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    Home » Low Carb » Keto Nanaimo Bars

    Published: Jun 9, 2016 · Modified: Aug 21, 2021 by Carolyn

    Keto Nanaimo Bars

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    36.5K shares
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    Nanaimo bars…oh how I love you. And what a joy it is to have created an authentic low carb nanaimo bar recipe that tastes just as good as the original. The famed Canadian dessert gets a healthy makeover just in time for Canada Day. These low carb, sugar-free nanaimo bars will blow you away!

    This healthy sugar-free version of the famed Canadian Nanaimo Bars will have you coming back for more! #lowcarb #keto #grainfree #sugarfree

    For some of you, many of whom are probably above the 49th Parallel, this recipe will have you dancing for joy. For others, most of whom are probably south of the longest undefended border in the world, you will be scratching your heads a bit, wondering what the heck a Nanaimo bar is.

    You probably aren’t even sure how to pronounce it, what it’s made of or if it’s any good. Don’t worry, it’s good (very very good!) and I will give you the full explanation in a moment. Some of you who have followed me for a long time might even know that I already have a low carb Nanaimo Bar recipe on All Day I Dream About Food, but it’s one that includes an ingredient I no longer wish to use, namely sugar-free Jello Pudding. So this was a great Canadian treat in much need of a healthy update.

    What are Nanaimo Bars?

    So for my confused peeps, let’s start with a pronunciation lesson, a geography lesson and a wee bit of a history lesson. First of all, it’s pronounced Na-Nigh-Mo. Nanaimo. It’s a small city on Vancouver Island, in the western-most province of British Columbia. The word itself is the anglicized version of a First Nations word meaning “big, strong tribe”.

    And it is where what might be the most beloved Canadian dessert was supposedly invented, although that is somewhat contentious. Similar recipes for this confection all appear around 1953/1954 in Nanaimo, Vancouver, and all the way across the country in New Brunswick.

    Best healthy sugar-free Nanaimo Bar recipe. Low carb, keto, THM S

    Okay, blah blah blah, Carolyn, hurry up and tell us what Nanaimo bars actually are! Very well, it’s a lovely no-bake treat with a chocolate crust usually made with graham crackers, a vanilla buttercream distinguished by the addition of custard powder, and melted chocolate poured over the lot.

    And it’s truly delicious. No matter where they were invented, they became very popular all over the country. There is nothing quite like a Nanaimo Bar to make you look back fondly on your Canadian childhood. They were my favourite dessert growing up, competing mightily with the other beloved Canuck dessert, the butter tart. (and yes, I have a low carb version of those too…).

    Best low carb Nanaimo Bar recipe

    How to make Keto Nanaimo Bars

    I was so, SO delighted with myself when I first created low Nanaimo Bars. That was almost 6 years ago now and it was probably the moment where I thought…okay, I can really do this low carb thing for life.

    Figuring out the crust was the easy part, since graham cracker crumbs and almond flour are quite similar in texture.

    But custard powder was a whole ‘nother issue and it doesn’t come in a low carb form (it contains cornstarch). Not being quite as adept at low carb dessert as I am now, I relied on artificially sweetened sugar-free pudding mix. There was so much in there that I really didn’t like but it was worth it to recreate Nanaimo Bars.

    But I always had it in the back of my brain to go back and figure out a way to make it truly healthy, with no aspartame or other unmentionables. And this past weekend, I tackled it to great success. Since I can’t use custard powder, why not actually create a vanilla custard and turn THAT into a buttercream for the filling?

    Low carb grain-free Nanaimo Bar recipe

    I also got quite a kick out of bringing them out for friends on Saturday night and saying “who wants a Nanaimo Bar?”. The blank looks and choruses of “a WHAT bar?”, followed quickly by “oh man, these are good, can I have some more?” were priceless.

    Don’t be daunted by the long ingredient list and instructions. These are actually quite easy to make, require no baking and are undoubtably worth it. And you get a little taste of Canada into the mix.

    Nanaimo Bars

    Canada's favorite dessert goes sugar-free and keto-friendly! These luscious no bake bars are rich and chocolate-y and full of a sweet, creamy frosting.
    4.90 from 66 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Dessert
    Keyword: nanaimo bars
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Chill Time: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 16 bars
    Calories: 280kcal

    Ingredients

    Pastry Cream:

    • ⅔ cup whipping cream
    • 2 egg yolks
    • ¼ cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
    • Pinch salt
    • 1 ½ tablespoon butter cut into two pieces
    • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

    Crust:

    • ½ cup butter
    • ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • ¼ cup Swerve Sweetener
    • 1 egg beaten
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup almond flour
    • ¾ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
    • ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts

    Vanilla Filling:

    • 4 ounces cream cheese softened
    • ¼ cup butter softened
    • Pastry cream
    • 6 tablespoon powdered Swerve Sweetener

    Chocolate Topping:

    • 3 ounces sugar-free dark chocolate such as Lily's, chopped
    • 2 tablespoon butter

    Instructions

    Pastry Cream:

    • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring whipping cream to a simmer. In a medium bowl, whisk egg yolks with sweetener and salt until well combined.
    • Slowly whisk about half of the hot cream into the yolks to temper, then stir the yolk/cream mixture back into the remaining cream in the saucepan and cook until thick and glossy, about 3 to 4 minutes, whisking continuously.
    • Remove from heat and whisk in butter and vanilla. Let cool to lukewarm.

    Crust:

    • In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Stir in cocoa powder and sweetener, and then slowly whisk in the egg.
    • Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, almond flour, shredded coconut and nuts. Press crust into a 9x9 or 8x8 square pan evenly and refrigerate until firm.

    Filling:

    • Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the cooled pastry cream until well combined, then beat in additional powdered sweetener. Spread filling over crust and refrigerate until firm, at least one hour.

    Chocolate Topping:

    • Combine chopped chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir until melted and smooth. Spread over filling and let set.
    Nutrition Facts
    Nanaimo Bars
    Amount Per Serving (1 bar)
    Calories 280 Calories from Fat 241
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 26.8g41%
    Carbohydrates 6.8g2%
    Fiber 3.3g13%
    Protein 4g8%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    36.5K shares

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    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Kathy Barten says

      July 12, 2022 at 9:49 am

      5 stars
      I started following you about a month ago. I Love your Blog. I like delicious Keto desserts.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        July 12, 2022 at 5:16 pm

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
    2. Sphynxmom says

      July 10, 2022 at 2:28 pm

      5 stars
      These are amazing! I have made them several times and even those that are non Keto love them!

      Reply
    3. Annabelle says

      July 07, 2022 at 5:19 pm

      4 stars
      My filling didn’t seem to set properly although I cooked it for over the specified time. It never seemed to get thick like custard although it did coat the back of the spoon. I put the finished slice in the fridge overnight to set properly but the filling still came out a bit too runny. Anything else I could do to firm up the filling? I used swerve sweetener.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        July 07, 2022 at 9:08 pm

        Not sure you can thicken it up at this point, if you’ve put the chocolate on. Sounds like it really didn’t get cooked long enough. Next time, maybe try adding an extra egg yolk… I wonder if yours were on the small side?

        Reply
    4. Michaja says

      May 31, 2022 at 7:06 am

      May, 28,2022
      I made the Nanaimo Bars for our family get together! Absolutely DELICIOUS! My sister and I grew up in Vancouver B.C. so could hardly wait to try this Keto recipe. It did not disappoint. We loved it! Thank you for every wonderful recipe you share.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        May 31, 2022 at 8:38 am

        Glad you enjoyed them!

        Reply
    5. Kimberly Hill says

      April 26, 2022 at 4:36 am

      5 stars
      These were absolutely delicious!! Yumm! Thank you!

      Reply
    6. Gail O says

      April 19, 2022 at 1:01 am

      5 stars
      These are so rich and delicious and were easy enough to make. I must say they do taste a lot better once they have chilled in the fridge for several hours. I am Canadian and have missed Nanaimo bars as I have been keto for over 3 yrs. These brought back fond memories. You do have the best recipes and I thank you for all that you do.

      Reply
    7. Cara says

      April 13, 2022 at 10:30 pm

      Hi Carolyn!
      Quick question…I live on a small island in the Caribbean and happen to have all the ingredients (because I bring them down with me). Except the coconut…which is hilarious because there are coconut palm trees all around me…but shredded coconut is hard to find.
      My good friend here is Canadian and her birthday is coming up next week. Anything I can substitute for the coconut in the crust?

      Thanks so much…I’m obsessed with your recipes!!!
      Cara

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        April 14, 2022 at 11:23 am

        Just use some almond flour! Hey… can I come visit? 😉

        Reply
        • Mark says

          July 04, 2022 at 8:44 am

          Hi Carolyn would I add the same amount of extra almond flour as the coconut amount if I wanted to substitute? Thank you.

          Reply
          • Carolyn says

            July 04, 2022 at 10:34 am

            You mean in the crust? It’s finer so I might do a bit less.

            Reply
    8. Susan Mackrell says

      January 25, 2022 at 5:35 am

      I live in the North East of Scotland so some of your names for products are different to we Scottish. Can you please explain what pastry cream is in this recipe for Nanaimo bars. Many thanks.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        January 25, 2022 at 8:06 am

        Pastry cream is a kind of custard. You make it first, then fold it into the filling. It’s all listed out in the recipe.

        Reply
    9. Kristine says

      January 19, 2022 at 7:30 pm

      5 stars
      I made these today! Multiple inspirations, a big one was I was making a meal for a friend who has had surgery. They came out like th picture but I need to work on my tempering technique.

      Reply
    10. Christine Millette says

      January 08, 2022 at 8:45 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing! Better than the originals!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        January 08, 2022 at 8:59 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    11. Perry says

      December 27, 2021 at 9:08 pm

      My mistake… Sorry just found I used granular sugar in the pastry cream and filling instead of powdered sugar. Sorry.
      Will try this again another time as it sure tasted like a Nanaimo bar.

      Reply
    12. Perry says

      December 27, 2021 at 1:58 pm

      I followed the recipe exactly and the filling set in the fridge for 3 hours. When I pulled it out for dinner it all turned to liquid. We ate it like a sundae in a bowl with a spoon, the taste was perfect, just a runny filling. Any ideas what went wrong? I didn’t make any substitutions and attempted to cut it as soon as it came out of the fridge.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        December 27, 2021 at 9:15 pm

        Hmmmm, that is very odd. I haven’t had anyone else say that… you didn’t use a different sweetener?

        Reply
    13. Cindy says

      December 21, 2021 at 1:58 pm

      5 stars
      Carolyn, this Canuck thanks you to bits for this fabulous recipe. As a T2D, Nanaimo bars came off my Christmas baking list until I discovered your recipe. My entire family (non-diabetics except for lucky me) prefer this version to the original. I make it every year. And what’s this I have just discovered? Butter tarts!!! Seriously, woman! Well done, hey! :p

      Reply
    14. Jen says

      December 20, 2021 at 11:59 am

      Ummm… What is “pastry cream” ? Im in Scotland and have never seen anything called that here (also don’t remember seeing in Canada or the US but its been a long time….) even though we have all sorts of “cream”

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        December 20, 2021 at 3:05 pm

        It’s custard and it’s built into the recipe. Follow the recipe as written.

        Reply
    15. Robin says

      December 10, 2021 at 12:00 pm

      5 stars
      These are delicious. I also tried something new that worked out well. I left out the chocolate in the crust and then used Slim Fast lemon fat bombs instead of chocolate chips in the topping – delicious lemon bars!

      Reply
    16. Diane Levac says

      December 01, 2021 at 12:03 pm

      5 stars
      First time making these Nanaimo bars. Quite easy to make and so delicious!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        December 01, 2021 at 2:20 pm

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
    17. James says

      October 16, 2021 at 1:16 pm

      Hi Carolyn, my filling looked velvety smooth until I added the final 6 tbsp of sweeter. This has caused it to go grainy and almost split. Can you please tell me where I went wrong?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        October 16, 2021 at 1:25 pm

        What sweetener did you use?

        Reply
    18. karen says

      October 11, 2021 at 12:30 am

      What is pastry cream, please? Am I the only one who’s never seen this in a recipe before? I’m in Mexico and wondering if I can even get it here…

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        October 11, 2021 at 9:31 am

        It’s kind of like custard and it’s built into the recipe. It’s not something you purchase… you make it! And again, it’s right there in the recipe.

        Reply
    19. Miri says

      October 05, 2021 at 8:07 am

      Be still my heart! Keto Nanaimo Bars and Butter Tart recipes! You have made this Canuck Abroad very happy! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        October 05, 2021 at 9:49 am

        Enjoy!

        Reply
    20. Caroline Nielson says

      September 14, 2021 at 9:34 am

      Okay Carolyn these were absolutely amazing! They were just like the real thing but even better. Nanaimo bars can be so sickly sweet, but not these! They were perfect!
      The only trouble I had was cutting them in the pan. The topping cracked a lot. Just like the real ones. I think maybe I should have left them at room temp for a bit before slicing? What do you think?
      Anyway, another absolute keeper ????

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        September 14, 2021 at 2:03 pm

        I like that the cracked top is just like the real ones! 😉 But yes, it’s easier to cut through if you leave them at room temp for 10 minutes or so.

        Reply
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