Nanaimo Bars (With 6 Variations) Recipe - Food.com (2024)

5

Submitted by 2Bleu

"These no-bake, three layered snack bars start with a crumb base, followed by a layer of light custard buttercream, then topped with a shimmering layer of chocolate. Nanaimo Bars are one of Canada's favorite confections, named after the beautiful city of Nanaimo, B.C. It all began when Mabel Jenkins, a Nanaimo housewife entered the recipe in a magazine contest back in the 1950's. She won the contest with these tasty treats even made the town famous for them. There are six variations of filling here at the bottom of this recipe. Buddha got this recipe from a co-worker named Kindalee."

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Ready In:
1hr

Ingredients:
14
Serves:

16

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ingredients

  • Base

  • 12 cup butter
  • 14 cup sugar
  • 5 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 12 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 12 cup walnuts, chopped (or almonds or pecans)
  • Filling

  • 13 cup butter
  • 3 tablespoons custard powder, Bird's brand (or substitute vanilla jello pudding powder)
  • 14 cup milk
  • 3 cups icing sugar
  • Topping

  • 8 ounces semisweet chocolate
  • 2 tablespoons butter

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directions

  • BASE: Melt butter in heavy saucepan. Stir in sugar and cocoa until smooth. Whisk egg with vanilla and stir into butter mixture. Remove from heat.
  • Stir in crumbs, coconut and nuts. Press evenly over bottom of greased 9" square pan. Chill until set, at least 20 minute.
  • FILLING: Beat butter with wooden spoon until light. Beat in custard powder and milk.Gradually beat in sugar. Spread over chilled base and let set in fridge.
  • TOPPING: Melt together chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Spread in even layer over chilled filling.
  • Store in fridge until chocolate topping begins to harden. Score topping into 16 small bars (bites). Cut before totally solid, use a hot knife, wiping clean between cuts. Store in fridge or freeze for up to 2 months.
  • FILLING VARIATIONS:

  • PEANUT BUTTER FILLING.-- 2 Tbsp Custard powder, 1/4 cup Milk, 2 Tbsp Butter; softened, 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter 2 cups confectioners sugar -sifted.
  • MINT FILLING -- 1/3 cup butter, 3 Tbsp custard powder, Bird's brand (or substitute jello pudding powder), 1/4 cup milk, 3 cups icing sugar, 1 teaspoons peppermint flavoring, 1-2 drops green food coloring as desired.
  • CAPPUCCINO FILLING -- 2 Tbsp milk, 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, 2 tsp instant coffee or espresso powder, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 2 cups confectioners sugar.
  • GRAND MARNIER FILLING -- 2 cups Icing Sugar, 1/4 cup Butter; softened, 1/4 cup Grand Marnier or orange -liqueur, 1 Tbsp Orange rind; coarsely grated.
  • BAILEY'S IRISH CREAM FILLING -- 1/3 cup butter, 3 Tbsp custard powder, Bird's brand (or substitute vanilla jello pudding powder), 1/4 cup Bailey's Irish Cream, 2-3 cups icing sugar.
  • CHERRY FILLING -- 1/4 cup Butter; softened, 1 tablespoons Cherry juice, 2 cups Icing sugar, 1/3 cup chopped Maraschino cherries, 1-2 drops of red food coloring.

Questions & Replies

Nanaimo Bars (With 6 Variations) Recipe - Food.com (9)

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Reviews

  1. I made these for my first attempt at Nanaimo Bars and they were a great success!!! I made a slight change in the base by using chocolate crumbs, almonds and cashews instead. It was delicious!

    Tricia H.

  2. WOW, these were worth calculating WW points! My solution is to cut into 1"x1" squares. I made the Bailey's Irish Cream variation, only I used Bailey's with a Hint of Mint Chocolate. Divine. I will make several variations for a Memorial Day cookout. Made for Please Review My Recipe tag game.

    KateL

  3. Made for snack night for the neighbor, and us tonight for our poker night. I did end up with 16, and wish I had made more of these. Absolutely loved the filling, as in the future I will have to try one of the other variations listed. Though they might have been a little rich, we sure weren't complaining with these nice snacks. Made for PRMR tag.

    weekend cooker

  4. Made these to share at a weekly meeting my other half attends, & they were a big hit! I managed 2 for myself & will happily be making them again before long, since I did love the coconut & chocolate combo! Initially made with the filling as given, another time I'll be trying out another one! Thanks for sharing the recipe! [Tagged & made in Please Review My Recipe]

    Sydney Mike

  5. These are positively heavenly! I opted for the Grand Marnier filling, and I have to say that was a great choice. I first worried that the 1/4 cup Grand Marnier would be too much. But I can say that, when coupled with the base layer and topping, the flavor of the filling mellowed just a bit. It was fabulous. These are a bit rich though, so I recommend cutting them into small bars (besides, it makes all the more to enjoy later!). Thanks for sharing your recipe, 2Bleu. It's one I know I'll make again.

    NorthwestGal

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Tweaks

  1. I made these for my first attempt at Nanaimo Bars and they were a great success!!! I made a slight change in the base by using chocolate crumbs, almonds and cashews instead. It was delicious!

    Tricia H.

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

2Bleu

Duncan, South Carolina

  • 167 Followers
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Original Zaaarite. Food lovers.Lynnda passed away in March 2020. Her recipes live on here for everyone to enjoy and Rick continues the tradition. We will forever live together through our food. Live well. Eat well.?

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Nanaimo Bars (With 6 Variations) Recipe  - Food.com (2024)

FAQs

What are Nanaimo bars called in the USA? ›

But neither Nanaimo's historical miners nor current residents have an exclusive relationship with the dessert; over the last century, similar sweets have popped up across North America, going by names like “New York slice,” “London fog bar” and “prayer bar.” Still, when it comes to branding, Nanaimo is the winner, bar ...

What is a fun fact about Nanaimo bars? ›

It is named after Nanaimo, British Columbia, where it was popularized in the years following the Second World War. It subsequently rose to wider prominence after Expo 86. In 2006, the Nanaimo bar was declared Canada's favourite confection by a reader's poll in the National Post.

Do Nanaimo bars go bad? ›

In the Refrigerator: Nanaimo bars will keep in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Serve straight from the fridge. In the Freezer: You can also keep your Nanaimo bars in the freezer for 2-3 months in an airtight container.

Are Nanaimo bars a Canadian thing? ›

The Nanaimo bar. It's a sweet treat made from chocolate, custard, coconut and walnuts. Love it or hate it, it's uniquely British Columbian.

What is the old name for Nanaimo? ›

Founded as Colvilletown around a Hudson's Bay Company trading post, it developed after 1849 when coalfields were discovered nearby by local Indigenous people. In 1860 the settlement was renamed Sne-ny-mo (whence Nanaimo) from an Indigenous word meaning “a big, strong tribe,” which was applied to a tribal confederation.

What is another name for Nanaimo Bars? ›

Other names for Nanaimo Bars include but are not limited to New York Slice, New York Special, Mississauga Bars, Edmonton Esks, Georgia Street Slices, Georgia Strait Smog Squares, London Fog Bars and London Smog Bars — coincidentally the London Fog (a hot drink consisting of steamed milk, vanilla syrup and Earl Grey Tea ...

Where is the original Nanaimo bar? ›

This creamy, chocolatey treat's origin is elusive, shrouded in mystery, and claimed by many as their own. Of course, we know that Nanaimo Bars originated in Nanaimo, or they would be called New York Bars, or New Brunswick Bars.

Why does it smell in Nanaimo? ›

Every year around March, herring spawn off the shores near French Creek. Roe wash up on nearby beaches and decompose into the summer. The decomposing eggs release hydrogen sulphide and winds can carry the odors towards the highway and FCPCC.

Can you refreeze M&M Nanaimo bars? ›

Transfer cut pieces onto dessert dish or platter and allow to thaw thoroughly before serving. Wrap and return unused portions to freezer while still frozen.

What is custard made of? ›

Custard is a variety of culinary preparations based on sweetened milk, cheese, or cream cooked with egg or egg yolk to thicken it, and sometimes also flour, corn starch, or gelatin.

What is the worlds largest Nanaimo bar? ›

The completed bar weighed in at 530 pounds and measured eight feet long, 44 inches wide and three inches high. The family will submit their logs, photos, weights and measurements to the people at Guinness. They hope to receive the official certificate in the mail in a couple of months.

How many Chinese are in Nanaimo? ›

The three largest minorities in Nanaimo are Chinese (2.6%), South Asian (2.2%), and Filipino (1.1%). Visible minorities represent 9.9% of the City's population, whereas BC compares at 31.1%.

What language do they speak in Nanaimo? ›

CharacteristicNanaimo British Columbia [Census agglomeration]British Columbia [Province]
Data quality , Nanaimo [Census agglomeration], British Columbia Map Change geographyData quality Map Change geography
English90,3101,584,355
French1,35528,810
Non-official languages10,325676,060
67 more rows

What is another name for Nanaimo bars? ›

Other names for Nanaimo Bars include but are not limited to New York Slice, New York Special, Mississauga Bars, Edmonton Esks, Georgia Street Slices, Georgia Strait Smog Squares, London Fog Bars and London Smog Bars — coincidentally the London Fog (a hot drink consisting of steamed milk, vanilla syrup and Earl Grey Tea ...

Why are Nanaimo bars a must try Canadian food? ›

But in reasonable doses (or not), Nanaimo bars are wonderfully luxurious, satisfying treats; the shredded coconut and nut counterpoint to the thick velvety texture of the icing and ganache has been winning the hearts of sweet-toothed Canadians and visitors for decades.

What is Nanaimo city nickname? ›

'Welcome to Nanaimo: the Harbour City.” We have so much harbour that we've adopted it as our slogan.

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