Nanaimo Bar Thumbprints
24
- Prep Time25 min
- Total Time2 h 30 min
- MakesMakes 20 cookies
Produced By Aimee Nishitoba; Illustrations by Jacqui Oakley; Photography by Christie Vuong; Food Styling by Eshun Mott; Prop Styling by Madeleine Johari
Undoubtedly the most classic Canadian bar cookie, Nanaimo bars hail, of course, from Nanaimo, B.C. Here, they are reimagined as sophisticated thumbprints. A rich cocoa base full of coconut, walnuts and graham crumbs is filled with the classic custard filling and finished with a drizzle of dark chocolate.
Ingredients
2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened (153 g)
1/3 cup brown sugar (73 g)
1 large egg yolk
3/4 cup all-purpose flour (105 g)
1/4 cup cocoa (30 g)
1/8 tsp salt
1/3 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
Filling
1 cup icing sugar (125 g)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (58 g)
4 tsp 35% cream
1 tbsp custard powder
Garnish
42 g melted dark chocolate, to finish
1 tbsp unsweetened desiccated coconut
1 tbsp finely chopped walnuts
Instructions
Position rack in centre of oven, then preheat to 350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment.
Beat ⅔ cup butter and brown sugar in a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium, until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk. Sift in flour, cocoa and salt. Beat until just combined, then stir in coconut, walnuts and graham crumbs.
Roll dough into 1 tbsp-sized balls, then arrange at least 1 in. apart on prepared sheets. Use a damp thumb or the end of a wooden spoon to make an indent in the middle of each cookie. Freeze for 10 min.
Bake cookies until set, 14 to 16 min. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Filling: Beat icing sugar with ¼ cup butter, cream and custard powder in a medium bowl, using an electric mixer on medium, until smooth and fluffy. Transfer filling to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe filling into the indent of each cooled cookie.
Garnish: Drizzle cookies with melted chocolate, then sprinkle with coconut and walnuts. Let stand until chocolate is firm, at least 1 hr. Cookies will keep well stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.
Find more recipes from our 2025 cross-Canada holiday cookie collection!
Love Nanaimo bars? We have recipes for five other Nanaimo-inspired desserts, from the classic bars to ice cream pops. Plus, here's what to do with leftover custard powder.
Camilla Wynne is a Toronto-based cookbook author, writer and recipe developer. Her most recent cookbook is Nature's Candy.
