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Grab a piece of this 5-ingredient viral date bark recipe the next time you're craving a quick sweet treat. It is easy to make, has tons of flavor, and it's perfect for chocolate-peanut butter lovers. Enjoy this very satisfying healthier snack. Let us know if you make it, we love to hear from you.

a small white bowl holding several pieces of chopped date bark

This layered dessert does not require baking or special equipment. You just need dates, peanut butter, chocolate, and flaky sea salt. You can customize this recipe to suit your flavor and dietary preferences, making it dairy-free and nut-free.

Why You'll Love Chocolate Date Bark

Layers of chewy, caramel-like dates, nutty peanut butter, rich dark chocolate, and flaky salt combine perfectly to make a dessert that is easy to make and oh-so-satisfying!

Dates are naturally sweet and packed with vitamins and nutrients, so this is a great sweet treat you can feel good about enjoying.

Chocolate date bark is a no-bake, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan dessert. It is naturally sweetened with dates, although the chocolate does contain some sugar.

It has the sweetness, flavor, and texture you crave in a candy bar. Some say it's reminiscent of a Snickers bar made with wholesome ingredients.

Ingredients

Medjool Dates. These naturally sweet gems have a caramel flavor and chewy texture.
Creamy Peanut Butter. Use your favorite brand. Adds salt nuttiness.
Chopped Dark Chocolate or dark chocolate chips. We recommend a minimum of 70% cocoa.
Coconut Oil. It helps the melted chocolate solidify and stay crisp.
Topping: pistachios, almonds, pecans, peanuts or sesame seeds
Flaky Sea Salt. It brings all the flavors together and enhances the chocolate flavor.

How to Make the Viral Date Bark Recipe

overhead image of dates sliced in half lengthwise on top of a slab of chocolate bark.

Step 1: Split the dates in half, remove the pits, and press down onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

overhead image of a slab of date bark on top of a sheet of parchment paper. The date bark is topped with crushed pistachios.

Step 2: Spread on the peanut butter, then the melted chocolate, and sprinkle with the flaky salt.

overhead image of a slab of chocolate date bark topped with crushed pistachios. The date bark has been sliced into 7 long pieces.

Step 3: Place in the freezer to set.

a close up image of a white bowl with several pieces of chopped date bark

Step 4: After about 2 hours, remove from the freezer and cut into bite-sized pieces using a sharp knife.

Substitutions and Variations

Medjool Dates - are the best date variety for this recipe because they are large, soft, and easy to open and remove the pits. Use Deglet noor dates if that's what you have on hand. Keep in mind that the flavor and texture will vary and you will need to use more dates to cover the baking sheet. If your dates are too tough or dry, soak them in warm water for about 5 minutes to soften them up before using.

Peanut Butter - Substitute with any nut butter, such as almond butter, or cashew butter. For a nut-free alternative use your favorite seed butter like tahini or sunflower seed butter.

Dark Chocolate - We like to use 70% cocoa dark chocolate. Make sure to check the label if you want to keep this recipe vegan. If you don't need to keep this a lower-sugar sweet treat, you can use milk chocolate, white chocolate, or any chopped chocolate or chocolate chip you prefer.

Toppings - Make this recipe your own and use any of your favorite flavors. Top the date bark with chopped roasted nuts: peanuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, or hazelnuts. Go nut-free and use seeds: sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, pepitas, and sunflower seeds. Top with dried fruit: coconut, cranberries, cherries, diced apricots.

Flaky Salt - We use it to bring together all the date bark flavors. If you don't have flaky salt you can add Kosher Salt or table salt. If you can, try buying flaky salt.

How to Serve

Enjoy these little bites of sweet and salty goodness any time you are craving a sweet treat.

They're great alongside your morning coffee or tea, for a quick snack on the go, or a quick bite after dinner to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Our delicious date bark is great as part of a dessert board with Vegan Cookies, candied pecans, Dates stuffed with peanut butter, Dates stuffed with Tahini, Chocolate truffles, etc.

Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. The dates will harden but not fully freeze, we personally love the texture of the date bark directly from the freezer. Store the bark in the fridge instead of the freezer, if you want it to be a little softer.

Date Bark will last about 2 weeks, though we don't think it'll be around that long.

More Sweet Date Recipes

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