Vegan Mint Nanaimo Bars

by Kaylie Grace on March 9, 2024

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Vegan mint nanaimo bars are an easy mint chocolate dessert! The chocolate crunch base is topped with mint buttercream frosting and a layer of rich chocolate. It’s no-bake, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free friendly. This festive green dessert recipe is perfect for St Patrick’s Day!

a stack of three vegan mint nanaimo bars with mint buttercream frosting and chocolate ganache

What is a mint nanaimo bar?

If you’ve never tried one of these triple layered dessert bars before, you’re probably wondering what they are and where they got their funky name!

Mint nanaimo bars are a no-bake dessert, containing three layers and a mint chocolate flavor. The bottom layer is a mixture of nuts, coconut, and wafers/biscuits. The middle layer is mint frosting, while the top layer is chocolate ganache.

Why is it called nanaimo? What are nanaimo bars called in the USA?

These bars are named after Nanaimo, which is a city in British Columbia, Canada. Although this dessert was originally created in Canada, it is often sold in the United States under other names. Some common names include “New York Slice,” “London Fog Bar,” and “Prayer Bar.”

This mint nanaimo bars recipe is:

Vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, and gluten-free friendly
Sweet, minty, crunchy, and refreshing
An easy no-bake dessert
Made with only 8 ingredients
Great for mint chocolate lovers
A fun green dessert for St Patrick’s Day!

a pile of vegan mint nanaimo bars with mint buttercream frosting and chocolate ganache

Ingredients in vegan mint nanaimo bars

Graham cracker crumbs: Use store bought graham cracker crumbs to save time. Alternatively, easily make your own at home! Just add graham crackers to a food processor and pulse until evenly crumbled.
Chocolate chips: I find dark chocolate to pair best with mint flavor, but you can use milk chocolate chips if you prefer that. Make sure they are dairy-free if you’d like to make the bars vegan.
Shredded coconut: Unsweetened shredded coconut is just coconut that has been dried and finely chopped. Be sure to use the shredded variety, not the flaked kind.
Sliced almonds: Sliced almonds work best for this recipe. However, you can also use finely chopped almonds, cashews, or walnuts. Make sure they are chopped into small bits and pieces.
Vegan butter: Vegan buttery sticks, such as the Earth Balance brand, will work best.
Powdered sugar: Also known as confectioner’s sugar, this is the sweetener for the mint buttercream layer. I recommend sifting it to remove any clumps. This will help you create a totally smooth frosting.
Vanilla extract: Vanilla sweetens the flavor of the crunchy chocolate base.
Peppermint extract: Either peppermint extract or peppermint flavoring can be used for this dessert. Extract is much more intense than flavor, so keep that in mind! It’s helpful to start small and only add more as needed.
Green food coloring: Use green food dye or a natural alternative, such as matcha powder or spirulina powder. Keep in mind the natural alternatives will alter the flavor (while food dye is flavorless).
Salt: Salt enhances all of the ingredients, especially the rich chocolate.

bowls of ingredients for vegan mint nanaimo bars

How to make vegan mint nanaimo bars

For the full ingredient measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to view the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

First, line a square 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some of the paper hanging over the edges.

melted chocolate chips and vegan butter in a glass bowl — In a bowl, add vegan butter and chocolate chips. Microwave for 45 seconds, then stir together.

melted chocolate, shredded coconut, sliced almonds, and graham cracker crumbs inside a glass bowl — Add graham cracker crumbs, shredded coconut, nuts, and vanilla extract to the bowl.

mixing mint nanaimo bars crust inside a glass bowl — Mix the ingredients together to combine.

vegan mint nanaimo bars crust inside a square baking dish — Transfer to the baking dish. Using clean hands or a silicone spatula, firmly press the mixture against the bottom of the pan. Chill in the refrigerator.

a kitchenaid handheld mixer creaming mint buttercream frosting in a glass bowl — In a bowl, add vegan butter, peppermint extract, and salt. Cream together. Add powdered sugar and cream together again. Add almond milk and green food coloring, to thin the consistency and create a green appearance.

vegan mint nanaimo bars with mint buttercream frosting inside a square baking pan — Spread the mint buttercream frosting over the chocolate crunch layer. Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

melted vegan chocolate inside a glass bowl — In a bowl, add chocolate chips and vegan butter (or coconut oil). Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between, until chocolate is melted. Alternatively, melt together in a double boiler.

vegan mint nanaimo bars with mint buttercream frosting and melted chocoalte inside a square baking pan — Pour the melted chocolate over the mint buttercream layer. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until firm. Gently slice into 16 squares. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What is a good substitute for green food dye?

If you’d like to use a natural alternative to green food dye, I recommend matcha powder or spirulina powder. While these are a healthier option, they will slightly alter the flavor of the frosting.

What can I use instead of sliced almonds?

You can use finely chopped almonds, cashews, or walnuts. Make sure you chop them into small bits and pieces, otherwise the bottom layer will not hold together well.

Where to buy gluten-free graham crackers?

If you need to make this recipe gluten-free, simply use gluten-free graham crackers! I love the Kinnikinnick Graham Cracker Crumbs or Partake Foods Graham Crackers.

How can I make clean slices?

In order to cut clean bars, run a sharp knife under hot water for 10-15 seconds. Wipe it dry with a paper towel, then gently slice into the bars. Let the warmth of the knife melt the layers as you slowly slice them. Repeat as the knife cools down.

How to store vegan mint nanaimo bars

Store these vegan nanaimo bars inside a sealer container in the refrigerator. Enjoy within one week. They should be kept in the refrigerator to keep the frosting layer fresh.

If you’d like to save them longterm, you can keep them inside the freezer. Let them thaw completely before consuming and enjoy within three months.

a stack of two vegan mint nanaimo bars with mint buttercream frosting

More mint chocolate desserts

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