If you're searching for a delightful dessert that combines a rich, chocolatey bottom layer, a creamy, custard-like middle layer, and a decadent ganache topping, then Nanaimo bars are absolutely worth trying. These iconic Canadian treats, named after the city of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, are no-bake bars that are easy to prepare and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. With their distinct three-layer construction and a sprinkle of coconut on top, Nanaimo bars offer a harmonious blend of textures and flavors that will satisfy any sweet tooth. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of creating the perfect Nanaimo bar, including tips for achieving the ideal balance of flavors and a smooth, creamy filling. Get ready to indulge in this classic dessert that has captivated taste buds for generations.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
NANAIMO BARS III
Because it's three layers, this sounds hard but it's worth it. My son is famous for making and taking these in to work. I've heard other names but here in the Northwest everyone knows them as Nanaimo bars. They are sold on British Columbia Ferries and at coffee stands. If you can't find custard powder, I've used instant pudding mix with good results.
Provided by MARTHA J PAUL
Categories Desserts Cookies No-Bake Cookie Recipes
Time 30m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In the top of a double boiler, combine 1/2 cup butter, white sugar and cocoa powder. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Beat in the egg, stirring until thick, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and mix in the graham cracker crumbs, coconut and almonds (if you like). Press into the bottom of an ungreased 8x8 inch pan.
- For the middle layer, cream together 1/2 cup butter, heavy cream and custard powder until light and fluffy. Mix in the confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread over the bottom layer in the pan. Chill to set.
- While the second layer is chilling, melt the semisweet chocolate and 2 teaspoons butter together in the microwave or over low heat. Spread over the chilled bars. Let the chocolate set before cutting into squares.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 310.5 calories, Carbohydrate 34.1 g, Cholesterol 47.3 mg, Fat 19.6 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 2.8 g, SaturatedFat 11.2 g, Sodium 160.1 mg, Sugar 26.1 g
THE ORIGINAL NANAIMO BARS
Nanaimo Bars are a traditional Canadian bar cookie whose origins are in Nanaimo, British Columbia. My Mom used to make these when I was a child. She was from Canada & this is not your normal desert! Very rich and wonderful!
Provided by Starfire aka Wendy
Categories Bar Cookie
Time 30m
Yield 18 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- BOTTOM LAYER: Melt first 3 ingredients in top of a double boiler.
- Add egg and stir to cook and thicken Remove from heat.
- Stir in crumbs, coconut and nuts.
- Press firmly into an ungreased 8 X 8 pan.
- SECOND LAYER: Cream butter, cream, custard powder and icing sugar together well.
- Beat until light.
- Spread over bottom layer.
- THIRD LAYER: Melt chocolate and butter over low heat.
- Cool
- When cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator.
NANAIMO BARS
My mother taught me to make these rich, delicious bar cookies when I was young. Though I've tried many variations, I always come back to this old favorite.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 20m
Yield 3 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from the heat; blend in sugar, cocoa, vanilla, egg, crumbs and coconut. Also add nuts if desired. Press into a 9-in. square pan. In a small bowl, cream 1/4 cup butter, pudding mix, milk and sugar. Spread over crumb layer; chill. Melt chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter; spread over pudding layer. Chill before cutting into bars.
Nutrition Facts :
NANAIMO BARS
Need ideas for a coffee morning or afternoon tea? These bars from Canada are so moreish, with a crunchy biscuit base, custard layer and chocolate topping
Provided by Michelle Holmes
Categories Afternoon tea, Dessert, Treat
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Start by making the biscuit base. In a bowl, over a pan of simmering water, melt the butter with the sugar and cocoa powder, stirring occasionally until smooth. Whisk in the egg for 2 to 3 mins until the mixture has thickened. Remove from heat and mix in the biscuit crumbs, coconut and almonds if using, then press into the base of a lined 20cm square tin. Chill for 10 mins.
- For the middle layer, make the custard icing; whisk together the butter, cream and custard powder until light and fluffy, then gradually add the icing sugar until fully incorporated. Spread over the bottom layer and chill in the fridge for at least 10 mins until the custard is no longer soft.
- Melt the chocolate and butter together in the microwave, then spread over the chilled bars and put back in the fridge. Leave until the chocolate has fully set (about 2 hrs). Take the mixture out of the tin and slice into squares to serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 415 calories, Fat 29 grams fat, SaturatedFat 18 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 33 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 23 grams sugar, Protein 3 grams protein, Sodium 0.6 milligram of sodium
NANAIMO BARS I
These are a totally sinful concoction containing more calories than one would care to count. A decadent dessert! Will satisfy any sweet tooth!
Provided by Shealeen
Categories Desserts Cookies No-Bake Cookie Recipes
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Mix 1/2 cup butter or margarine, white sugar, cocoa, egg and vanilla in a heavy sauce pan or double boiler. Stir over low heat until mixture is of custard like consistency.
- Combine graham crackers, coconut and walnuts and add to the melted mixture. Mix well and pack into buttered 9 inch square cake pan.
- Cream 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla custard powder and milk. Beat until creamy and spread over melted base.
- Refrigerate till hardened.
- Melt semi-sweet chocolate with 1 tablespoon butter and drizzle over custard icing. Refrigerate. When totally hard cut into square bars.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 389.2 calories, Carbohydrate 46.8 g, Cholesterol 48.9 mg, Fat 22.6 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 3.8 g, SaturatedFat 12.1 g, Sodium 199 mg, Sugar 35.5 g
NANAIMO BARS
The Nanaimo bar is a tremendously sweet, no-bake layered bar cookie from Canada made almost exclusively of packaged ingredients. The buttercream layer gets its yellow hue from custard powder, a vital ingredient that makes this a true Nanaimo bar. Use an offset spatula to give the chocolate top a surface as smooth as freshly Zambonied ice. The novelist Margaret Atwood included this recipe, from the chef Susan Mendelson, in her "Canlit Foodbook," a fund-raising book that featured food from literature, as well as author recipes. Ms. Atwood prefers walnuts in this recipe, but any combination of walnuts, almonds or pecans will do. We've added a smidge more cocoa and the optional addition of salt - but leave it out for the true Nanaimo bar experience.
Provided by Sara Bonisteel
Categories cookies and bars, dessert
Time 2h
Yield 16 bars
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Line an 8-by-8-inch (20-by-20-centimeter) metal baking pan with parchment, allowing parchment to overhang by about 2 inches (5 centimeters) on two sides.
- Prepare the base: In a double boiler, or a heatproof bowl placed over a saucepan of boiling water, whisk butter with granulated sugar, egg, cocoa powder and vanilla until melted. Continue whisking until mixture thickens slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Stir in crumbs, coconut and nuts until the mixture is well combined and resembles wet sand.
- Transfer mixture to the parchment-lined pan and use your fingers to press it into an even layer. Transfer pan to the refrigerator to chill until firm, at least 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the buttercream: In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter on medium speed for about 1 minute. Add heavy cream and custard powder and mix until combined, scraping sides and bottom of the work bowl as needed. Add 1 cup confectioners' sugar and mix on low until incorporated. Add remaining confectioners' sugar and mix on low until combined, scraping the bottom of the bowl as needed, then mix on medium-high speed until smooth, light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Remove pan from refrigerator. Dollop the buttercream on top of the base layer then gently spread it evenly on top using an offset spatula. Transfer pan to the refrigerator to chill until buttercream is set, about 30 minutes.
- Prepare the topping: In a small, heavy saucepan or a double boiler, heat the chocolate and butter over low, stirring often, until melted and evenly combined, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Take pan from refrigerator and pour chocolate on top of buttercream layer. Working quickly and carefully, spread the chocolate evenly over the buttercream using an offset spatula. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if using.
- Return pan to refrigerator and chill until chocolate hardens, about 25 minutes.
- To serve the bars: Lift excess parchment to remove Nanaimo square from the pan. Cut into 16 2-inch (5-centimeter) squares. Store bars in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Bring to room temperature before serving. Store remaining bars in the refrigerator for a few days, or wrap well and freeze.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 344, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 35 grams, Fat 23 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 13 grams, Sodium 118 milligrams, Sugar 24 grams, TransFat 1 gram
NANAIMO BARS
Named after the city of Nanaimo in British Columbia, the first time this square was published under that name was in the early 1950's in the Vancouver Sun newspaper! This version of the original bar is from Company's Coming - 150 Delicious Squares! Later versions change the vanilla custard layer to mint or peanut butter but the original is my favourite. You can make this a day ahead of a special occasion or keep it in the freezer. I used to freeze half because I'm very weak & I would eat the whole thing myself BUT I soon discovered that it tastes good even when its frozen!
Provided by CountryLady
Categories Bar Cookie
Time 30m
Yield 36 squares
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- BOTTOM LAYER: Melt first 3 ingredients in top of double boiler or heavy saucepan.
- Add egg & stir to cook & thicken.
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in remaining ingredients& press firmly into an ungreased 9 x 9-inch pan.
- MIDDLE LAYER: Cream all ingredients together; beat until light.
- Spread over bottom layer.
- TOPPING: Melt chips & butter over low heat; cool.
- When cooled but still runny, spread over middle layer.
- Chill in refrigerator.
- Use a very sharp knife to cut into squares.
Tips:
- For the best results, use high-quality ingredients.
- Make sure your butter and cream cheese are at room temperature before you start baking.
- Don't overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the bars tough.
- Bake the bars until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the bars cool completely before cutting them into squares.
- For a richer flavor, use dark chocolate instead of semi-sweet chocolate.
- To make the bars even more special, add a layer of raspberry jam or lemon curd between the chocolate and vanilla layers.
- If you don't have a 9x13 inch baking pan, you can use a 9-inch square pan. Just be sure to adjust the baking time accordingly.
Conclusion:
Nanaimo bars are a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that is perfect for any occasion. With their three distinct layers of chocolate, vanilla, and coconut, they are sure to please everyone. So next time you're looking for a sweet treat, give Nanaimo bars a try. You won't be disappointed!
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