Dubai Chocolate Date Bark (Viral TikTok Recipe)

If you love the chewy, naturally sweet goodness of dates and the crisp, nutty texture of the Dubai chocolate bar, this recipe is for you! Here I've combined two viral TikTok trends - date bark and the Dubai chocolate bar - to create a vegan and gluten-free treat that's perfect for anytime you want a delicious, no-fuss dessert.

Dubai chocolate date bark broken into large pieces served on a white rectangular platter with a blue rim with a white background.

When recipe testing for my homemade pistachio cream, I ended up with so much to the point that I had to find new ways to use it! The idea for date bark hit me as I was pouring dark chocolate into a mold for the Dubai chocolate bar - what if instead of using a mold I simply spread pistachio cream over a layer of dates and pour chocolate overtop?

Date bark is essentially flattened dates with some sort of nut butter or cookie dough overtop and then a layer of chocolate (often with chopped nuts for crunch). For this recipe, I'd simply be replacing the traditional date bark filling with the filling used for Dubai chocolate (pistachio cream mixed with a crunchy filling) to create a light, crispy texture that's nutty and still has chocolate on top.

The more I thought about it, the more excited I became. The sticky sweetness of dates paired with the rich, nutty pistachio cream seemed like the perfect complement to dark chocolate.

Plus, this method eliminates the need for molds, making it even easier to create a layered, bite-sized treat. Instead of individual bars, I could simply spread, chill and then break it into rustic, shareable pieces. Hence, the Dubai chocolate date bark was born!

3 pieces of Dubai chocolate date bark stacked on top of each other alongside more pieces of bark with a white background.

The Three Layers

Layer 1 - Medjool dates are a natural stone fruit that serve as the perfect base for bark. When placed side by side and flattened with a rolling pin, they transform into a thin layer of rich caramel-like flavor without any refined sugar. I've done this before with chocolate date caramel apples and it really is amazing how easy they are to mold - kind of like Play-Doh!

Layer 2 - Pistachio cream is combined with shredded coconut, tahini and salt to mimic the shredded phyllo pastry dough filling known as knafeh used in Dubai chocolate. The rich, creamy spread boasts a beautiful vibrant green color that really makes the dessert stand out! Pistachio cream is not the easiest thing to find in grocery stores and it also can be pretty expensive, but you can easily make it at home using just four ingredients (pistachios, white chocolate chips, avocado oil and salt). This also keeps it dairy-free.

Layer 3 - Dark chocolate completes the bark as a smooth top layer that can be garnished with pistachios, a white chocolate drizzle and flaky sea salt for the perfect finishing touch.

Ingredients of Dubai chocolate date bark in separate bowls with a white marble background.

How to Make Dubai Chocolate Bark

This recipe is similar to my Dubai chocolate bar in that we are using shredded coconut to replace the shredded phyllo dough known as kataifi. Toasting the unsweetened coconut shreds give it the same look, texture and subtle crunch while keeping it grain-free, gluten-free and vegan. I also use avocado oil instead of butter (and vegan chocolate, of course).

The difference between the bar and this bark lies in the layer of dates as the base, which adds a chewy sweetness that pairs perfectly with the light, crispy and nutty filling!

Start by slightly overlapping the dates between two sheets of parchment paper and flattening them with a rolling pin or the side of a glass mason jar so that they stick together and create a thin single layer.

12 dates that have been opened and arranged side by side in a rectangle shape on a sheet of parchment paper with a white marble background.

Using a rolling pin to flatten dates underneath a sheet of parchment paper with a white marble background.

Next, prepare the "phyllo dough" we will be mixing into the pistachio cream. Toast the shredded coconut with avocado oil until golden brown all over. Once toasted, take it off the heat and let it cool slightly for a couple minutes.

Shredded coconut in a cast iron skillet with a white marble background.

Toasted shredded coconut in a cast iron skillet with a white marble background.

Stir the toasted coconut into the pistachio cream along with tahini and a pinch of salt. You can use my 5-minute dairy-free pistachio cream recipe or store-bought.

A dollop of pistachio cream on top of toasted shredded coconut in a cast iron skillet with a white marble background.

Pistachio cream mixed with toasted shredded coconut in a cast iron skillet with a white marble background.

Spread the crunchy pistachio cream mixture into a thin layer across the dates all the way to the edges. There should not be any gaps!

Flattened dates on a white rectangular platter with a blue rim on a white marble background.

Pistachio cream mixture spread overtop flattened dates on a white platter with a navy blue rim with a white marble background.

Place in the freezer to allow it to set before pouring on the melted chocolate, otherwise the chocolate will bleed into the pistachio coconut filling. Then pour the chocolate overtop and spread it into one even layer covering the entire dessert. Feel free add a drizzle of melted white chocolate for that signature look, some chopped pistachios for more crunch and a pinch of salt to bring out all the flavors. Then all that's left is to let it set in the freezer. Done!

Chocolate pieces in a white measuring cup with a white marble background.

Melted chocolate in a white measuring cup with a white marble background.

Customize to Make It Your Own

Add extra crunch: Stir in some crispy quinoa to the coconut mixture for a more textured bite. If you’re not a fan of coconut, you can even swap it out entirely and just use crispy quinoa instead. That said, I promise - you won’t taste the coconut in this recipe. With all the rich, bold flavors going on, it totally blends in. I had a couple of friends who usually avoid coconut try it, and they were shocked to hear it was even in there - they couldn’t detect it at all!
Choose your toppings: Swap pistachios for almonds, add dried rose petals for a floral twist or even throw on some crushed freeze-dried raspberries or strawberries for a little tartness contrast!

Hands holding two pieces of Dubai chocolate date bark side by side after breaking in half.

A Vegan, Gluten-Free and Paleo-Friendly Dessert

With the exception of those with pistachio allergies, this dessert works for almost any diet. Vegan, gluten-free, grain-free and refined sugar-free, it's also made with wholesome ingredients that you can feel good about.

Dates are loaded with vitamins and minerals including zinc, copper, magnesium, vitamin B6, calcium and iron. Pistachios also contain magnesium, calcium and iron in addition to healthy fats, potassium, dietary fiber and plant-based protein.

Dubai chocolate date bark pieces arranged next to each other on white parchment paper.

If you love the date, nut butter, chocolate combo as much as me, you'll also love these chocolate covered stuffed dates! Each date is filled with your choice of nut butter and then hand-dipped in rich dark chocolate. You won't be disappointed!

This Dubai chocolate date bark has the perfect balance of textures and flavors, is easy to make and is absolutely stunning. Enjoy it as a guilt-free indulgence any time of day! This recipe is not only trendy but it's a truly unique and memorable dessert that's perfect for gifting or entertaining.