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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!
Prep Time
40 mins
Additional Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 40 mins
Servings: 40 bars
Calories: 150 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
Canadian
Ingredients
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
Instructions
Bottom layer
- 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.)
- 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.
Cup of Yum
Middle layer
- 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.
- Place the pan into your fridge for at least 20 minutes, or until the custard is firm.
Top layer
- 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.
- 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.)
- 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
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
% 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.