Award-winning Nanaimo bars, 1987

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil provides a dairy-free option while margarine is often less expensive.

heavy cream

🥗Healthier: coconut cream

💰Cheaper: milk + cornstarch

Coconut cream offers a rich texture while the milk + cornstarch mix is budget-friendly.

granulated sugar

🥗Healthier: stevia

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Stevia reduces calories while brown sugar adds a deeper flavor.

walnuts

🥗Healthier: almonds

💰Cheaper: pecans

Almonds are often lower in calories and pecans can be more affordable.

Prepare a baking dish by lining it with parchment paper.

Mix melted unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a bowl until combined.

Add vanilla extract, cocoa powder, shredded coconut, and chopped almonds to the mixture; stir until well blended.

Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish evenly.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg until frothy; then mix in powdered sugar and heavy cream until smooth.

Spread the cream mixture over the first layer in the baking dish evenly.

Melt chocolate and unsalted butter together until smooth.

Pour the melted chocolate over the cream layer and spread evenly.

Refrigerate the bars until set.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens