5 Date Bark Recipes (Viral TikTok Recipe) | Chica and Jo (2024)

We love a good food trend, so when we saw Date Crunch Bark evolve into Date Snickers, and then into Date Bark we just had to try it out!

Combining medjool dates with things like peanut butter, nuts, and chocolate to create a healthier version of a candy bar, that's also super easy? Sign us up!

What is date bark?

The original viral date bark recipe involves covering medjool dates with peanut butter, peanuts, and chocolate, then a sprinkle of salt. When set, you break it up into pieces that taste so much like a Snickers bar you almost can't believe it.

How hard is it to make date bark?

Making date mark is SO EASY and requires no baking or cooking at all. How many desserts do you know that can be made in just a few minutes, taste amazing, and can be stored in the fridge or freezer for weeks until serving?

VIDEO: How to make date bark

Here's a video showing how to make date bark, along with 5 easy and tasty recipes to try.

If you can't see the video, try viewing it directly on YouTube.

Ingredients to make date bark

The original viral date bark combines medjool dates, peanut butter, peanuts, dark chocolate and salt.

But this is just a starting point, and you can adapt this in so many ways. Keep reading to see the 5 new recipes for date bark that we developed.

How to make date bark

Here are the basic instructions for making date bark, but it's so easy to customize too. Be sure to keep reading below to see the amazing new date bark recipes we came up with.

Cut the dates almost all the way in half, and open them up.

Place the dates, open side up, on a piece of parchment paper on a tray, touching each other, in a rectangle shape.

Place another piece of parchment on top and then use the end of a glass to press the dates down to flatten them as much as possible.

Remove the parchment and arrange the dates again if needed. If you have trouble with the paper sticking to the dates, (which means you have nice fresh dates! yay!) you could also flatten them with your slightly oiled hands.

Drizzle your soft ingredient (peanut butter, nut butter, etc) over the dates. (Peanut butter drizzles best if you warm it for a few seconds in the microwave.)

Sprinkle with crunchy ingredients (nuts, pretzels, cookies, etc).

Drizzle melted chocolate over everything.

Use a small offset spatula to spread out the chocolate evenly.

Sprinkle with flaky salt. Our favorite is Maldon Sea Salt.

Place in freezer for 20-30 minutes until the chocolate is set. Then break it (or cut it) into pieces and enjoy!

How to store date bark

Store your date bark in an airtight container in the fridge to keep it fresh and maintain its taste and texture. It should last a week or two, but it will probably get eaten up before that!

You can also store date bark up to 3 months in the freezer, for a ready-to-go cold treat when you've got a craving. Just keep in mind that it will be pretty hard when you remove it, so let it sit out a few minutes before biting into it.

Our 5 amazing new date bark recipes

We promised you that date bark is so easy to customize, and these recipes are proof. We came up with five amazing variations on date bark that are all super delicious.

Fall Fruit and Nuts Date Bark Recipe

For our fall-themed date bark recipe, we topped our dates with chopped dried apples, dried cranberries, and pepitas (pumpkin seeds), then covered it with dark chocolate and a sprinkling of flaky salt.

Bourbon Ball Date Bark Recipe

For our bourbon ball date bark recipe, we topped our dates with a quick buttercream (softened butter and powdered sugar) with some bourbon stirred in and chopped pecans, then covered it with dark chocolate and a sprinkling of flaky salt.

S'mores Date Bark Recipe

For our s'mores date bark recipe, we topped our dates with marshmallow fluff and graham cracker pieces, then covered it with milk chocolate and a sprinkling of flaky salt.

Take5 Candy Bar Date Bark Recipe

For our Take5 candy bar copycat date bark recipe, we topped our dates with peanut butter, peanuts, and broken pretzel pieces, then covered it with dark chocolate and a sprinkling of flaky salt.

Almond Date Bark Recipe

For our almond date bark recipe, we topped our dates with almond butter and slivered almonds, then covered it with dark chocolate and a sprinkling of flaky salt.

Tips for making the best date bark

Here are some tips to help you make the best date bark easily with tasty results:

• Use fresh dates: Always choose soft, plump medjool dates for best results. Smaller or older dates will be drier and won't provide that chewy texture we're looking for.
• Melt chocolate carefully: To temper your melted chocolate for best results, reserve some of the chocolate then heat the rest in the microwave in 20-30 second intervals until ALMOST melted, stirring after each interval so it doesn't burn. Then add a the reserved unmelted bits and stir until they are melted and everything is smooth. This fresh chocolate will "re-seed" the melted chocolate's structure and temper it to give your chocolate a nice snap.
• Chill properly: After putting together your bark, give it a good 20-30 minutes in the freezer to allow everything to harden before you try to break/cut it into pieces.
• Don't be afraid to tweak it: If you aren't a fan of one kind of nuts or nut butters, mix things up! You can use any nut you like (or no nuts), or add dried fruits, or change up the chocolate from dark to milk to white. Try different combos to get the flavor profiles you like.

Why is date bark a healthier snack?

Unlike traditional candy bars, this date bark is made of wholesome natural ingredients. The medjool dates add a caramel-like flavor and texture with only natural sweetness. When you pair it with nut butters and nuts, you get that added protein and the chocolate on top brings in the decadance.

The dates themselves are rich in nutrients (50% more potassium than a banana), fiber (giving them a low/medium glycemic index score), vitamins (niacin, B6, and K), and minerals (calcium, magnesium, copper, and iron). And their mild taste blends right in with the toppings, ensuring even the pickiest eaters will enjoy this snack.

It's also a really versatile snack for sensitive diets, and it's really easy way to tweak the ingredients to make it vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, and nut free.