Date Bark – Viral Recipe

We love this viral Date Bark Recipe! It features layers of sweet chewy dates, crunchy nuts, peanut butter, and melted chocolate. This is one viral trend you will want to try.

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This easy chocolate date bark is a sweet treat you can feel good about. Dates are truly nature’s candy. Other recipes we love that feature dates include these Coconut Cashew Bars and this Date Cookies recipe.

Why YOU will love this recipe

• Who doesn’t love a healthy candy bar? With the layers of caramel-like dates, peanuts, and chocolate this recipe tastes like a Snickers but without all of the processed sugars and junky ingredients.
• The natural sugars in dates provide a quick energy boost, making date bark a good choice for a mid-day snack or a pre-workout treat.
• Date bark is an easy, no-bake snack that requires very little prep time and no special equipment is needed. It is actually kind of fun to make!
• This recipe is naturally vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free. Bonus!

Ingredients

Find the full ingredient list, with measurements, in the recipe card below.

• dates – Use Deglet Noor or Medjool dates – just remember to take any pits out! Dates are full of natural sweetness and will also give a chewy texture to the bark.
• peanut butter – We recommend using a natural product with only peanuts listed on the label. Choose crunchy or creamy peanut butter – both work great!
• peanuts – To add crunch. Plus they are a classic component of a Snickers bar.
• chocolate – We find using dark chocolate chips makes for easy melting.
• flaked sea salt – This adds the perfect finishing touch to this healthy treat. A sprinkle of salt brings out the best of all of the flavors. Maldon’s Flaked Sea Salt is the classic choice.

Equipment

• baking tray – Use a small baking sheet that will easily fit into your freezer.
• parchment paper – We typically recommend using unbleached parchment paper.

Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom for the FULL recipe details.

Step 1

First, start by opening all of the dates, and pitting them if necessary.

Then, layer them out on a parchment-lined baking sheet. We did five rows with five dates in each row.

Step 2

Next, add another layer of parchment paper over the top of the dates.

Press down firmly on them, using your hands or the flat bottom of a heavy glass.

Press the dates out as flat and even as you can.

Step 3

Then, peel off the top layer of the parchment paper.

Step 4

Next, spread the peanut butter evenly over the flattened dates.

As mentioned above, you can use smooth or chunky peanut butter.

Step 5

Then, sprinkle on the peanuts.

These go right on top of the peanut butter layer.

You could chop them up but I prefer a whole peanut. It is a personal choice.

Step 6

Next, melt the chocolate. You can use a microwave or a stovetop, whichever you fancy.

Drizzle the melted chocolate over the peanuts and use a spatula to spread it out evenly.

Step 7

Then, add a sprinkle of flaky salt and stand back to admire your work. It is so gorgeous and delicious looking!

Step 8

Finally, pop the baking tray into the freezer for your bark to set.

This takes about 30 minutes or so. Take it out of the freezer once it is firm.

Step 9

Break the bark into pieces – or cut with a knife if you want more uniform-looking squares.

Expert tip

This treat can be a bit hard right out of the freezer so we recommend letting it sit for a minute at room temperature before biting in. Your teeth will thank us!

Recipe variations

• If you want a nut-free version try using sunflower seed butter or tahini and chopped seeds instead of the peanuts.
• Experiment with different nuts and nut butter like almonds and almond butter, cashew butter or pecans, walnuts, pistachios, etc. The possibilities are endless. Get creative and have some fun.
• Create a tropical version using coconut flakes and macadamia nuts as toppings. Maybe use white chocolate instead of dark chocolate or swirl the two together. Yum!

Serving suggestions

• Enjoy as a quick energy boost during the day.
• Skip the plate of cookies and swap it for date bark. It presents great as a rustic-looking dessert, broken up and served on a small platter.
• Chop it into bite-sized pieces and crumble it on top of banana nice cream, yogurt, or ice cream as a healthier dessert topping option.
• Incorporate crumbled date bark into homemade granola bars for an extra burst of sweetness.

FAQS

Storage tips

Keep this treat in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for 2-3 weeks. This date bark will get soft at room temperature so be sure to keep it cool.

More healthy dessert recipes

If you’ve tried our Viral Date Bark, please rate the recipe and let us know how it turned out by leaving us a comment below. We’re always interested in feedback!

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