  • ¾ ¾ cup fine coconut
  • ¼ ¼ cup chopped walnuts

Middle Layer

  • 3 3 cups powdered sugar
  • ¾ ¾ cup butter softened
  • ¼ ¼ cup milk
  • ¼ ¼ cup Bird's vanilla custard powder

Top Layer

  • 8 8 ounces shaved dark chocolate or chocolate chips
  • 4 4 tablespoons butter
Add to Shopping List

Instructions

Bottom layer

  1. Lay a piece of parchment paper in a 9x11-inch pan, letting some hang over the sides. (This makes it easier to remove the Nanaimo bars.)
  2. Melt the butter in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Whisk in the cocoa powder and sugar. Remove the pot from the heat then add the egg and whisk until it has thickened, about 30 seconds. Stir in the Graham cracker crumbs, coconut, and walnuts. Press the crust firmly into the prepared pan.

Middle layer

  1. Add all the middle layer ingredients to a large bowl and cream them together using electric beaters. Pour the custard over the first layer and smooth the top.
  2. Place the pan into your fridge for at least 20 minutes, or until the custard is firm.

Top layer

  1. Add the chocolate and butter to a medium-sized pan over low heat and let both melt. Whisk to combine and then pour the chocolate over the custard. Smooth the top first with a spatula then by gently tapping the pan on your counter.
  2. Chill in your fridge for about 20 minutes, or until the chocolate is soft-set. Cut the Nanaimo bars into bars then place them back in your fridge until they are completely set. (Cutting the bars first prevents the chocolate from cracking.)
  3. Store the bars in a covered container in your fridge for a week or up to three months in your freezer. The bars can be eaten cold or at room temperature - they take about 10 minutes to warm once out of the fridge.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 1 bar Calories 150kcal (8%) Carbohydrates 16g (5%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 10g (15%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 2g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 24mg (8%) Sodium 91mg (4%) Potassium 33mg (1%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 13g (26%) Vitamin A 219IU (4%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 10mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 40bars

Amount Per Serving

Calories 150 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 bar
Calories 150kcal 8%
Carbohydrates 16g 5%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 10g 15%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 24mg 8%
Sodium 91mg 4%
Potassium 33mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 13g 26%
Vitamin A 219IU 4%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 10mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

4.7

210 reviews
Excellent

Write a Review

Drag & drop files here or click to upload
Other Recipes

You'll Also Love

Classic Nanaimo Bars Recipe

Canadian
5.0 (12 reviews)

Nanaimo Bars

Canadian
4.7 (45 reviews)

Nanaimo Bars

Canadian
5.0 (27 reviews)

Nanaimo Bars

Canadian
5.0 (15 reviews)

Nanaimo Bars

Canadian
0.0 (0 reviews)

Nanaimo Bars

Canadian
5.0 (36 reviews)

Nanaimo Bars (no bake dessert)

Canadian
5.0 (6 reviews)

Nanaimo Bars

Canadian
5.0 (6 reviews)

Nanaimo Bars

Canadian
5.0 (45 reviews)

Nanaimo Bars

Canadian
4.9 (114 reviews)

Homemade Kit Kat Bars (Copycat Recipe)

American, British, Canadian
5.0 (12 reviews)

Coffee Crisp Bars (Copycat Recipe)

Canadian
5.0 (21 reviews)

Get the Recipe: 7 Layer Bars

Canadian, gluten-free
5.0 (3 reviews)

Easy Rhubarb Crumble Bars

North American, American, Canadian
5.0 (12 reviews)

Spiced Millionaire's Shortbread Cookie Bars

European, Canadian
5.0 (9 reviews)