Nanimo Bars
Delicious layered no-bake bars featuring chocolate, coconut, and a crunchy graham cracker base, perfect for satisfying sweet cravings and sharing at gatherings or as a treat.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine ⓘ
- 1/4 cup white sugar ⓘ
- 1/3 cup cocoa ⓘ
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs ⓘ
- 1 cup coconut ⓘ
- 1/2 cup walnuts ⓘ
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine ⓘ
- 2 tablespoons vanilla instant pudding powder ⓘ
- 3 tablespoons milk ⓘ
- 2 cups icing sugar ⓘ
- peppermint flavoring (optional) ⓘ
Instructions
- In a double boiler, cook butter or margarine, sugar, cocoa, vanilla, and eggs until thick.
- Add graham cracker crumbs, coconut, and walnuts to the mixture.
- Press the mixture into a 9 x 9-inch pan and chill.
- In a separate bowl, cream butter or margarine, vanilla instant pudding powder, sugar, and vanilla flavoring.
- Spread this cream over the chilled base and chill again.
- Melt chocolate and butter, then spread over the top of the chilled layers.
Tips & Substitutions
For a richer flavor, consider using dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate for the topping. If you don't have walnuts, pecans or almonds can provide a similar crunch. Ensure the butter is softened for easy creaming in the filling layer. If you're short on time, you can use store-bought chocolate ganache as a topping instead of melting chocolate and butter.
Serving Suggestions
Cut the bars into small squares for serving, as they are rich and indulgent. They pair beautifully with a cup of coffee or tea. For a festive touch, consider serving them alongside a slice of No Cook Christmas Cake or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. These bars also make a delightful dessert for potlucks and parties.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover Nanimo Bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze them in a well-sealed container for up to three months. To reheat, let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving, to maintain their texture and flavor.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Nanimo Bars contains roughly 582 calories, with 7g protein, 102g carbohydrates, and 16g fat. It is an excellent source of iron (25% of the Daily Value), and a good source of dietary fiber and potassium. It also contributes 5g of dietary fiber toward your daily target.
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Nanimo Bars without eggs?
Yes, you can substitute eggs with a mix of flaxseed meal and water or commercial egg replacers. For each egg, use 1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal mixed with 2.5 tablespoons of water, let it sit until it thickens. This will help bind the ingredients while keeping the bars delicious.
How can I make these bars gluten-free?
To make gluten-free Nanimo Bars, simply use gluten-free graham cracker crumbs or crushed gluten-free cookies. Ensure that all other ingredients, including the chocolate and the butter, are certified gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination.
What can I use instead of coconut?
If you're not a fan of coconut, you can replace it with additional graham cracker crumbs or crushed nuts. Alternatively, finely chopped dried fruit like cranberries or cherries could add a different texture and flavor to the bars.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).