How To Make Chocolate Bark
When a chocolate craving hits, it can be really hard to choose healthy foods. That’s why this vegan superfood chocolate bark is perfect to have on hand. It’s packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, giving you a tasty treat that’s also good for you. This recipe is a great way to add extra fiber and protein to your diet. Even better, you can customize it with your favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.
It’s easy to make and stores well in the fridge for whenever you need a quick, healthy snack. To prepare, simply gather your ingredients, melt the chocolate, mix in the superfoods, spread it out, and let it harden in the fridge. Break it into chunks, and you’ll have a delicious and nutritious treat ready to enjoy! And, if this recipe cheers your chocolate-lovers heart, make sure to try this deliciously healthy date bark, too!
Who’s ready to make some ooh-gooey, guilt-free chocolate? Let’s get started!
Why You Must Make This Chocolate Bark
This recipe for dark chocolate bark is a must-try because it combines delicious flavors with healthy ingredients. It’s loaded with nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, making it a nutritious treat you can enjoy any time of day. Plus, it’s incredibly simple and quick—perfect for a quick snack or sharing with friends (or keeping for yourself!)
- Delicious Flavor Combo. The mix of rich dark chocolate and crunchy pretzels creates a perfect balance of sweet and salty. It’s a taste sensation you won’t want to miss!
- Packed with Nutrients. This treat is loaded with superfoods like nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, giving you a boost of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It’s a tasty way to get more nutrients in your diet.
- Easy to Make. You don’t need to be a chef to make this bark. Just melt the chocolate, mix in the ingredients, and let it set in the fridge. It’s that simple!
- Great for Snacking. Keep a batch in the fridge for a quick and satisfying snack. It’s perfect for when you need a little energy boost during the day.
- Creatively Customizable. You can add your favorite superfoods and snacks to make this recipe your own. Experiment with different nuts, seeds, and dried fruits to find your perfect mix.
- Perfect for Sharing. This bark makes an excellent gift idea or party snack. It’s a crowd-pleaser that’s sure to impress friends and family.
Chocolate Bark Ingredients and Smart Substitutions
Making dark chocolate bark with pretzels is fun and easy with the right ingredients. Here are some of the key ingredients you need and some great substitution ideas. Let’s get started on creating your perfect, nutritious treat!
- Dark Chocolate: Provides a rich, deep flavor and is packed with antioxidants. It also serves as the base that holds all the other ingredients together. Swap out the dark chocolate for vegan chocolate chips or vegan white chocolate for a sweeter taste. For a healthier option, try using cacao nibs or unsweetened chocolate with a bit of natural sweetener like vegan honey or maple syrup.
- Chia Seeds: Add a crunchy texture and are a great source of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein. They also help to boost the nutritional value of the bark. Flax seeds or hemp seeds can also be used as a substitute, offering similar health benefits and a slight crunch.
- Goji Berries – These little berries add a burst of color, a chewy texture, and a sweet-tart flavor. They are also high in antioxidants and vitamins. Dried cranberries, raisins, or dried cherries can easily be swapped for goji berries for a similar texture and flavor profile.
- Pecans: These lovely nuts add a rich, buttery flavor and a satisfying crunch. They are also a good source of healthy fats, protein, and essential minerals. Instead of pecans, you can choose walnuts, almonds, or cashews instead. Each of these nuts provides different flavors and similar nutritional benefits.
How to Make Chocolate Bark
Here’s how to make chocolate pretzel bark—a scrumptious treat that’s simple to prepare and perfect for any occasion. All you need to do is combine rich dark chocolate with crunchy pretzels and a variety of toppings for a satisfying blend of sweet and salty flavors. Follow these steps to create a homemade dessert that everyone will love!
Step 1: Melting the Chocolate. In a small bowl, melt the chocolate until smooth. You can do this using a double boiler or microwave in short bursts, stirring well each time to avoid overheating.
Step 2: Mixing in Superfoods. Once melted, stir in chia seeds, 3 tablespoons of goji berries, ¼ cup of broken pretzel pieces, and ¼ cup of roughly chopped pecans. Mix thoroughly to evenly distribute the ingredients.
Then, Step 3: Spreading the Bark. Pour the chocolate mixture into a lined baking dish, aiming for a thin, roughly ¼ inch layer. Don’t worry if it’s chunky—it adds texture!
Step 4: Adding Toppings. Sprinkle the remaining goji berries, pretzels, and whole pecans on top. Gently press them into the chocolate with your fingers to ensure they stick when the bark sets.
Finally, Step 5: Setting and Serving. Chill the bark in the fridge for about 1 hour until firm. Once hardened, break into pieces by hand and serve. Enjoy your delicious superfood dark chocolate bark!
How to Serve It Up This Pretzel Bark
This chocolate bark is a sensational snack on its own, but sometimes you just want a little something extra. Here are some appetizing additions and scrumptious swaps you can make:
- Sweet & Savory – Pair your sweet chocolate bark with a savory snack such as our savory roasted chickpeas,popcorn tofu, or cheezy kale chips. Contrasting flavors go great together.
- Change Up Your Chips & Chunks – While we love using pretzels for this recipe, feel free to experiment with other crackly food forms like potato chips or dried vegan cereal. Even a handful of popcorn!
- Shuffle Around Your Nuts & Seeds – If chia seeds or pecans are not your picks, you can easily substitute flaxseeds, hemp seeds, almonds, cashews, walnuts, sunflower seeds, etc. They would taste terrific either toasted or raw. You can easily mix and match for the most mouthwatering munch.
- Branch Out With Other Berries – There are many variations of fantastic fruits if you aren’t able to get goji berries or just want to try something new. How about freeze-dried strawberries? Dried blueberries? Don’t forget chopped dates, raisins, figs, apricots or even prunes—those’ll get your digestion going!
- Special Shapes – An alternative to breaking up the bark is to pour the chocolate into sturdy silicone molds. Then, you can decorate the tops any way you like. Use hearts for Valentine’s Day, trees for Christmas, bunnies for spring, or even a spell out the name of a family member or friend in chocolate letters.
Chocolate Bark FAQs
If this bark doesn’t get eaten in one sitting, good for you! You must have incredible sweet snacking restraint. Any remaining chocolate bark can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
You can even put any leftover bark in the freezer for up to six months, but make sure to wrap it firmly in plastic wrap (or a similar protective covering) before placing into a freezer safe container or pouch. TIP: Refrigerating the wrapped chocolate for at least a few hours before freezing can help to prevent ‘fat bloom’, a white-ish film that forms over the chocolate caused by the slight separation of the fat ingredients from the rest of the bar. It’s not at all harmful to eat and does not affect the taste, so don’t be worried if it has this appearance when you take it out of the freezer.
More Healthy and Delicious Desserts to Try
If you make this chocolate bark with pretzels recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know what you think in the comments below! I love reading your comments!
How To Make Chocolate Bark
Ingredients
- 1 12-ounce bag dark chocolate chips or chunks, dairy-free
- 2 tablespoon chia seeds
- 3 tablespoons dried goji berries + 1 tablespoon for topping
- ¼ cup pretzels, roughly chopped + ½ cup of whole pretzels for topping
- ¼ cup raw pecans, roughly chopped + ¼ cup of whole raw pecans for topping
Instructions
- In a small bowl, melt the chocolate. You can do this using a double boiler or in a microwave. To melt with a microwave, microwave for 20 second increments mixing well in between each. When only a few chunks remain, stir until just fully melted. Be careful not to microwave too long or the chocolate may seize and become unusable.
- Once melted, add in the chia seeds, 3 tablespoons of goji berries, ¼ cup of broken pretzel pieces, and ¼ cup of roughly chopped pecans. Mix well until everything is evenly incorporated.
- Pour chocolate into a baking dish (approximately 12 inches x 8.5 inches) lined with parchment paper or a silicone liner. Using a spatula, smooth out the chocolate to create a thin even layer about ¼ inch thick. The chocolate should be chunky and won’t lay flat—that’s okay, as long as there’s enough chocolate to hold everything together!
- Top with remaining goji berries, pretzels, and whole raw pecans. Use your finger to gently push all the toppings into the soft chocolate until partially embedded so everything will stick when the chocolate hardens.
- Set in the fridge to harden for 1 hour. Once hard, remove from the fridge, break into pieces by hand, and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
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Leave a Comment
This vegan chocolate bark is PERFECT! It’s easy to mix in all different things and great for parties and gatherings, especially around Christmas and the holidays!
This bark looks delicious! Makes it even better with the superfoods added.
Such a perfect snack! Love it!
Such a delicious and quick recipe! Perfect for a last minute chocolate craving! 😀
I love the idea of making your own bark and adding all your favorites! Yum!
This is one of my favorite treats to make! It’s SO easy, so tasty, and so fun to mix in all sorts of additions. The chia seeds give a crunch-bar effect 🙂
I make these for the holidays! So good!
Yes!! This delicious chocolate bark does not last long in our house. It is eaten with coffee at breakfast, as desserts for lunch and dinner, and as snacks throughout the day. Its been known to be consumed at times instead of a meal…not a bad idea, right?!!
So amazingly good.
I was JUST craving chocolate-covered pretzels yesterday! This recipe is my answer!! Yum!