Nanaimo bar

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Traditional Nanaimo Bars

The Nanaimo bar is a Canadian dessert. A type of chocolate no-bake square, it receives its name from the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia, where it first became known in the 1930s. It consists of a crumb-based layer, topped by a light custard which is covered in soft chocolate. Many varieties are possible by using different types of crumb, flavours of custard, and types of chocolate.

According to historical legend, a group of friends in Nanaimo, who would later found the Harewood Ladies' Auxiliary, found the recipe in the Vancouver Sun under the name "chocolate fridge cake," and popularized it under the name Nanaimo bar. However, a search through the newspaper's archives failed to turn up the recipe, so its ultimate origin is unknown [link]. It made its way throughout the province's communities by way of household cookery recipes shared by housewives in the 1950s, particularly via company towns. The Nanaimo bar was a well-known confection well before the establishment of the popular coffeehouses.

Recipes for similar desserts are found in various places and under various names in North America and Europe. The designation "Nanaimo Bar" is predominantly Canadian, however the term has been used in places such as New York City, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Sydney.

The City of Nanaimo takes its Nanaimo bars very seriously; the city's mascot is known as Nanaimo Barney and has the shape of a giant Nanaimo bar. The city also has an official recipe for the bar. In 1985, Mayor Graeme Roberts started a contest to find the ultimate Nanaimo bar recipe. The winning recipe, submitted by local resident Joyce Hardcastle, was unanimously declared to be the official recipe and is available as a handout from the City.

A similar dessert appears to be the New York Slice.

External links

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