This caramel apple chocolate date bark is a fall-inspired twist on the viral recipe. It's full of nourishing ingredients to satisfy your sweet tooth and leave you feeling good.
When I saw the viral chocolate date bark by That Health Junkie, I knew I had to recreate it. As expected, it was GOOD.
Dates are a substitute for caramel in many recipes thanks to their sweet and rich flavour, so I knew I had to try a fall take on the viral date bark. With a diced apple and satisfying crunch from walnuts, my fall-inspired chocolate date bark reminded me of a caramel apple from the fair. Seriously the best treat to have on hand when you need something sweet!
If you liked my chocolate covered dates, you're going to love this one.
Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved
- Simple and easy. This is a no fuss dessert, made with a few wholesome ingredients in just 15 minutes.
- Blood sugar balance. I love a sweet treat that leaves me feeling good! This chocolate date bark has fibre and healthy fats to prevent blood sugar crashes so you can focus on what matters.
- Low in added sugar. I will never demonize sugar, but we do know that it's better for us to minimize added sugars in our diet as much as possible. This recipe relies on natural sweetness in the dates, so the only added sugar is in the chocolate chips.
Ingredients
- Medjool dates
- Peanut butter
- Apple
- Walnut
- Dark chocolate chips
- Coconut oil
- Flakey sea salt
Instructions
Line a 13x18’ baking tray with parchment paper.
Slice each date lengthwise to remove the pit, opening the dates up.
Spread the dates open side up on the parchment paper as close together as possible.
Place another piece of parchment paper on top of the dates and use a rolling pin, your hands or a cup to gently press the dates down to form one even sheet.
Spread an even layer of peanut butter on top of the dates.
Sprinkle with diced apples and walnuts.
Add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a small microwave safe bowl microwave in increments of 30 seconds, until fully melted, stirring between.
Drizzle with melted chocolate and use a spatula to evenly spread over the bark. Sprinkle with sea salt (optional).
Place in the freezer to chill for at least 30 minutes.
Once the chocolate has hardened, break the bark into 25 even pieces.
Substitutions and Variations
To make gluten-free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
To make dairy-free: Use dairy-free chocolate chips
To make nut-free: Skip the walnuts and use sunflower seed butter, Granola Butter or any other nut-free spread of choice.
Missing an ingredient? Try these:
- Dark chocolate: White, milk or semi-sweet chocolate can be used. I personally find the dark chocolate balanced the sweetness from the dates but choose your favourite chocolate based on your preference (or use two)!
- Peanut butter: Swap for almond or cashew butter
- Walnuts: Swap for chopped almonds or pecans
Equipment
Storage
Chocolate date bark can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. If you are looking to store your bark longer, place the airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. I recommend allowing it to sit at room temperature for a few minute prior to biting into it.
Top Tip
If you are having trouble spreading the peanut butter, place it in the microwave for about 15 seconds to soften it up.
This is a great recipe to us up any dates you may have in the fridge, however some dates may be too tough to roll out. If you find your dates are too hard, place them in a bowl of boiling water for about 3 minutes prior to slicing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Date bark is a great make ahead sweet treat, but I wouldn’t recommend bringing it out. The chocolate will begin to melt if not kept cool and you will be left with a very messy situation!
Thanks to the fibre in the dates and apples and healthy fats from the peanut butter and walnuts, this is great option to satisfy a sweet tooth while still getting some nutrients and balancing your blood sugar levels! I wouldn’t recommend eating the entire batch in one sitting as dates are pretty sweet.
This helps minimize mess and avoid the dates sticking to your hands or rolling pin.
I usually have anywhere from 1-3. Sometimes I enjoy it by itself, sometimes I pair them with a handful of nuts or some Greek yogurt. It all depends!
More Healthy Dessert Recipes
Satisfy your sweet tooth with these recipes:
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this caramel apple chocolate date bark, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Caramel Apple Chocolate Date Bark
Ingredients
- 25 medjool dates
- ½ cup of natural peanut butter
- 1 apple diced
- ¼ cup walnuts chopped
- ¾ cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- Flakey sea salt
Instructions
- Line a 13x18’ baking tray with parchment paper.
- Slice each date lengthwise to remove the pit, opening the dates up.
- Spread the dates open side up on the parchment paper as close together as possible.
- Place another piece of parchment paper on top of the dates and use a rolling pin, your hands or a cup to gently press the dates down to form one even sheet.
- Spread an even layer of peanut butter on top of the dates.
- Sprinkle with diced apples and walnuts.
- Add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a small microwave safe bowl microwave in increments of 30 seconds, until fully melted, stirring between.
- Drizzle with melted chocolate and use a spatula to evenly spread over the bark. Sprinkle with sea salt (optional)
- Place in the freezer to chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Once the chocolate has hardened, break the bark into 25 even pieces.
Ainsley Kurtz says
My kids and I LOVE this recipe! However sometimes I can't find dates at the store or they are way to expensive to buy from from the store. I would love for another recipe just like this one but with a date substitute
Nicole Addison says
Hi Ainsley- I recommend trying my banana bark!! It's another great freezer-friendly sweet treat!
Alicia says
I made these as a healthier option for a dessert party and they were a hit! So delicious! They are on our menu for next week!
Kiara Hallett says
I made this except I didn’t do it as one huge piece of bark, I did several little pieces. As someone who loves cold treats and caramel apples, I loved this! It’s such a great way to get a bit of a caramel apple flavor and still feel good/not “crash” after you eat it. I will make this again!
Paige Pollard says
Yum. So good! Very easy to make too!