Nanaimo Bars

Name: Nanaimo Bars
Prep time: 85 min
Yield: 9
Cuisine: Canadian
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups almond flour; 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes; 1/4 cup monkfruit blend sweetener; 4 tablespoons butter, melted; 2 scoops Cacao Bliss or 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder; 3 tablespoons sugar free maple syrup; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 6 tablespoons heavy cream; 1 (1.7 oz) package sugar free vanilla pudding mix; 1 1/2 cups powdered erythritol blend sweetener; 4 oz sugar free chocolate chips; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

by KetoFocus.com

5 Stars (2 Reviews) 6 Comments

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Egg Free

Nanaimo bars are an easy-to-make, no-bake keto dessert recipe that your whole family can enjoy. This Nanaimo bar recipe has three tiers with a chocolate, nutty base and shreds of coconut, buttercream custard filling, and is topped with sugar-free chocolate ganache. This irresistible chocolate dessert is a must-have for the summer!

three cookie bars on top of each other with crumbs

a thick custard layer of a nanaimo bar topped with chocolate

five nanaimo bars in front of a glass of milk and a bag of cacao bliss

85 Mins

Nutrition Facts

Servings

413

Calories

38.2g

Fat

4.7g

Protein

Net Carb

22.6g

Total Carbs

Nanaimo Bars Recipe Video

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Chocolate Nutty Crust Ingredients

1 1/2 cups almond flour
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/4 cup monkfruit blend sweetener
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 scoops Cacao Bliss or 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons sugar free maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt

Custard Buttercream Filling Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
6 tablespoons heavy cream
1 (1.7 oz) package sugar free vanilla pudding mix
1 1/2 cups powdered erythritol blend sweetener

Chocolate Ganache Ingredients

4 oz sugar free chocolate chips
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Nanaimo Bars Directions

STEP

1

Make the crust

Add almond flour, coconut flakes, sweetener, butter, Cacao Bliss or cocoa powder, sugar free maple syrup and salt a food processor. Pulse until combined.
STEP

2

Press crust into a dish

Line a square baking dish with two sheets of parchment paper. Press crust into the dish using a greased spatula (to prevent sticking). Freeze for 20 minutes to set.
STEP

3

Make buttercream custard filling

In a medium bowl, cream softened butter until light and fluffy using an electric mixer. Add in heavy cream and pudding mix and continue to beat until combined. Slowly add in powder sweetener and continue mixing until fluffy.
STEP

4

Spread custard layer

Spread buttercream custard layer on top of the crust. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.
STEP

5

Make chocolate ganache

Add sugar free chocolate and butter to a small bowl. Microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted.
STEP

6

Spread ganache layer

Pour melted chocolate all over custard layer and spread evenly. Place back in the refrigerator to harden for 25 minutes. Cut into squares to serve.

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Keto Nanaimo Bars Recipe

nanaimo bars stacked on each other on a marble slab with more bars next and crumbs

I partnered with Cacao Bliss to make this Canadian confection dessert made of a chocolatey crust, a custard filling, and a chocolate ganache topping. The first layer, the crust, is made with almond and coconut flakes, monk fruit sweetener, butter, Cacao Bliss, and sugar-free maple syrup. The second layer is the custard filling made with softened butter, heavy cream, sugar-free vanilla pudding mix, and powdered erythritol sweetener. Traditionally, nanaimo bars use custard powder, but that is high in sugar. The third layer is the chocolate ganache topping which is simply made of sugar-free chocolate and butter. These layers all perfectly complement each other to create the best no-bake dessert. Keto Nanaimo bars are a wonderful, cold dessert that can be enjoyed when you don’t want to use the oven in the hot summer and heat up your house.

a stack of three nanaimo bars on a marble slab

What is a Nanaimo Bar?

A Nanaimo bar is a three-tiered dessert bar that does not require baking. It was invented and popularized in Nanaimo, British Columbia, giving the bar its name. The traditional layers in a Nanaimo include a wafer, type of nut, and coconut base, custard filling, and chocolate ganache. Some people also change up the recipe to have different flavored fillings, bases, and chocolate. Nanaimo bars were so popular that they were voted ‘Canada’s Favorite Confection’ and considered a classic Canadian dessert.

What Makes This Recipe Keto?

These keto Nanaimo bars have a nutty crust base created from almond flour and shreds of coconut for an additional crunch. The filling is made with buttercream custard with butter. Instead of the traditional custard powder in Nanaimo bars, this keto version uses a sugar-free pudding mix to achieve a similar texture and flavor. The keto Nanaimo bars also have sugar-free sweeteners added for additional sweetness instead of regular sugar. The chocolate ganache topping is made with a keto-chocolate from ChocZero which is both sugar-free and sugar alcohol-free.

Cacao Bliss

These keto Nanaimo bars use just a bit of Cacao Bliss to add a touch of chocolate to the crust.

Cacao Bliss is a healthy and delicious blend of raw cacao powder, cinnamon, lucuma, MCT powder, turmeric, and black pepper that is used to replace traditional cocoa powder in this no-bake keto recipe. This blend of superfoods can help with controlling inflammation and blood sugar levels. Cacao Bliss is also sweetened with monk fruit sweetener, making it taste better and more like chocolate than other low-carb cocoa powders.

Storage and Meal Prep Tips

Nanaimo bars can take a bit more time to make than, say, a brownie since you need to make each layer and chill each layer. But the good news is that each layer can be made in stages ahead of time. Since there aren’t any raw ingredients, Nanaimo bars can stay fresh for a long time. They are freezer-safe and can be stored in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. With a long freezer life, you can make larger batches at a time!

Nanaimo Bars: FAQS

Can I use a different type of nut flour instead of almond flour?

Yes, you can substitute almond flour with other nut flours like hazelnut or cashew flour. Just keep in mind that it may alter the flavor slightly.

What can I use instead of monkfruit sweetener?

If you don't have monkfruit sweetener, you can use erythritol or another keto-friendly sweetener. Just make sure to adjust the quantity based on the sweetness level.

How do I store leftover Nanaimo bars?

Store leftover Nanaimo bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze them for longer storage, just make sure to separate layers with parchment paper.

Is there a way to make this recipe dairy-free?

Absolutely! You can replace the butter with coconut oil or a dairy-free margarine to make the bars dairy-free.

Can I omit the coconut flakes?

Yes, you can omit the coconut flakes if you're not a fan, but they do add a nice texture. You could also replace them with crushed nuts for a different crunch.

Nutritional information & Macros

Amount Per Serving
Calories	413
Fat	38.2g
Protein	4.7g
Total Carbs	22.6g
Net Carbs	6g

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