Local food map Vancouver (Canada)
Vancouver guides
Recipes 8
Pick a recipe
All Vancouver recipes
Nanaimo Bar — traditional dish from Nanaimo, Canada
Dessert Vegetarian

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥330kcal
💪2gProtein
🌾50gCarbs
🥑15gFat
🌿2gFibre
⚖️70 gServing

* Per serving · 70 g. May vary.

Allergens

🥛 Dairy 🌾 Gluten

Also served in

Toronto

Nanaimo Bar

How to order / say it
Say it Nanaimo Bar — [nuh-NY-moh bar]
Order I'll have the Nanaimo bar, please.
Locally Je prendrai une barre Nanaimo, s'il vous plaît.
Say locally

A no-bake layered dessert bar with a crumb base, custard, and chocolate.

Why try it?

Nanaimo Bars are a classic Canadian treat that perfectly captures the sweet tooth of Vancouverites, emblematic of Vancouver's quirky and diverse food culture.

How it tastes

Nanaimo Bars combine a crunchy base with a creamy custard middle and a smooth chocolatey topping, creating a rich, satisfying treat.

Origin & History — first documented: 1952

First popularized in the 1950s, these bars were named after the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia, and have become a beloved dessert across the country.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🌾 200 g graham cracker crumbs
  • 🧂 50 g cocoa powder
  • 🥛 150 g unsalted butter
  • 🥛 45 g custard powder
  • 🍯 250 g icing sugar
  • 🍯 100 g chocolate

Method

  1. 1 Mix graham crumbs, cocoa powder, and butter for the base and press into a pan.
  2. 2 Blend icing sugar, custard powder, butter to make the middle layer and spread over the base.
  3. 3 Melt chocolate and pour over the top layer, then refrigerate until set.
  4. 4 Cut into bars and serve.

More from Nanaimo

French Canadian Split Pea Soup © Wikimedia Commons
Soup Meat

French Canadian Split Pea Soup

Soupe aux pois
soo-p oh pwah

A hearty soup made with yellow split peas, ham, and vegetables.
Roti © Wikimedia Commons
Street food Meat

Roti

ROW-tee

Flatbread that often encases curried meats or vegetables.
Smoked Meat Sandwich © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Smoked Meat Sandwich

Sandwich à la viande fumée
Sand-wich a la vee-awnd foom-ay

A deli sandwich made with smoked beef brisket, rye bread, and mustard.
Spot Prawns
Main course Fish & Seafood

Spot Prawns

spaht PRAWNZ

Sustainable, sweet prawns from the local Pacific waters, best eaten fresh.
🐟
Snack Fish & Seafood

Salmon Candy

SAL-muhn KAN-dee

Smoked and sweetened salmon strips, often glazed with maple syrup.
Maple Syrup © Wikimedia Commons
Dessert Vegan

Maple Syrup

MAY-pul SEER-up

A sweet syrup made from the sap of sugar maple trees.
Montreal-Style Bagel © Wikimedia Commons
Bread Vegetarian

Montreal-Style Bagel

Bagel de Montréal
BAE-gul de Mohn-TREY-ahl

A sweeter, denser bagel made with malt and boiled in honey-sweetened water.
Sushi © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Fish & Seafood

Sushi

SOO-shee

Vinegar-flavored rice with various fillings and toppings, often raw fish.
Ketchup Chips © Wikimedia Commons
Snack Vegan

Ketchup Chips

ke-chup chips

Potato chips flavored with a tangy, tomato ketchup seasoning.
🌿
Dessert Vegetarian

Saskatoon Berry Pie

sas-KA-toon berry pie

A sweet pie made with Saskatoon berries native to Western Canada.
All North America recipes — Canada — Vancouver — Nanaimo Bar
keyboard_arrow_up