You have probably seen a version of this viral date bark recipe getting around. It’s been so popular and for good reason! Medjool dates aren’t just delicious but they are healthy as well, filled with nutrients like fibre, iron, magnesium, potassium and B6. Paired with healthy fats from the almond butter, you end up with a dessert that provides long lasting energy. Plus there are no added sugars, just natural sugar from the dates and then sugar from the dark chocolate.
Ingredients Notes & Substitutions
This recipe is made using whole food and natural ingredients that are rich in nutrients and gluten-free and dairy-free. Here is all of the ingredients that you will need to make this delicious date bark, including any possible ingredient swaps and ingredient notes. I found everything at my local grocery store. The ingredient quantities can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- medjool dates – medjool dates are fresh dates found in the fruit and vegetable section. You can buy them pitted but if yours aren’t, just cut down the centre and remove the pits and the little woody stalk.
- almond butter – you can get smooth or crunchy almond butter, it is really up to your personal preference. You can swap almond butter for peanut butter, cashew butter or macadamia butter, or make this nut-free and use tahini or sunflower seed butter instead.
- frozen strawberries – to make the strawberry layer you need frozen or fresh strawberries.
- chia seeds – the chia seeds go in with the strawberries to make a strawberry chia jam.
- freeze dried strawberries – I was able to find these at my local grocery store but you could also find them at a health food store or bulk foods store.
- dark chocolate – I have used blocks of dark chocolate but you could use dark chocolate chips if preferred.
Variations
There are so many different ways to make this date bark. Here are some ideas for variations:
- snickers bar – layer with creamy peanut butter, dark chocolate and then top with chopped peanuts (for crunch) and flaky sea salt.
- banana – top the layer of medjool dates with nut butter and then a layer of sliced banana and top with melted chocolate and crushed almonds.
Other wholesome ingredients you can use to top the date bark are:
- pepitas
- sunflower seeds
- walnuts
- pistachios
- pecans
How to Make Almond Butter & Strawberry Date Bark
If you’re a fan of easy desserts then you are going to love this recipe because it is SO easy to make.
Start by lining a medium sized baking sheet / baking tray with parchment paper. Set aside.
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Next, make the strawberry chia jam. Add the strawberries along with a few tablespoons of water to a saucepan. Bring to a medium heat and simmer until the strawberries soften. Once softened, use the back of a spoon or a potato masher to break up the strawberries. Add the chia seeds and continue to simmer until the strawberry chia jam has thickened. Remove from the heat and set aside.
To melt the dark chocolate, half fill a saucepan with water and top with a heat proof bowl. Break the dark chocolate up into pieces and place into the bowl. Turn to a medium heat and stir as the chocolate melts. Once the chocolate has melted, turn off the heat but leave the bowl sitting on the saucepan of water to keep the chocolate from setting.
Cut a slice down the length of each of the dates and remove the pit and woody stem. Open each date up and place cut side up on the tray, lining them up so there is about 4 dates across and 5 down.
Top with another piece of parchment paper and then using a rolling pin or the side of a jar, roll the dates. Push down firmly enough that the dates squash together. Carefully peel the parchment paper off the dates.
Spoon the almond butter onto the date layer and use a spatula, butter knife or an offset spatula to spread the almond butter out into an even layer. Spoon the strawberry chia jam onto the almond butter layer and spread out into an even layer.
Pour the melted chocolate over the strawberry layer and spread out into an even layer so that it covers the entire surface. Sprinkle with crushed freeze dried strawberries and place into the fridge to set for at least one hour. To set faster, place into the freezer.
Once set, cut the date bark up into bite sized pieces.
Storage
Store the date bark in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week or store in the freezer for 3 months.
Almond Butter & Strawberry Dark Chocolate Date Bark
Equipment
- Sharp knife
- Chopping Board
- Saucepan
- Spoon
- Spatula
- Baking Tray
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups frozen strawberries
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- 20 medjool dates
- ½ cup almond butter
- 200 grams dark chocolate
- 15 g Freeze dried strawberries, broken up
Instructions
- Add the frozen strawberries to a pan along with a tablespoon of water. Turn onto a low-medium heat and stir as they defrost. Once completely defrosted and the strawberries have soften, use a spoon or potato masher to break up the strawberries. Add the chia seeds and stir through. Once the strawberry mixture is the consistency of runny strawberry jam, turn off the heat and set aside.
- Break up the dark chocolate and add into a heat proof bowl atop a saucepan half filled with water. Bring to a medium heat and stir the chocolate as it melts. Once completely melted turn off the heat but keep the bowl sitting over the saucepan of water to prevent the chocolate from setting.
- Line a medium baking tray with parchment paper. Cut a slice down the centre of a medjool date and remove the pit. Flatten the date and place onto the tray, cut side up. Repeat this step with the remaining medjool dates, placing them in neat lines, 4 across and 5 down, leaving a about an inch between the edge of the pan and the dates.
- Use the side of a glass jar or a rolling pin to roll the medjool dates, pressing them into one layer.
- Spoon the almond butter over the dates and spread out with a spatula.
- Spoon the strawberry chia jam over the almond butter and spread out with the spatula.
- Pour the chocolate over the top of the strawberry jam and spread out into an even layer. Sprinkle the broken up pieces of freeze dried strawberries over the melted chocolate and place into the fridge for 1 hour or until set.
- Once set, remove from the fridge. Lift the date bark off the tray using the baking paper. Use a sharp knife to cut the date bark into bite sized pieces and enjoy!
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