Everything you love about a Snickers bar—crunchy, chewy, sweet and salty—transformed into an easy, no-bake wholesome dessert. Starring caramel-like Medjool dates, this 5-ingredient dark chocolate peanut butter bark comes together in just 15 minutes. Naturally vegan, gluten-free and irresistibly good.
Date bark—a sweet treat that’s as fun to make as it is to devour.
Once in a while, a recipe rises on social media inspiring the masses to stop scrolling and actually get into the kitchen. Originally spotted on That Health Junkie, this viral date chocolate bark was immediate love at first sight—which first bite wholeheartedly confirmed. Fast forward (a few trays later), I’ve added my own salty, peanutty spin.
If you’re new to date bark, it’s a nutritious twist on the classic chocolate bark confectionary—aka melted dark chocolate that’s sprinkled with toppings, hardened, then broken into pieces (like this festive chocolate peppermint bark). Date bark swaps the chocolate base with naturally sweet dates, then tops it with a layer of creamy nut butter and a delicate coat of dark chocolate.
As a Registered Nutritionist, I love sharing healthier dessert recipes that balance indulgence with nourishment. These date peanut butter chocolate bars are a winner and an evolution on the classic (yet ever popular) Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates. Explore more Medjool date dessert ideas in N&T’s collection of healthy date recipes!
Gather Ingredients
- Medjool dates. The heart of our bark. They’re larger, softer, stickier, and more caramel-like than other date varieties (like Deglet Noor). This recipe uses 15 standard Medjool dates (in 5×3 rows).
- Smooth peanut butter. A creamy and nutty layer that complements the dates perfectly. Look for peanut butter with minimal ingredients—just peanuts and salt. A drippy style with a higher oil content can be easier to spread.
- Dark chocolate. Opt for a 70% cocoa solid dark chocolate bar with a slight bitterness—it complements the natural sweetness of the dates like a dream!
- Coconut oil. A touch of coconut oil added to melted chocolate serves a dual purpose. It thins the chocolate, making it easier to spread, and also gives it a smooth glossy finish when hardened.
- Roasted salted peanuts. For a bit of extra crunch and peanuty goodness. Don’t skip the salt, it helps make all the flavours pop!
If your Medjool dates are on the smaller side you may want to use a little less nut butter, peanuts and chocolate—or just add a few more dates into the mix.
Step-by-Step: Homemade Chocolate Bark
Kitchen Tips
Here are tips and tricks to help your kitchen skills grow while improving the outcome of this dish:
- Use (the right) sharp knife. A sharp knife makes slicing easier, resulting in more presentable and safer cuts. For the dates a paring knife (small) is ideal, while a chef’s knife (larger) works fabulously for slicing the bark into squares.
- Smoosh the dates flat with a glass. Dates have a natural oval shape and soft, sticky texture. When sliced open and gently pressed down, they can be moulded flat, resulting in a relatively flat surface—perfect for the foundation of our date bark. Smoosh inside-side down, otherwise things get a bit sticky.
- Freeze and cut in a timely manner. A quick 30 minutes in the freezer is all this dish needs to harden and reach prime-cutting consistency. If it’s in there for ages it can be a bit of a mission to cut.
Serving & Storing
Once the chocolate has set in the freezer, place the date bark onto a chopping board and slice the bark into squares. Store pieces in an airtight container in the fridge until feasting time.
Flavour wise, if this dark chocolate peanut butter bark isn’t aligned to your tastebuds or dietary preferences, feel free to veer off—this recipe is easily customisable. Here are ideas:
- Peanut allergy or not a peanut fan? Substitute in roasted salted almonds and almond butter, or try hazelnut butter with chopped hazelnuts (Nutella vibes).
- Nut-free (school friendly) version? Opt for sunflower seed butter and sunflower seeds.
- Milk chocolate lover? Swap the dark chocolate for milk chocolate.
- Want more crunch? Try a sprinkle of popcorn, rice crispy cereal, coconut flakes or your favourite seeds.
Nutrition Q&A
What are the nutritional benefits of medjool dates? Medjool dates are a versatile and easy add to your diet. They’re great snacked on raw, blended into smoothies, or as a natural sweetener in desserts—like this recipe! Here are a few of their nutrition perks:
- Each Medjool date (around 24-28 grams) contains approximately 1.6 to 1.8 grams of dietary fibre. Fun fact: they’re classified as having a low-moderate glycemic index (aka a measure of blood sugar impact). This translates to a smoother, steadier rise in blood sugar levels after eating.
- They’re a concentrated source of natural sugars, offering a quick energy boost. Pair them with something like peanut butter for extra balance and longer-lasting energy.
- They’re rich in antioxidants. Medjool dates boast several antioxidants, which help protect cells from oxidative damage, include flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acids (1). One study found that dates had the highest antioxidant content when compared with figs and prunes (2).
Thanks for reading! Looking for more healthier sweet treat ideas? Check out Nourish and Tempt’s dessert collection here.
5-Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark with Dates
Rating:
Ingredients:
- 15 Medjool dates
- 4 generous heaped Tbsp smooth peanut butter
- 5 Tbsp salted roasted peanut halves
- 150 g dark chocolate
- 1 tsp coconut oil
Method:
Pitt the dates (if not purchased pitted)
- If your medjool dates are not pitted (aka had the pit removed), gently make a lengthwise slice down one side of the Medjool date, and then carefully pull open the date to reveal the pit. Remove the pit from the date and discard.
Make the dark bark
- Line a baking tray with baking/parchment paper.
- Gently spread open the dates. Using the bottom of a glass cup, gently flatten each date, inside-side down (you can do this on the baking tray or on a chopping board).
- Add the dates inside-side down, in rows of 5×3, onto a lined baking tray, overlapping each. Your glass cup can help fuse them together by pressing down gently.
- Spread the peanut butter overtop, using the back on a spoon to evenly swirl.
- Sprinkle over 4 Tbsp of the peanut halves (reserving 1 Tbsp for later).
- Smoosh the peanuts down using the back of a Tbsp, so they’re sitting relatively even and flat.
- Break the dark chocolate into squares. Place in a heat-proof bowl and microwave in 30 seconds bursts until melted. Make sure to check it periodically, so it doesn't burn!
- Add the coconut oil to the melted chocolate and mix together.
- Drizzle the melted chocolate and coconut oil overtop the dark bark, using the back of a Tbsp to evenly cover the surface.
- Sprinkle the reserved peanuts overtop. Place the tray in the freezer to harden for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the freezer, place date bark onto a chopping board and cut into 12 squares using a knife.
Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe
If you enjoyed this dish, please consider giving it a star rating when you post a comment. Star ratings help others discover my recipes online (and your reviews make my day! 🙂 ). Happy cooking and baking. Danijela x
8 Comments
Finally gave in to this viral chocolaty goodness! Fun to make and even more fun to share. I used salted cashews instead of peanuts as i did not have any on hand. Big hit! Thanks for the recipe.
Thanks so much for your kind comment and rating Vina. Haha I was the same – finally gave in and so glad i did! Cashews sound like a fabulous addition.
Excellent recipe. Easy layout. Great pictures. You desa medal.
Thank you for your kind words and rating Anil – so glad you like it 🙂
These are incredible and a huge hit in our home! Just wondering if you could share the nutritional facts please?!
Hi Michelle, so glad you enjoy them!:) Using Cronometer for a nutrition analysis, for a 12 serves/batch they’re about 215 cal, 3g protein, 10g fat + 26g carbs. If you reduce the serving size, naturally this will decrease too. I hope this helps! x
Made this and loved it. It’s so delicious. Like a snickers bar but much healthier. Will be making this regularly.
Wonderful to hear, thanks for the kind feedback Isobel! x