Salty, sweet, chocolate fruity bark. What can you do with melted chocolate? Make this healthy dark chocolate bark recipe! It’s the perfect pick-me-up to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Fun fact, the name chocolate bark is called “bark” because it resembles the thin tree bark that you can peel off a tree. After peeling the tree bark, it effortlessly breaks off the tree, just like our dark chocolate bark breaks into bite-sized pieces!
Okay fun facts aside, the most satisfying thing about this healthy chocolate bark with flakey sea salt is the breaking process. You are essentially breaking an 8×12 thin chocolate bar into a million pieces. Maybe not a million pieces, but you get the idea.
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Ingredients
We use sugar-free chocolate chips and fresh fruit to keep the calories low. Not surprisingly, this healthy chocolate bark is vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and paleo-friendly!
- Sugar-Free Dark Chocolate Chips (WE love this brand).
- Flakey Sea Salt (We used this).
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
The healthiest dark chocolate chips are arguable Lily’s Dark Chocolate Chips which have only 6 ingredients Unsweetened Chocolate, Erythritol, Chicory Root Fiber, Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla Extract, and Stevia Extract. We find that they melt easily and taste great, even without the sugar and extra calories.
Place the dark chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Next, put the bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Remove the bowl from the microwave and mix. The majority of the chocolate chips will be slightly hard and the others will show signs of melting. Then, place the bowl back in the microwave for another 30 seconds. Keep repeating this process until the chocolate chips are completely melted.
Pour the melted chocolate over a parchment-lined cookie sheet. This part is soooo satisfying.
Then, add your toppings. We used fresh fruit, but check the section below regarding variations for a few different options. After adding the toppings, place the cookie sheet in the freezer for ~20 minutes. Once completely frozen, break the bark & enjoy!
How to keep Healthy Chocolate Bark from melting
When chocolate is exposed to room temperatures or abnormally warm conditions, it is at risk of melting. In this condition, fingerprints are more likely to stick to the dark chocolate bark, making the dessert look less appealing. We have a few tips to prevent this from happening!
- Store the bark in the freezer – It might be self-explanatory, but keeping the chocolate bark in a cold setting is key. The ideal temperature is between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Parchment paper – Separate each piece of dark chocolate bark between a sheet of parchment paper. This way, when you plan on eating a piece, you can use the parchment paper to pick up the bark, versus placing your fingers directly on the bark.
Creative Dark Chocolate Bark Recipes Variations
There are endless ways to make this healthy dark chocolate bark recipe. Here are a few.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Reese’s – After the chocolate chips are completely melted, add in any nut butter that you desire. We tried adding peanut butter and it tasted heavenly. This step will level up your bark by 50x.
- Dark Chocolate Pistachio Bark – Add crushed pistachios to the melted chocolate before freezing.
- Sea Salt Bark– Add flakey sea salt to the melted chocolate before freezing. Skip the fresh fruit.
- Keto Dark Chocolate Bark Recipe – Add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to the chocolate chips when melting. The extra fat content makes this recipe keto!
- Dark Chocolate Cherry Bark – Add fresh cherries to the melted chocolate before freezing.
- Dried Fruit Chocolate Bark – Add dried fruit to the melted chocolate before freezing.
- Chocolate Bark with Nuts and Dried Fruit – Add dried fruit and nuts [i.e. almonds, peanuts, pecans] to the melted chocolate before freezing.
- Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark Recipe – Add crushed salted pretzels to the melted chocolate before freezing.
The topping opportunities are endless. Feel free to get creative and mix and match the toppings!
How long does Chocolate Bark last?
If storing the bark in an air-tight container, it will stay fresh for 2-3 weeks. From experience, the bark will be quickly consumed well before that time period. However, we realize that the healthy chocolate bark could be used for a party or large event. In that case, making the bark well in advance is okay and works well.
How to store Healthy Dark Chocolate Bark?
We recommend storing the healthy chocolate bark in an air-tight container with sheets of parchment paper separating each piece. Essentially, make sandwiches with chocolate and parchment paper.
Top Tip: What goes good with Dark Chocolate Bark?
We did some trials and found the best flavors that pair well with dark chocolate. In terms of sweet fruit, try raspberries, strawberries, mango, banana, or a fig. Dark chocolate is quite bitter, so the punch of sweetness derived from fruit creates a truly harmonious experience.
In terms of spices, we found a few flavors that bring the dark chocolate experience to another level. Try chili, cinnamon, espresso powder, or black pepper (the last one is weird, we know, but it works!).
📖 Recipe
Healthy Dark Chocolate Bark Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Sugar-Free Dark Chocoalate Chips
- 1 Tablespoon Flakey Sea Salt
- ¼ Cup Strawberries
- ¼ Cup Blueberries
- ¼ Cup Rasberries
Instructions
- Add the chocoalte chips into a microwave safe bowl.
- Microwave for 30 seconds. Take the bowl out of the microwave. Mix well.
- Repeat the microwave and mixing step until the chocolate is completely melted.
- Pour the liquid melted chococlate onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Use a spoon to spread the chococalte and make it smooth.
- Add toppings. We used fresh fruit & sea salt flakes.
- Place the tray in to the freezer and allow to freeze for ~30 minutes minimum.
- Once completeley frozen, remove from the freezer and break the chocoalte. You can do this by picking up the sheet and cracking it with your hands or use a knife to make rugged slits in the hardened chocolate.
- Enjoy immediatley or place in an air tight container wtih parchment paper between each slice.
Video
@thenaturalnatalie dark chocolate sea salt bark #healthydessert #chocolatebark #healthydessertideas #chocolatelove
♬ Sweet Disposition FeelingBlew – Feelingblew
FAQ
Questions we get asked and answers!
- How to cut chocolate bark? We use our hands and pick up the chocolate to break. You can also use a knife and apply pressure to different places on the bark. The chocolate won’t cut evenly because it is so thin, but the unique breaking lines will make the chocolate bark beautiful.
- Are Dark Chocolate Thins vegan? Our recipe for healthy dark chocolate bark is 100% vegan. The packaged bark thins product is also vegan because there is no milk or dairy in the ingredient list.
- Can you freeze chocolate bark? Yes, that is the way we recommend storing the bark.
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The Natural Natalie
Thanks Melina! Stay creative in the kitchen 🙂
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The Natural Natalie
Talking about chocolate bark is easy! Great tip on the pictures. Thanks for reading 🙂
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