Why This Iconic No-Bake Canadian Dessert Deserves a Spot in American Kitchens, Too

We take desserts seriously here at Better Homes & Gardens. After all, with more than a century of baking experience, we’ve tried just about every bar recipe you can imagine (Mud Hen Bars are our latest favorite). So, when Nanaimo Bars—a nostalgic Canadian dessert—started popping up all over our feeds, we had to find out what made them so special. With a coconut crust, vanilla custard center, and chocolate topping, these no-bake bars are every bit as delicious as they look.

The History of Nanaimo Bars

The bar’s namesake city is located on Vacouver Island in British Columbia. A recipe for it first appeared in the 1952 Woman’s Auxiliary of the Nanaimo Hospital Cookbook, under the name “Chocolate Square.” Not long after, a similar recipe was printed in the Vancouver Sun newspaper under the title “London Fog Bar,” with “Nanaimo Bars” listed as a second name. The triple layer bars are renowned around the world.