I am a little late to the party when it comes to date bark. This trending dessert has recently gone wild on social media and I can totally see why.
Firstly, it’s SO simple to make with very few ingredients and secondly, it’s bloomin’ delicious! It’s great with coffee, as an afternoon pick-me-up and also looks cute bagged up and tied with a ribbon as a party favour or trick-or-treat gift.
Halloween is one of those days that really divides people’s opinions here in the UK. People either really embrace it or leave it well alone generally. I am caught in the middle. I don’t go all out with decorating the house or picking a fancy dress costume but I do embrace the kitsch-ness and cosiness of the season.
I love an excuse for a themed dinner party or creating a seasonal dish. While this isn’t overtly Halloween, as it could be made at any time and decorated in any way, the addition of cute Halloween sprinkles gives a nod to the festivities.
I used little black bats, purple cats and purple, black and green nonpareil sprinkles. Just enough festive fun for this on-the-fence Halloweener!
Of course, when it comes to your decoration you can be as over the top as you like. That’s the fun of decorating. It gives you the chance to show your personality.
For those who aren’t fans of peanut butter, why not try a crunchy almond butter instead and sprinkle the finished bark with toasted almonds and a pinch of sea salt?
Halloween Date Bark
Ingredients
- 25-30 dates pitted and flattened
- 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp coconut or olive oil
- Handful salted peanuts
- Halloween sprinkles
Instructions
- On a lined baking sheet, place the flattened, pitted dates cut side down, side by side. You want there to be hardly any gaps.
- Spread the crunchy peanut butter over the dates in an even layer.
- Melt the dark chocolate chips with 1 tbsp of olive or coconut oil over a double boiler or in the microwave. Watch that you don’t burn the chocolate. If using a double boiler it’s important not to let the bowl touch the boiling water.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the peanut butter layer and top with a handful of salted peanuts and Halloween sprinkles.
- Chill over night or place in the freezer for an hour to set the chocolate and harden the peanut butter. Cut into random shards and serve.
- To make Halloween trick or treat gifts or party favours place a few pieces in a cellophane gift bag and tie with a ribbon. Alternatively you could use a clean jam jar and tie a ribbon around that.