Nanaimo Bars

User Reviews

5.0

45 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    10 mins

  • Cook Time

    10 mins

  • Total Time

    25 mins

  • Servings

    16 bars

  • Calories

    347 kcal

  • Course

    Dessert

  • Cuisine

    Canadian

Nanaimo Bars

How to make classic Nanaimo bars! These famous Canadian dessert bars have a chocolate coconut base, a custard filling, and chocolate topping!

I Made This!

Be the first!

Save this

Be the first!

Ingredients

Servings

Bottom Layer

  • ½ cup salted butter
  • cup Sifted cocoa
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg beaten (this can be omitted)
  • 1 ¾ cups Graham cracker crumbs
  • ¾ cup shredded coconut sweetened
  • ½ cup finely chopped walnuts

Middle Layer

  • 2 cups icing sugar (powdered sugar)
  • ½ cup salted butter room temperature
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 3 tablespoons custard powder

Top Layer

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
Add to Shopping List

Instructions

  1. Line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper, leaving some parchment paper hanging over the edge for handles.
  2. In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter, sugar, and cocoa together until it's smooth. Heat until the mixture is steaming hot.
  3. Temper the egg by adding a large tablespoon of the hot butter mixture into the beaten egg, whisking rapidly. Once you have whisked it in completely, pour the beaten egg into the hot butter and cocoa mixture, whisking rapidly to ensure that there are no lumps. This will cook the egg in the hot mixture.
  4. Mix in the graham crumbs, coconut, and walnuts. Firmly press into the bottom of the prepared 9x9 pan. Chill in the refrigerator while you get the middle layer ready.
  5. Get your middle ingredients together.
  6. Cream the icing, butter, cream, and custard powder together with a hand mixer, then spread onto the bottom layer.
  7. Melt the cup of chocolate chips and 2 tbsp of butter together in a microwave-safe glass measuring cup, heating on high power in 20-second increments, making sure to stir after heating each time.
  8. Once the chocolate is smooth, spread the chocolate on top of the middle layer evenly, then cool in the fridge for a few hours. The middle layer will set and the top layer will harden.
  9. Remove the slab of bars from the pan once chilled by lifting the parchment paper. Slice the bars on the paper and serve.
  10. Keep the bars refrigerated in a closed container for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

  • This is a very old-fashioned recipe and has a raw egg in the base. For food safety reasons you can temper the egg in step three, and then make sure to cook it in the hot butter and cocoa mixture. 
  • Try dark, semi-sweet or milk chocolate for the topping!
  • If you want to cut the sweetness, you can use unsweetened coconut in the bottom layer.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 347kcal (17%) Carbohydrates 36g (12%) Protein 3g (6%) Fat 22g (34%) Saturated Fat 12g (60%) Cholesterol 51mg (17%) Sodium 194mg (8%) Potassium 98mg (3%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 27g (54%) Vitamin A 445IU (9%) Vitamin C 0.2mg (0%) Calcium 40mg (4%) Iron 1.1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 16bars

Amount Per Serving

Calories 347 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 347kcal 17%
Carbohydrates 36g 12%
Protein 3g 6%
Fat 22g 34%
Saturated Fat 12g 60%
Cholesterol 51mg 17%
Sodium 194mg 8%
Potassium 98mg 2%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 27g 54%
Vitamin A 445IU 9%
Vitamin C 0.2mg 0%
Calcium 40mg 4%
Iron 1.1mg 6%

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

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0

45 reviews
Excellent

Write a Review

Drag & drop files here or click to upload
Other Recipes

You'll Also Love

Mom's Nanaimo Bars Recipe

Canadian
4.7 (210 reviews)

Nanaimo Bars

Canadian
4.7 (45 reviews)

Nanaimo Bars

Canadian
5.0 (27 reviews)

Classic Nanaimo Bars Recipe

Canadian
5.0 (12 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
4.9 (114 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)

My Favorite Apple Pie Bars

North American, American, Canadian
5.0 (3 reviews)

Homemade Bounty Bars

American, Canadian
4.6 (189 reviews)

Homemade Kit Kat Bars (Copycat Recipe)

American, British, Canadian
5.0 (12 reviews)