A Canadian classic, Nanaimo bars feature a coconut and walnut base, sweet custard filling, and crisp chocolate topping. This layered dessert is a favourite for good reason!
Photography by Sophie MacKenzie.
With one Baked member living in Nanaimo and two in B.C., of course we have to share Nanaimo bars! Not just popular on the west coast, of course, but beloved both across Canada and abroad, these sweet no-bake bars are a classic, delicious dessert.
This is an authentic recipe, no mocha or mint (forbidden when it comes to Nanaimo bars). It’s based off of the recipe from this cookbook, a typical book in many British Columbian homes in the ’80s and ’90s. We’re all from different parts of Canada, though, and all of us grew up making and eating these bars.
A chocolate-y coconut, walnut, and graham wafer base gives a good starting point here. The middle layer is an easy no-cook custard, made with custard powder, and semi-sweet chocolate provides a nice slightly bitter counterpoint as the topping. The base and custard layer should be about equal in thickness, as pictured, for a proper bar.
Since Nanaimo bars freeze so well, they’re great to make ahead and freeze for later. These are definitely on the sweet side, and quite rich, so one slice goes a long way!
Use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top, or scroll to the bottom of the post to see the printable recipe card with full ingredient measurements and complete instructions.
Recommended Tools
- Heat-safe glass bowl
- 8-inch (20cm) square baking tin
- Parchment paper
- Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
- Hand or stand mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons or a digital kitchen scale
Ingredients
Base Layer
Custard Filling
Chocolate Topping
- Butter: softened, salted butter. If using unsalted, add a pinch of salt to both the base and the filling.
- Graham Crackers: as pictured, these should be broken into small crumbs, and not large chunks. We always use store bought.
- Sugar: plain white sugar.
- Egg: for the base. This is heated over a double boiler – you can use a thermometer to check the temp if you’re concerned about the egg being undercooked.
- Vanilla: extract, for the base layer.
- Cocoa: powder for baking, not drinking (drinking cocoa has sugar added).
- Coconut: unsweetened shredded. Desiccated can be used in a pinch.
- Walnuts: not only more traditional, walnuts are softer than many other nuts and make for a nicer bite in the base layer.
- Milk: for the filling. Use cream in a pinch.
- Icing Sugar: for the custard filling. You’re essentially making a slightly stiffer buttercream with custard flavour, so beat it for as long as you would a frosting.
- Custard Powder: this is essential for traditional, authentic Nanaimo bars. We offer a sub (see below) but recommend picking some up for this recipe.
- Chocolate: for the topping. Semi-sweet is best as the filling is quite sweet.
Method
TOP TIPS
1. Use two pieces of parchment. Two criss-crossed strips of parchment paper will make for the cleanest corners on your bars.
2. Keep them chilled. Once the bars are finished, they have to stay cold, or they’ll soften too much. If transporting for a picnic, use an ice pack.
3. Chill before slicing. Then use a hot knife! The chocolate needs to set before slicing, and the custard should be cold, for the tidiest squares.
Recipe Notes
- Using a hot knife is necessary to get clean slices. Otherwise the chocolate will crack and the soft custard filling will push out, losing the straight edges. Run your knife under hot water and dry well before slicing.
- If you’re concerned about the quality of your eggs and don’t feel comfortable only cooking the base over the double boiler, you can bake it briefly. After pressing the base into the tin, bake for five minutes at 350°F (180°C) before cooling fully and continuing with the recipe.
How to Store and Freeze Nanaimo Bars
- To Store: The bars will last about a week and a half in the fridge in a sealed container. The filling softens at room temperature so they’re best chilled.
- To Freeze: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months – Nanaimo bars freeze perfectly! You can take them out individually from the freezer or thaw all at once, but it’s best to thaw overnight in the fridge.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use any kind of chocolate you like for the topping. 55% is ideal, but you may prefer darker chocolate to offset the sweetness of the filling, or go for ultra-sweet with milk chocolate.
- Pecans are a good substitution for walnuts. For a nut-free option, use seeds or leave them out.
- We use Bird’s custard powder, which is vegan. To make these dairy free, use non-dairy milk and a good vegan butter.
- Sub almond or coconut extract for vanilla if you don’t have any.
- If you can’t find custard powder, sub 3 tablespoons cornstarch and a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Use gluten-free graham crackers for a GF option.
FAQ
Sure are! They’re named after the city of Nanaimo in B.C., Canada, and are a very popular dessert across the country. If you grew up in Canada, you’ve eaten a Nanaimo bar.
The secret is a hot, dry knife. Once the chocolate has set, using a knife that’s been dipped in hot water and then dried will make a nice clean slice and tidy looking bars.
Typically milk, sugar, and egg yolk. Some versions will have thickeners like cornstarch in them, too, and Bird’s, which we use, doesn’t contain milk or eggs.
They can! While the custard powder is traditional and called for in any old-school Canadian recipe, you can sub cornstarch and vanilla in this recipe instead.
More Small Treats
Rocky Road Candy Bars
Mincemeat Tarts
Raspberry Financiers
Maple Butter Tarts
Almond Flour Brownies
If you make this recipe, let us know by tagging @baked_theblog + #bakedtheblog on Instagram! We love to feel like we’re in the kitchen with you.
Recipe
Nanaimo Bars
Description
Ingredients
Base
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ½ cup chopped walnuts, raw
Custard Filling
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons milk
- 4 cups icing sugar
- ¼ cup custard powder
Topping
- 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
Instructions
- Grease an 8-inch (20cm) square baking tin and line with parchment paper. Set aside.
Base
- Place the butter, sugar, and egg in a heat-safe glass bowl. Place the bowl over a small saucepan of simmering water (don’t let the bottom of the bowl touch the water). Heat, stirring constantly, for about five minutes. It should thicken to the consistency of custard.
- Remove the bowl from the heat and add the vanilla, cocoa, graham wafer crumbs, coconut, and walnuts. Stir well to combine.
- Scoop the mixture into the prepared pan. Using a spatula or spoon, press it evenly into the pan. Place this into the refrigerator to firm while you prepare the filling.
Filling
- To make the custard filling, add the butter, milk, icing sugar, and custard powder to a large bowl. Mix on high speed with electric beaters until light and fluffy.
- Spread the filling over the chilled base in an even layer. Place in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to firm again.
Topping and Slicing
- Add the chopped chocolate and butter to a bowl. Melt, using a microwave, or with a double boiler (as outlined for the base).
- Stir to combine, then pour over the chilled filling, spreading as needed into an even layer.
- Place the tin back into the refrigerator to set completely, another 15 minutes.
- Once the chocolate has set, slice the bars. Use a hot, dry knife to cut 24 small slices.
- Keep the bars in the refrigerator for up to 10 days, or freeze up to one month. Thaw in the refrigerator if possible as the filling softens at room temperature.
Notes
- Using a hot knife is necessary to get clean slices. Otherwise the chocolate will crack and the soft custard filling will push out, losing the straight edges. Run your knife under hot water and dry well before slicing.
- If you’re concerned about the quality of your eggs and don’t feel comfortable only cooking the base over the double boiler, you can bake it briefly. After pressing the base into the tin, bake for five minutes at 350°F (180°C) before cooling fully and continuing with the recipe.
How to Store and Freeze
- To Store: The bars will last about a week and a half in the fridge in a sealed container. The filling softens at room temperature so they’re best chilled.
- To Freeze: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months – Nanaimo bars freeze perfectly! You can take them out individually from the freezer or thaw all at once, but it’s best to thaw overnight in the fridge.
Substitutions
- Use any kind of chocolate you like for the topping. 55% is ideal, but you may prefer darker chocolate to offset the sweetness of the filling, or go for ultra-sweet with milk chocolate.
- Pecans are a good substitution for walnuts. For a nut-free option, use seeds or leave them out.
- We use Bird’s custard powder, which is vegan. To make these dairy free, use non-dairy milk and a good vegan butter.
- Sub almond or coconut extract for vanilla if you don’t have any.
- If you can’t find custard powder, sub 3 tablespoons cornstarch and a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Use gluten-free graham crackers for a GF option.
Nutrition
This post was first published in December 2020. It has been updated with new information and no changes to the recipe as of May 2022.
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