It’s not every day that a food trend exceeds my expectations, but this viral date bark is definitely a winner. This trending recipe combines the classic flavors of dates, peanut butter, and chocolate, creating a snack that’s both satisfying and nutritious, perfect for when you’re craving something sweet. It’s also extremely quick to make and takes a bit over 5 minutes to put together. Shout out to the original inspiration behind this recipe, @thathealthjunkie. Also, a special mention to the amazing @georginaburgess_, who brought it to my attention. Make sure to check both of them out on Instagram!
As you can see in the photo below, my partner Cam gave me the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift this year with a gorgeous Valentine’s Day version of the viral date bark. It shows just how easy it is to customize to your liking for a healthy snack or dessert. For someone who doesn’t spend much time in the kitchen, I think he absolutely nailed it! His special Valentine’s Day edition was made with a heart-shaped mold and bordered with fresh raspberries. The raspberries were a genius touch both in terms of look and flavor!
If you love this, try our Chocolate Pistachio Chia Pudding for another chocolate-pistachio combo, or our Carrot Cake Bliss Balls for more healthy bite-sized treats. For more chocolate dessert ideas, browse our Brownie Baked Oats, Cacao Blended Chia Pudding, and Almond Tiramisu Overnight Oats.
Why I love this easy snack recipe
- Quick to Make: Prepped in just over 5 minutes, then we let it cool.
- Healthy Ingredients: Packed with natural sweetness from dates plus there’s protein from the peanut butter.
- Versatile: Easily customizable with different nuts or seed butter and toppings. For nut-free butter, you should try our Nut Free Pumpkin & Sunflower Seed Butter.
Ingredient Notes
- Dates: Medjool dates are preferred for their sweetness and texture. Make sure to remove the pits.
- Peanut Butter: Use creamy peanut butter for a smooth texture.
- Chocolate: Dark chocolate (85%) is recommended for a rich flavor.
- Pistachios (optional): Adds a stunning touch of green and a crunchy texture. Feel free to substitute with other nuts.
- Raspberries (optional): Add a vibrant pink color and delicious flavor that pairs perfectly with the peanut butter and chocolate.
Step-by-Step Instructions
To create the original date bark recipe, prepare the Dates by slicing them in half and removing the pits. Arrange in a rectangular shape, close together on some baking paper. I did mine on top of a baking tray that can fit in my fridge to make it easy to move them when it’s time to let them cool. Layer another sheet of baking paper on top and flatten them with a potato masher (or jar or bottom of a cup).
Remove the baking paper and cover the flattened Medjool dates with a nice thick layer of peanut butter or other nut butter. We used a mix of crunchy and smooth peanut butter, but you could use whatever you like! I’d really recommend using peanut butter that isn’t artificially sweetened. For example, this brand is 99.5% peanuts. Or you can make your own, especially if you’re nut-free. You could try our Nut-free Pumpkin & Sunflower Seed Butter!
Melt dark Chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl with cacao butter or coconut oil. Microwave 30 seconds at a time, stirring each time, until smooth. Layer over the Medjool dates and peanut butter. Top with some chopped pistachios or whichever nuts you prefer.
Top with sea salt and chill for 2 hours in the fridge or 1 hour in the freezer! Et voila, your chocolate Date Bark is ready! I broke mine up into pieces but you could also cut it into slices and store it in a container in the fridge for up to a week. Enjoy!
Variations and Tips
Valentine’s Day Date Bark
My partner Cam gave me the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift this year with this gorgeous Valentine’s Day date bark, and I think he absolutely nailed it. It couldn’t have been any cuter! 😍 You can also watch the video he shot for the Valentine’s Date Bark below. He subbed pistachios for fresh raspberries!
Why You’ll Love This Viral Date Bark
Viral Date Bark
Equipment
Ingredients
- 30 Medjool dates - pitted
- 1 cup (258 g) peanut butter
- 150 g dark chocolate (85%)
- 1 tbsp cacao butter or coconut oil
- 2 tbsp pistachios - chopped
- 2 pinch sea salt flakes
Instructions
- Using a knife, slice the Medjool dates lengthways on one side and remove the pit. Layer them on a baking sheet, squash them down using a potato masher.
- Melt the chocolate by adding cacao butter or coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave 30 seconds at a time, stirring each time, until smooth.
- Top the dates with peanut butter, melted chocolate, crushed pistachios, and sea salt. Set in the fridge for 2 hours (or freezer for 1 hour) and enjoy!
Video
Per Serving/Portion
FAQ
Yes, you can substitute pistachios with almonds or walnuts.
Yes, it’s a plant-based recipe suitable for vegans. Just ensure you’re using dairy-free dark chocolate.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
We typically split the bark into about 20 bite-sized pieces. You can adjust the size to your preference. For nutritional information per bite, click “nutritional information” under the recipe instructions.
Yes, you can make them as single-serving bites with one date and toppings. We do it all the time. It’s delicious and even easier to eat.
Yes, any nut or seed butter works. For a fancier variation, try a pistachio matcha butter for a beautiful green layer.
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I like the recipe for the viral bark but when I clicked the picture for the bark with the matcha layer I received the viral bark instead. How do I obtain the recipe for the matcha bark?
Hi Brenda, it’s the same recipe, I just used a matcha pistachio butter instead, you can use any nut or seed butter you like 🙂 I tagged them on Instagram, you can also find them here: https://www.chefjoeyd.com/products/pistachio-matcha-crema?srsltid=AfmBOop_aQ-cPlZ4LmcPuUVeQx_5BqPZZALVucA49kSyE602QU1RiNDu
How big the portion, bite size?
We split the one in the video into 20 bites. Hope you love it!
This was absolutely delicious, thank you! I didn’t have pistachios so I used crunchy peanut butter. So good!
That sounds delicious, so happy you loved it Brandy 🙂
I loved this recipe! It tastes so decadent
So happy to hear that! Thank you Marie 💚