COOKING CANADA: Nanaimo Bars 🇨🇦

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 saucepan with simmering water and place a bowl over it to create a double boiler.

Add 1/2 cup of butter, 1/4 cup of sugar, and 5 tablespoons of cocoa powder into the bowl and mix until melted and combined.

Add 1 beaten egg to the mixture and cook it slightly to thicken, then remove from heat.

Mix in 1 and 3/4 cup of graham cracker crumbs, 1 cup of grated coconut, and 1/2 cup of finely chopped almonds until well combined.

Press the mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 8x8 inch baking pan.

In a separate bowl, cream together 1/2 cup of unsalted butter and 40 milliliters of heavy cream using a hand mixer.

Add 2 cups of icing sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the mixture and beat until light and fluffy.

Spread the custard layer over the bottom layer in the baking pan.

For the top layer, melt 1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons of butter in another double boiler until smooth.

Let the chocolate cool slightly, then pour it over the custard layer and spread evenly.

Chill the bars in the fridge until set, then cut into squares or rectangles.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens