Viral trends come and go in the blink of an eye, so I usually don’t give them much thought. This one however has withstood the test of time – at least in our household. And as the holidays come at lightening speed, I am starting to plan (albeit a little late in the game) for the holiday sweet treats I’ll have at the house this year given our families are coming down to Venice for both Thanksgiving and Christmas for the first time in the 10 years we have lived here!! Guess that happens once you start having a family.

I’ll be dedicating the rest of the year to my favorite family recipes (wish me luck with only a few short weeks to go) so get ready for some epically delicious GF-versions of holiday dessert classics.

This one isn’t a classic family recipe but it is beloved in my house so I figured I would start here so this is first on my list to make and also fits the old wives tale of eating lots of dates before birth!

A few months ago, I posted the Snickers Stuffed Dates recipe that is oh so delicious… and aesthetic! But let’s be honest, sometimes we do not have time or patience to individually stuff each date with a dollop of peanut butter. This version is hands down THE SIMPLEST, THE FASTEST, THE MOST FOOL PROOF way to make the same chewy, chocolate-y dessert. 

With only 5 ingredients that you simply layer on top of each other then freeze, these are the easiest dessert to whip up and have on hand. I am not lying when I say I have a box of these in our freezer at all times. You never know when the sugar craving will hit! And these are much healthier than any candy you will find at the store. 

They are approved by all my dessert-loving family members and in-laws and are the perfect satisfying fix for any chocolate-lovers out there. Let me know what you think! 

INGREDIENTS

18-20 pitted Medjool dates

½ bag (6 oz) chocolate chips 

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup peanuts

Maldon sea salt

Serving Size: 12-16

INSTRUCTIONS

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Gently open the dates and lay on the parchment paper, pressing until flat. Line each date next to each other so they are touching into an even layer on the baking sheet (there still may be spaces in between, that’s okay, just minimize). 
• Using a microwave, heat the peanut butter for 30 seconds then drizzle in an even layer on top of the dates. 
• Sprinkle peanuts on top.
• Using a microwave or double boiler, melt chocolate chips and drizzle in an even layer on top of the peanut butter. 
• Sprinkle a bit of sea salt on top before it cools too much. 
• Freeze for 30+ minutes. 
• Using a sharp knife, cut the date bark into smaller bites for easy storage and easy grabbing/grubbing. *Store in the freezer then remove and thaw for 2 minutes before consuming. 
• Enjoy!