All Canadians know and love the Nanaimo bar, but did you know that peanut butter was invented in Canada too? We can’t think of a better way to show your true patriot love than with this peanutty twist on the classic dessert. More great recipes can be found at www.peanutbureau.ca.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Chilling time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 10 minutes
Makes 20 bars
Peanut Butter Nanaimo Bars Recipe
Ingredients
Base:
½ cup (125 mL) butter, melted
⅓ cup (75 mL) unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup (60 mL) granulated sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1⅔ cup (400 mL) graham cracker crumbs
½ cup (125 mL) peanuts, finely chopped
¼ cup (60 mL) each shredded sweetened coconut and mini chocolate chips
Filling:
½ cup (125 mL) smooth peanut butter
2 tbsp (30 mL) butter
1⅓ cup (325 mL) icing sugar
3 tbsp (45 mL) milk
2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla
Topping:
4 oz (115 g) milk or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 tbsp (15 mL) butter
2 tbsp (30 mL) peanuts, chopped
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). To help parchment stick, lightly grease an 8×8-inch (2-L) baking pan, then line with parchment paper so the edges overhang pan. In a large bowl, combine melted butter, cocoa powder and sugar, stirring until smooth. Add egg, graham crumbs, peanuts and coconut, and stir to combine. Stir in chocolate chips until mixture is well blended. Pat mixture into the base of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until set and no longer shiny. Refrigerate until room temperature.
2. Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, beat peanut butter with butter, icing sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth. The filling will be quite thick. Once the base has cooled, spread peanut butter mixture evenly over top. Refrigerate until firm.
3. In a microwave or in top of a double boiler, melt chocolate with butter. Drizzle over the firm filling layer, spreading to cover. Sprinkle with peanuts. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes. Using parchment paper, lift the Nanaimo bars out of the pan. Slice into bars or squares.
Per 1 bar: 260 calories, 16 g fat (7 g saturated fat, 0.3 g trans fat), 30 mg cholesterol, 4 g protein, 26g carbohydrates, 2 g fibre, 18 g sugars, 140mg sodium
CEO, Registered Dietitian, Counseling Practice Director & Professional Speaker
Andrea the «Chocoholic Nutritionist» is founder and CEO of Health Stand Nutrition Consulting Inc. since 2000. She is an online nutrition course creator, professional speaker and regular guest in the media. Andrea is the recipient of an award by the Dietitians of Canada: The Speaking of Food & Healthy Living Award for Excellence in Consumer Education....Read more
"I am a psychologist in private practice and it is very important to me that my clients have the best care with other health care professionals. For that reason Health Stand Nutritionis my only source for exceptional Dietitians. Andrea and her team provide highly knowledgeable, compassionate, and real world support to my clients who require assistance with food lifestyle. I trust my clients to them and you would be in excellent hands making them part of your health care team."
Adele Fox, Psychologist
“This is the first time I feel satisfied; my cravings have diminished dramatically and I have a whole new relationship with food. I am eating guilt-free for the first time in my life. My energy has also dramatically increased and I feel great!”
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Marty Avery, Nutrition Counseling Client
“I have come to think of the program as a one stop shopping excursion for everything one needs to know about creating a joyous relationship with food and our bodies. In a single word, the course has gifted me with freedom from the punishing rigidity of disordered eating, old stories that never were true, and body dysmorphia that did nothing but make me lose sight of a body that has done everything I've asked, despite my careless dismissal of her needs. Now when I look in the mirror I find myself shifting from harsh criticism to gentle gratitude.”
Lynn Haley, Pursuit of Healthiness Online Course Participant
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Peter Whitehead, Nutrition Counseling Client
“I didn’t realize how strong my “diet mentality” was, and all the rules I had in my head about food. I was in a cycle of reward/punish/binge/cringe. I booked with your business very reluctantly, on the repeated advice of my doctor, to get my slowly rising cholesterol levels in check. I thought I knew everything about food, and my behaviour with food, but I was definitely re-schooled. My weight is creeping down, I feel good about my diet, exercise, body image, and lifestyle.”
Amy Floyd, Nutrition Counseling Client
“Thanks Andrea for an amazing presentation, I have heard all positive remarks from attendees and the evaluations show the same sentiment. It is really gratifying when a speaker does their “homework” and weaves in our profession’s day to day challenges within their content, you did an awesome job of this! You truly took the “die” out of Dietician! Your information on healthy eating and simplifying how we can work towards this as we are all so busy really hit the mark. Andrea connects very well with her audience; she is energetic, funny, and very approachable.”
Carole Ann LaGrange, Transfusion Medicine Safety Officer
Event Planner for Laboratory Diagnostic Imaging Annual Event
“I am a family physician who sees patients with a myriad of eating concerns – from wanting to know how to plan healthy meals for active families, to weight loss, to eating disorders, and so on. I cannot recommend the Health Stand team highly enough. I have worked with (and been to!) other Dieticians in the past and too often find that they just ask for food logs and make suggestions that are easily obtained online or in books. The Dieticians at Health Stand offer much more than just telling clients what they “should be eating.” In contrast, the team really does more of a counselling practice, and they work hard to help their clients learn more about why their eating habits may be off track and not optimal for them, as well as helping people to effect change at a deep level that, most importantly, is sustainable for lifetime health.”
Dr. Deb Putnam, Family Physician
Nutrition Counseling Client & Referring Physician
“I am a busy mom, with kids in high level sports, working full-time downtown, and running our home acreage outside the City. I now have the knowledge and tools I need to plan for and manage the chaos of meal planning.”
Gillian Gray, Pursuit of Healthiness Online Course Participant
“As a construction company, we select speakers who can relate to our industry and its employees. Andrea’s message was delivered with humor and empathy. She makes people feel as though they can make changes without leaving behind every favorite food. Andrea focused her presentation on healthy eating as a way to keep energy high throughout the day. This message and the way it was delivered resonated with our predominantly male, blue collar culture. I would highly recommend Andrea as a speaker for groups such as ours. She will get your message across without alienating anyone in your audience – which is a huge hurdle when trying to introduce a wellness program in the workplace!”
Stephanie Wood, HR and Safety Manager
Fisher Construction Group, Burlington, WA
“I found my Dietitian warm, funny, and skilled at teaching nutrition concepts without the overwhelm. The general approach of each session was to mix science with emotion, which was exceedingly effective in helping me shift my perspective on food from one of anxiety to one of joy and curiosity.”
Erin Kronstedt, Nutrition Counseling Client
“Excellent presentation! What a refreshing change to have a speaker inspire rather than “lecture” about nutrition. Your captivating stories, tips and overall approach to healthy eating uplifts and puts people at ease. It was great to hear we don’t need to strive to be perfect eaters, and that small changes really can make a difference in how we feel and in our health. Thanks to Andrea, we have solutions to our everyday nutrition challenges that can actually work in real life!”
Tina Tamagi, Human Resources
ARC Resources Ltd.
“Had I not joined this course I would have struggled with no focus, low energy, and mindless eating. Excellent teaching and motivation. This is not just a course, it is a nutrition club with mentorship, support, and connections with other people with similar situations.”
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