READY IN 1¾ hrs

Grandma Chase's Nanaimo Bars

Read Reviews (13)

"Different from other Nanaimo recipes, it contains NO coconut. It was given to my mother in the 1970's by her mother-in-law." — Jessica Jolley

Directions

Grease a 9x13-inch dish. To make the crust, place 1/2 cup of butter in a large saucepan, and melt over low heat. Stir in the sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat, mix in the egg until the mixture is well-combined, then stir in graham cracker crumbs and walnuts. Pack the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, smooth it into an even layer, and refrigerate until cooled, at least 30 minutes.
Make the filling: beat together confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup of softened butter, pudding mix, and milk until the filling is smooth and fluffy. Spread the filling over the cooled crust, and return to refrigerator for 30 more minutes.
For topping, melt chocolate with 2 tablespoons of butter over very low heat, and stir until the mixture is warm (not hot) and pourable. Pour the topping over the cooled filling, spreading the topping out if necessary with an offset spatula or knife to cover the topping completely. Return the dish to the refrigerator to cool the topping for about 15 minutes. When the topping is cool but not yet hard, cut into squares; return to refrigerator to finish chilling.

Kitchen-Friendly View

PREP 15 mins
READY IN 1 hr 45 mins

Reviews More Reviews

Most Helpful Positive Review

Jul 06, 2010

Thanks Grandma Chase, this is a great recipe! My family LOVED them. I added red food colouring to the middle layer in celebration of Canada Day! I also replaced the walnuts with coconut (Sorry, but it just isn't that classic Canadian dessert without it). I will definitely make these again!

—Dani

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Most Helpful Critical Review

Dec 09, 2011

I used coconut instead of nuts because my husband cannot eat nuts. I thought these bars were just okay. There wasnt anything wrong with the recipe, it turned out just like the picture. The flavor of the bars were not to my liking. I doubt that I would ever make these again. Its still sitting in my frig and no one is eating it.

—abigail

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13 Ratings

Nov 09, 2010

I've eaten a lot of nanaimo bars in my life and most are far too sweet for my liking, this one is definitely tastes much lighter with the sugar which i appreciated. I did miss the coconut but the walnuts were a nice substitute. Although i like the taste of dark and rich chocolate i found the top layer too cocoa-y tasting. Overall i enjoyed the bar but longed for a bit more sweetness, but possibly just because im used to them being overpoweringly sweet. On the other hand my bars looked AMAZING, i made sure to let the top layer get extra cool before spreading and they were absolutely flawless in every layer, very tidy and professional looking!

—crumpett

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Jul 21, 2011

Wow!! These are fantastic!! I thought my husband was going to melt into a puddle. Easy to make, but you need to watch it when heating stuff, make sure you don't scorch anything.

—LilBit6_2

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Dec 30, 2010

yummy..easy to make and the kids love it!!!

—mmmiija

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Jun 17, 2010

This is wonderful but our family calls it an eclair cake.

—barbiedoll5392

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Oct 09, 2011

This is a great recipe; easy to follow and easily enjoyed by many! I would say that this recipe is not made to fill the 9X13 pan, it fit better in a 9x9.

—cassie

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Jul 14, 2011

Fabulous recipe Grandma Chase! I like this recipe much better without the coconut. They however are very rich and need to be cut into small pieces. Thanks for posting a new summer go to recipe.

—LorrieVan

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Nutrition

Calories
90 kcal
4%

Carbohydrates
9.7 g
3%

Cholesterol
13 mg
4%

Fat
5.7 g
9%

Fiber
0.5 g
2%

Protein
0.8 g
2%

Sodium
49 mg
2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Information

Grandma Chase's Nanaimo Bars

Serving Size: 1/60 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 60
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 90
Calories from Fat: 51

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 5.7g 9 %
Saturated Fat 2.7g 14 %
Cholesterol 13mg 4 %
Sodium 49mg 2 %
** Potassium 26mg < 1 %
Total Carbohydrates 9.7g 3 %
Dietary Fiber 0.5g 2 %
Protein 0.8g 2 %
Sugars 8g
Vitamin A 2 %
Vitamin C < 1 %
Calcium < 1 %
Iron 3 %
** Thiamin 1 %
** Niacin 2 %
** Vitamin B6 < 1 %
** Magnesium 2 %
** Folate 2 %

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.