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The Lemon Diaries

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May 1, 2025

Easy Dark Chocolate Date Bark with Peanut Butter

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If you’re looking for a quick and wholesome sweet treat that’s simple to make and packed with flavor, look no further than this Dark Chocolate Date Bark with Peanut Butter. It’s made with just a handful of ingredients, but the result is a rich, satisfying bark that checks every box: sweet, salty, chewy, and chocolatey.

Melted dark chocolate spread over peanut butter, topped with sea salt, shown before and after being cut into bark pieces. Text reads: Easy Dark Chocolate Date Bark with Peanut Butter.

Healthy Dark Chocolate Bark

The combination of naturally sweet dates and velvety peanut butter gives a caramel-like center, while the dark chocolate shell adds a decadent touch to these no bake treats. A pinch of salt on top balances the sweetness and makes each bite pop with flavor.

One of the biggest draws of this recipe is how easy it is to make. With no need for baking or fancy kitchen tools, it’s perfect for anyone looking for a quick dessert that still feels indulgent.

The ingredients come together in a way that mimics the flavor of a candy bar, but without all the processed sugar or preservatives. Medjool dates are a great natural sweetener, full of fiber and essential nutrients like potassium and magnesium. Peanut butter provides protein and healthy fats, while dark chocolate brings antioxidants and a rich, deep cocoa flavor. A touch of coconut oil helps create a smooth, glossy chocolate layer that’s easy to pour and bite into once set.

Whether you enjoy it straight from the freezer for a chilled crunch or let it soften slightly for a more fudgy texture, this bark is bound to become a regular in your kitchen. It’s easy, delicious, and endlessly customizable—what more could you ask for in a treat?

Other Topping Ideas

  • chopped nuts
  • flaked coconut
  • chopped espresso beans
  • pomegranate seeds
  • chopped seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, etc.)
  • peanut butter chips
  • dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, blueberries, etc.)

Variations

  • Instead of a bark, place a pitted date in a cupcake wrapper and add the toppings on top. Repeat with all of the dates to make 20 little candy cups.
  • I use regular semi-sweet chocolate chips, but an organic or no-sugar brand of chocolate chips will work as well. The dates are very sweet, so I prefer the less sweet chocolate over milk chocolate.
Halved dates with pits removed are arranged in rows on a sheet of brown parchment paper.
A piece of toasted bread topped with a thick layer of creamy peanut butter rests on a sheet of brown parchment paper.
A spoon spreads glossy melted chocolate over a layer of melted peanut butter on parchment paper.
A slab of chocolate-covered toffee topped with coarse salt sits on a sheet of parchment paper.
A stack of chocolate-covered peanut butter toffee pieces sprinkled with coarse sea salt on a wooden surface.
Print Recipe

Dark Chocolate Bark with Peanut Butter

Rich, chocolatey bark with the chew of dates for a candy bar texture that is satisfying to eat without the guilt.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Chill Time1 hour hr
Total Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: best peanut butter cups, dark chocolate bark, dates, white chocolate chips
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 20 medjool dates
  • ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter or nut butter of your choice
  • 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil
  • ½ teaspoon flaked sea salt optional

Instructions

  • Prepare a medium baking sheet by covering with parchment paper; set aside.
  • Slice each date down the side with a paring knife. Remove the pit, open the date up, and press it down with your hand or the bottom of a glass to flatten.
  • Place the flattened dates on the prepared baking sheet in a rectangle with the dates arranged 4 across and 5 down. Allow the edges of the dates to overlap a bit and press the edges together so they stick together (they don’t need to stick perfectly, and less soft dates may not stick together at all, which will still be okay).
  • In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the peanut butter in the microwave in 20-second intervals until smooth and pourable. Drizzle the melted peanut butter evenly over the dates.
  • In a medium microwave-safe mixing bowl, heat the chocolate chips and coconut oil together in 30 second intervals, stirring well between each interval until fully melted and smooth. Spoon the melted chocolate over the peanut butter layer and spread out edge to edge.
  • Sprinkle flaked sea salt over the top of the chocolate.
  • Refrigerate for 1 hour or until the chocolate is fully set.
  • Use a sharp knife to cut the bark into bite-size pieces.
  • Keep the bark in an air-tight food storage container at room temperature for up to five days.

Healthy Dessert Ideas

For more healthy dessert ideas, check these out:

  • Healthy Chocolate Blueberry Clusters
  • Healthy Chocolate Cherry Cookies
  • Healthy Strawberry Fruit Salad

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By: Christina · In: Healthy · Tagged: chocolate bark, dark chocolate, dates, Easy Dark Chocolate Date Bark with Peanut Butter, healthy dessert, peanut butter

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