No Bake Vegan Dark Chocolate & Peanut Butter Date Bark

No Bake Vegan Dark Chocolate & Peanut Butter Date Bark

Just 6 ingredients create a mouth watering “candy bark” that is surprisingly healthy.

How to make dark chocolate bark:

• Spread dates on a sheet pan in between sheets of parchment paper and flatten into a single layer using a rolling pin. Press down firmly to “mush” the dates together
• Spread melted peanut or almond butter over the dates
• Sprinkle with nuts and coconut
• Spread melted chocolate all over the mixture, top with flakey sea salt and freeze

What is “Date Bark?”

Date bark is simply a frozen sheet of ingredients that taste just like a Snickers or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup rolled into one. Store the “bark shards” in a zip top bag in your freezer and break off a piece whenever you want a chocolately treat. Date bark is a great way to enjoy a candy like treat while eating nutrient rich dates.

What kind of Dates to use-

• Medjool dates are large and plump- perfect for this recipe. You can find them in the produce section of your grocery store. Avoid the bagged smaller dates- they are drier and do not work as well in this recipe.
• Medjool dates are packed with potassium, magnesium (great for mental health) vitamin B6, vitamin K, fiber and iron.
• Dates also are a low glycemic food meaning they help regulate low blood sugar.

Why is this recipe better than a candy bar?

• You can eat as little as you want to help curb sweet tooth cravings instead of eating an entire Snickers candy bar that has 250 calories and 28 grams of sugar and almost no fiber or nutrients.
• Some recipes online use coconut oil in the melting of the chocolate. I found it did not add anything to the recipe and only added in more calories.
• Almonds are a fantastic source of protein, fiber, create a feeling of fullness, lower cholesterol and so much more.
• Dark chocolate is rich in anti-oxidants.
• Nut butters are a great source of protein and fiber.

Variations to this Recipe:

• Use any kind of nut butter you prefer: I used peanut butter, but almond butter or sunflower butter would be fine.
• Try semi sweet chocolate or perhaps butterscotch morsels
• Chopped peanuts are a great alternative to almonds
• Add dried cranberries or raisins
• Sprinkle with crushed peppermints for a holiday version.
• Try a drizzle of caramel for an indulgent treat.
• Use Lilly’s Sugar-Free dark chocolate baking chips to reduce the amount of sugar

Other healthy & simple “no bake” desserts to try:

• Tom Brady copy cat avocado ice cream
• No bake oatmeal energy bites
• Keto friendly lemon balls

Date Bark Recipe

This easy dessert takes only a few minutes to make. Using only your microwave and freezer, this recipe makes a candy bar type “bark” that is a perfect snack or gift anytime you are craving chocolate.

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: date bark

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Author: Meggen Wilson

Ingredients

• 20 large fresh pitted dates
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1 cup shredded coconut flakes
• 1 cup nut butter of choice peanut or almond
• 1 tsp flakey smoked sea salt
• 1 cup roasted almonds roughly chopped

Instructions

• Open the dates in half to flatten. Arrange the dates as close together in between two sheets of parchment paper to create your “bark” base. Using a rolling pine, flatten the dates in between two sheets of parchment paper. Transfer the dates to a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment. Set aside.
• In a microwave safe bowl, melt the peanut or almond butter for 30 seconds in 15 second increments. Str in 15 second increments to distribute the heat. Pour the warm peanut butter all over the flattened dates.
• Sprinkle with the coconut and chopped almonds.
• Melt the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for 30 -45 seconds stirring every 15 seconds. Once smooth, pour the chocolate in a thin layer over the dates. Use an off-set spatula to help spread the chocolate. Sprinkle the entire mixture with smoked flakey sea salt.
• Place the tray into the freezer for 30 minutes. Break into shards and seal in a freezer safe container or a zip top bag. Store the “Date Bark” in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Notes

I use Maldon Smoked sea salt. It is available in the salt section of finer grocery stores, online or at Williams Sonoma.

The recipe is meant to create a rustic bark. There is no need to measure precisely the pieces, but you can certainly cut them up into size size servings.

The recipe last yup to three months in the freezer. The Bark does not travel well on a hot day. Keep it cold.