Healthy Vegan Nanaimo Bars Recipe | Gluten Free, Dairy Free (2024)

Jul 1, 2013

As a true, born-and-raised Canadian I thought I would make a classic dessert from the country currently above me here in the US. It might not have maple syrup in it, but it sure is Canadian 😉

We call this dessert, “Nanaimo Bars!” Strange name, right? Well, it might ring a bell because this isn’t the first time I’ve made it… I madeNanaimo Bars last Februarybut I decided to revisit my recipe. Even though my bars were absolutely friggin delicious and were gobbled up in less than fivesecondsminutes flat, I got some flak from a commenter saying, “Nanaimo Bars they are not.”

*sad face*

But I totally agreed with him, the “crust” was a no-bake base made of not-so-authentic ingredients (like coconut butter, coconut milk, chocolate and oats). At the time I hadn’t made my graham cracker recipe yet and didn’t want to purchase crackers from the store that were full of refined sugars, starches and processed flours. I was also living at a high altitude so I wouldn’t be able to post a recipe that everyone could make (that means the majority of you who live at sea-level!) because baking at different altitudes has an effect on the baking temperature and measurements… such a hassle, but that’s the science of baking for ya. The filling in my older recipe was suuuper delicious, but it was a tad bit gooey. Once again, not so authentic. Oh, and then my chocolate topping layer was “too thick.” Like that’s a crime. Let’s sueeveryone who likes a little extra chocolate on their desserts!!

Hmph.

Just kidding, I’m totally not mad! If the layer of chocolate was supposed to be thinner, I will make it thinner. But to fit in some extra chocolate (because that’s what every chocoholic thinks about doing to their food) I would just eat the Nanaimo Bar with a glass of chocolate almond milk 😉

Focus on the good things in life and make these Healthy Vegan Nanaimo Bars — a soft graham cracker crust infused with chocolate and coconut, a filling with a sweet vanilla flavor and a topping of rich dark chocolate.

Because a decadent (yet healthy) dessert is what turns an “OK” day into a “holy-crap-freakin’-AMAZING” day.

As a reference, this is the nutrition label for a typical Nanaimo Bar.

What a difference, eh? The Desserts with Benefits Nanaimo Bars are nearly half the calories of the typical bars you would find in Canada. Not to mention, mine are lower fat and made up of healthy fats (no butter or cream in these babies), andfar lower in carbs and sugar. The typical Nanaimo Bar out there has about 1 tablespoon of butter and 2 tablespoons of sugar per bar. That is crazy.

So make the Healthy Vegan Nanaimo Bars and you can grab a second serving. These are the most delicious guilt-free treat ever… like, in the entire world! It’s like magic. And you need it in your life ASAP (Canadian or not).

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With love and good eats,

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–Jess

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