Nanaimo bar
Photo: Stephanie Spencer · CC BY 2.5

History

The Nanaimo bar originated in Nanaimo, British Columbia in the 1950s, the first published recipe appearing in the 1953 Edith Adams cookbook. Through the 1960s the bar travelled east across Canada and became a staple in Toronto bakeries and Jewish delis. Wanda's Pie in the Sky in Kensington has carried it since 1989; the runny-custard middle layer the city's reference style.

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Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, Tree Nuts

Make it at home

Yield Makes 16 squaresHands-on 30 minTotal 2 hrDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 125g butter, melted (for base)
  • 60g cocoa powder
  • 60g granulated sugar
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 200g graham cracker crumbs
  • 100g shredded coconut
  • 60g chopped walnuts
  • 100g butter, softened (for middle)
  • 3 tablespoons custard powder (Bird's brand canonical)
  • 300g icing sugar
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 200g dark chocolate (for top)
  • 30g butter (for top)

Method

  1. Base: in a bowl over simmering water, melt 125g butter with cocoa, sugar and beaten egg, stirring until thickened.
  2. Stir in graham crumbs, coconut and walnuts. Press into a parchment-lined 20cm square pan.
  3. Refrigerate 30 minutes until firm.
  4. Middle: beat softened butter with custard powder, icing sugar and milk until light and spreadable. Spread evenly over the base.
  5. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
  6. Top: melt dark chocolate with butter over simmering water until smooth. Pour over the custard layer and spread evenly.
  7. Refrigerate 1 hour. Cut into 16 squares with a hot knife.

Tip from the editors. Bird's custard powder is canonical for the middle layer; vanilla pudding mix at 1:1 if not available. Score the chocolate top with a hot knife before it sets.

Where to eat nanaimo bar

Nanaimo bar in Toronto

Wanda's Pie in the Sky ★ 4.5

$$ BakeryPies and butter tartsKensington MarketWalk-in only

Wanda's Pie in the Sky on Augusta in Kensington Market has run the city's reference butter tart counter since 1989, baker Wanda Beaver's pies.

OrderA classic Canadian butter tart, runny in the middle.

TipClosed Mondays. The cherry pie is seasonal in summer; the pumpkin pie in October.

Directions

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Nanaimo bar in Vancouver

Beaucoup Bakery ★ 4.7

$$ BakeryFrench laminated pastries and breadSouth GranvilleWalk-in only

Beaucoup Bakery on Fir Street is Vancouver's reference French laminated pastry shop since 2012, the gold-standard almond croissant plus daily seating.

Worth the queueAlmond croissant

TipAlmond croissants sell out by 11:00 on Saturday; weekday morning is the calmer queue.

Directions

Granville Island Public Market ★ 4.7

$$ Food hallGranville Island

Granville Island Public Market under the Granville Bridge since 1979 is Vancouver's reference indoor food hall, 50+ vendors, BC seafood and produce daily.

TipArrive before 11:00 to skip the cruise-ship lunch rush. Lee's Donuts and Siegel's Bagels are the local cult queues.

Directions

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