Celebrate Canada's Birthday with These Delicious Treats

Canada Day is celebrated on July 1st, and like many others, you're probably planning to attend or host a Canada Day event. With busy summer schedules, creative Canadian dishes may not be on your agenda. To help you out, we've put together a list of easy and festive Canada Day recipes to take the stress out of party planning.

Canada Day Recipes

1. Nanaimo Bars

Nanaimo bars are as Canadian as it gets! Named after the city in British Columbia, these delicious treats are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Plus, you can skip the baking by using a pre-made graham cracker pie crust. This recipe is also tree nut allergy friendly!

Ingredients

Layer 1: Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust

• 1 ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs
• ½ cup shredded coconut
• ⅓ cup cocoa powder
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ⅓ cup butter, melted
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

Layer 2: Custard Filling

• ¼ cup butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons custard powder
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons milk

Layer 3: Chocolate

• 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8x9 inch cake pan.
2. Crust: In a bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, coconut, cocoa powder, and sugar. Drizzle with melted butter and beaten egg; stir to combine. Press mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
3. Custard Filling: Beat together butter, custard powder, and vanilla. Gradually beat in powdered sugar alternately with milk until smooth. Spread custard filling over cooled base. Refrigerate until firm, about an hour.
4. Topping: Melt chocolate with butter in a small bowl over simmering water, or microwave in 15-second intervals. Spread over filling and refrigerate until set. Cut into bars and enjoy!

2. Canada Day Popsicles

Why buy regular popsicles when you can whip up your own with a Canadian twist? These tasty treats use Greek yogurt, strawberries, maple syrup, and raspberries for a delicious frozen dessert.

Ingredients

• 2 cups raspberries (fresh or frozen, thawed if frozen)
• 4 to 6 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
• 2 cups vanilla yogurt

Method

1. Blend raspberries with 4 tablespoons of maple syrup in a blender.
2. In a separate bowl, mix vanilla yogurt with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup. Set aside in the fridge.
3. Fill popsicle molds a third of the way with raspberry puree. Freeze for 20 minutes.
4. Remove molds and pour yogurt mixture on top of frozen raspberry layer. Freeze for another 20 minutes.
5. Add the last layer of raspberry puree and insert sticks. Freeze until hard, at least 4 hours.

3. Caprese Salad

This simple, healthy, and festive salad features tomatoes and mozzarella, perfectly representing the red and white colors of the Canadian flag. It's one of the easiest Canada Day recipes to prepare!

Ingredients

• 400 grams mozzarella cheese (mozzarella pearls work well)
• 300 grams cherry tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• Fresh basil leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Chop basil leaves and mix them with olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a mason jar. Shake well to make dressing.
2. Arrange mozzarella and tomatoes on a serving platter (consider making the Canadian flag design!). Drizzle with dressing and toss to combine.

4. Maple Meatballs

Incorporating a Canadian classic, these maple meatballs are a quick dish that can be served as an appetizer or a main dish over rice. You can prepare this dish in just 15 minutes, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the Canada Day festivities!

Ingredients

• ½ cup maple syrup
• ½ cup chili sauce (or ketchup)
• 2 teaspoons dried chives (or 2 tablespoons fresh chives)
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• ½ teaspoon ground mustard
• 1 pound frozen, fully cooked meatballs, thawed

Method

1. In a saucepan, combine maple syrup, chili sauce, chives, soy sauce, and ground mustard. Bring to a low boil.
2. Add meatballs and return to a boil. Simmer over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until heated through. Enjoy!

5. Poutine Bar

Cater to everyone's taste buds with a poutine bar at your Canada Day party! Poutine is a classic dish you can't miss.

Ingredients

• French fries
• Cheese curds and/or grated cheese
• Beef and/or vegetarian gravy
• Optional toppings: sautéed mushrooms, pulled pork, chopped bacon, green onions

Method

1. Prepare a base of French fries.
2. Add cheese curds and desired toppings.
3. Drizzle with gravy and enjoy!

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Love these Canada Day recipes? Share them with your friends and family to wish the country a very happy birthday!

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