Nanaimo Bars

Nanaimo bars have three layers of decadent chocolate, creamy custard filling, and a coconut graham crust with walnuts. They’re rich, smooth, and a truly irresistible treat!

Why this recipe works

Nanaimo bars are a classic Canadian dessert named after Nanaimo, British Columbia. This no-bake chocolately confection has three layers of nutty-coconut-graham cracker, rich custard, and silky chocolate that make it ever so tempting!

There are many different variations of these bars out there, which can vary from family to family, but these three layers are what you’d find in a typical classic Nanaimo bar and are certainly what makes them so famous.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

CUSTARD – Custard is thicker than the typical pudding that you would find in the states. The difference between the two is that custard uses egg as its thickening agent, whereas pudding uses starch. If you’d like to make it homemade, you can use the ingredients for the custard layer in my English trifle recipe. If you are going for authenticity, I highly recommend getting your hands on Birds Custard Powder, which you can find in the U.S. at grocery stores in the baking aisle or online at Amazon, which is what is linked above.

CHOCOLATE – I suggest using a decent quality baking chocolate instead of chocolate chips or almond bark for this recipe.

CRUST – You can find graham crackers crumbs at the grocery store that are pre-crushed or crush around 16-18 full sheets of graham crackers yourself to get 2 cups worth of crumbs.

How to Make Nanaimo Bars

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper and spray with non-stick spray.
2. In small bowl mix sugar and cocoa powder and set aside.
3. In another small bowl mix graham cracker crumbs, walnut crumbs, and shredded coconut, also set aside.
4. Using a heat proof bowl over water on the stove top, slowly melt butter over low-medium heat. Once melted remove from heat but leave the stove on.
5. Whisk in sugar mixture and then very slowly add in egg. Continue to whisk.
6. Add back to the heat and thicken slightly, then remove again, this time you can shut off stovetop. Then add in crumb and coconut mixture. Stir well to combine.
7. Pour into prepared baking dish and smooth to an even layer. Note: using a flat bottom measuring cup or water glass will work well to get an even layer quickly.
8. Chill crust in the fridge while you prepare the filling layer.
9. In a stand mixer bowl add butter, custard powder, and vanilla and beat to combine.
10. Slowly add in icing sugar and 3 tablespoons of whipping cream.
11. Spread custard icing over the crust layer and chill in the freezer for at least 10 minutes before making and adding the chocolate layer.
12. To make the chocolate layer, use a heat safe bowl over the stovetop and melt 8 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate along with 1 tablespoon salted butter, on low-medium.
13. Once melted, pour over chilled dish and smooth out evenly.
14. Chill in the fridge for 3 hours before cutting.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Store Nanaimo bars in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freezing Nanaimo bars is really simple. To do so, place them in an air-tight container with parchment paper inbetween each layer. You can also place them inside a large ziptop bag and layer them flat in the freezer. Store in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Remove the bars from the baking dish and place them on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, run under hot water (then dry) and lightly press down through only the chocolate layer to score. Rinse again, and repeat going all the way through. Some people prefer to score, then cool in the fridge or freezer for 10 minutes, then repeat.

Serving Suggestions

Nanaimo bars can be served alongside a cup of coffee or tea, or enjoyed as a sweet treat after dinner. There is no wrong way to eat them! Enjoy chilled, and be sure to keep them in the refrigerator when not being consumed as they contain egg.

I wouldn’t advise the elderly, children, or the immunocompromised to consume these bars. The egg in this recipe is tempered by continuously whisking it over hot melted butter. Tempering the egg by whisking it helps to raise the temperature without cooking it. This is normally how custard recipes are made, but the egg is not fully cooked which can raise concerns for a select crowd.

More No Bake Dessert Recipes

• Lemon Icebox Cake
• Chocolate No Bake Cookies
• No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
• No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
• Lemon Cream Cheese Pudding Dessert

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