The Nanaimo bar is a Canadian dessert. A type of chocolate cake, 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 research, 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.
Recipes for similar desserts are found in various places and under various names in North America and Europe, but only in Canada is it so widely known, and it is known to Canadians only as the Nanaimo bar.
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 unanimous winner, submitted by local resident Joyce Hardcastle, was declared the official recipe and is available as a handout from the City.
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