This healthy dark chocolate bark requires only 6 simple, real food ingredients and is prepped in minutes! It's an easy and better-for-you festive treat that is perfect for the holidays, or really any occasion.
While I do love a good indulgent treat, especially around the holidays, it is nice to balance them with some better for you options. Dessert can sometimes actually be good for you, believe it or not!
For this healthy dark chocolate bark I use Hu Chocolate Gems to keep it fully refined sugar free. In addition, the nuts, seeds, and dried berries add extra nutrients you won't find in most holiday treats. And the goji berries and pumpkin seeds add a nice festive flare with the red and green! So dig right in!
Looking for more holiday treats? Try these Gluten-free Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies Oat Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies, Healthy Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls, and Vegan Chocolate Turtles.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below. Here are some specific call-outs, and when needed some tips on keeping the ingredients clean.
DARK CHOCOLATE - I use Hu Dark Chocolate Gems to keep this healthy chocolate bark completely refined sugar free. You can absolutely use dark chocolate chips or dark chocolate bars.
Clean food tip: Look for chocolate that has no more than chocolate liquor/chocolate/cocoa powder, cane sugar, and cocoa butter. Brands that are Fair Trade certified and/or organic are even better! And for dark chocolate, look for at least 70% cocoa/cacao.
NUTS, SEEDS, AND DRIED FRUIT - I love the combination of the sweet and tangy flavor of the goji berries along with the almonds, pumpkin seeds, and coconut.
With that said, you could sub dried cranberries or dried blueberries for the goji berries and really any of your favorite raw nuts and seeds could be subbed.
Whatever you choose, I recommend raw/unsalted for the nuts and seeds.
SEA SALT - This wouldn't be complete without the addition of sea salt - I'm all about the salty sweet goodness of this bark! Sea salt flakes are best. I don't recommend fine sea salt and regular table salt just won't work.
How to Make Healthy Chocolate Bark
- Prepare the chocolate: Add chocolate to microwave safe bowl. If using chocolate bars, chop bars into small pieces and add to bowl.
- Melt the chocolate: Melt chocolate in intervals of 45 seconds, mixing in between, until fully melted.
- Spread: Spread chocolate on a 9x13 pan, or rimmed cookie sheet, that's been lined with parchment paper.
- Add toppings: Sprinkle nuts, seeds, and dried fruit over chocolate. Finish with a sprinkle of sea salt.
5. Allow chocolate to set: Let the chocolate harden at room temp for 2 hours. You can also place in fridge for 20-30 minutes, or until chocolate has fully set.
Using your hands, break chocolate into small pieces. Alternatively, you can use a sharp knife to cut. Now it's time to dig into your healthy chocolate bark!
How to Store
Store finished dark chocolate bark in an airtight container. It will stay fresh at room temp for up to a week. You can also keep in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.
To extend shelf life, you can freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw at room temperature before serving.
Expert Tips
- Adding the salt - Let the chocolate set briefly BEFORE adding the sea salt. This will keep the salt from sinking into the chocolate so you'll be left with those bright salty specks just sitting on top of your bark.
- Add some coconut oil - If you'd like your bark to be a little softer, you can add in 1 tsp. coconut oil to your melted chocolate. This will keep the chocolate from being too brittle (I prefer without but some like the texture with a little oil added).
- Add more superfoods - In addition to the dried fruit, nuts, and seeds, you can sprinkle with chia seeds and/or hemp seeds.
FAQs
Yes! Dark chocolate bars will work too. You'll want about 2 cups of chopped chocolate from bars (about 12oz chocolate).
Dark chocolate is a good source of antioxidants and other minerals and is lower in sugar than milk chocolate. In addition, the combination of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit provide powerful antioxidants, healthy fats, and many vitamins and minerals.
You bet! Dark chocolate is naturally gluten free and all other ingredients in this bark are also naturally gluten free.
Don't forget, this healthy chocolate bark also makes a delicious holiday gift and is a great addition to your cookie tray!
More Better-for-you Desserts to Try!
I Love Hearing From You!
If you make this recipe, please let me know what you think! I would so appreciate you leaving a star rating and/or comment below. And don't forget to share a photo on Instagram or Facebook and mention @CleanPlateMama!
Eat Clean.Be Healthy!
-Sara
Healthy Dark Chocolate Bark
Equipment
- Microwave safe bowl
- 9x13 pan or rimmed cookie sheet
Ingredients
- 2 cups dark chocolate chips (see notes)
- ¼ cup goji berries
- ¼ cup coconut flakes
- 3 tbsp. pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
- ½ tsp. flaked sea salt
Instructions
- Line a 9x13 pan, or rimmed baking sheet, with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 45-second intervals, stirring in between. Don't overcook the chocolate (when there are a few small pieces left, stop microwaving and just stir the chocolate until the remaining pieces melt).
- Spread melted chocolate onto prepared pan. If using a 9x13 pan, spread chocolate to edges of pan. For a baking sheet your chocolate should be about ¼" thick (the chocolate won't fill the entire baking sheet).
- Sprinkle chocolate with goji berries, coconut flakes, pumpkin seeds, and almonds. Finish with sprinkling the sea salt (see notes).
- Allow chocolate to either harden at room temp, or you can place in the fridge. It will take about 2 hours at room temp or about 30 minutes in the fridge.
- Break into desired sized pieces or use a sharp knife to cut.
Notes
- I use Hu Dark Chocolate Gems for this recipe which keeps it fully refined sugar free. You can use whatever dark chocolate you'd like. You'll need about 2 cups chips or chopped up dark chocolate bars (which is about 12 oz).
- I like to sprinkle with sea salt after the chocolate has just started to set so that it sits nicely on the top of the chocolate and doesn't sink in. If setting in the fridge, let set for about 10 minutes before adding salt. If setting at room temp, give it about 30 minutes before adding salt.
- Store in an airtight container. Will stay fresh at room temperature for up to a week or 2-3 weeks if stored in the fridge. You can also store in the fridge for up to 3 months.
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