Tahini Chocolate Bark
Spice up your candy making game with this decadent tahini chocolate bark recipe! Start with a base of luscious chocolate and gently swirl in tendrils of creamy peanut butter and satiny smooth tahini. Top it all off with chopped dates, flaky sea salt, and zesty Aleppo pepper for a truly incredible treat.
If you are a fan of my Fudgy Tahini Brownies, you are definitely going to love today’s recipe for tahini chocolate bark. There is something so irresistible about the chocolate tahini combination, and today’s recipe is a great example of that. It’s definitely a match made in heaven!
The toppings are a big part of the magic with this one. Dried dates add just the right amount of texture while sea salt makes the whole thing pop. Although it may seem out of place, don’t be thrown off by the Aleppo pepper. It really transforms the recipe into something unique and adds a dynamic contrast. It’s optional, of course, but I highly recommend you give it a try. It’s not that spicy! If you are worried about it overpowering your chocolate bark, simply sprinkle with care.
This Middle Eastern dessert recipe is extremely easy to master, and it makes an excellent gift. Looking for more delectable Middle Eastern candies? Check out some of my other recipes like this Halva (Middle Eastern Confection), Persian Candy: Pistachio Brittle, and Lokum Recipe (Turkish Delight).
INGREDIENT NOTES AND SUBSTITUTIONS
- Chocolate – Forms the foundation of our dessert and establishes an atmosphere of sweet, earthy, and complex flavors. Both chopped chocolate and chocolate chips are acceptable.
- Peanut Butter Chips – Add a sweet nuttiness, smoothness, and richness. You can find these little morsels in the baking section, near the chocolate chips.
- Tahini – This pureed sesame seed paste is the epitome of nutty, earthy flavor. Look for it in the peanut butter aisle or with the international foods in the supermarket. Tahini will separate a lot, so always mix thoroughly before measuring and using.
- Dates – Add a touch of luscious sweetness and chewy texture to the bark.
- Aleppo Pepper – Adds a dash of complexity with coexisting fruity, tangy, and slightly spicy tones. It also adds a beautiful splash of burgundy color to the mix.
- Sea Salt Flakes – The universal flavor enhancer — all it takes is a few flakes to make the other flavors really come to life.
HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE TAHINI BARK
1. Melt the Chips. Separate the chocolate and peanut butter chips into two microwave-safe bowls. Microwave each bowl for about 90 seconds or until melted. Stop, check, and stir every 30 seconds or so.
2. Add the Tahini. Stir the tahini into the bowl with the melted peanut butter chips.
3. Spread the Chocolate. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and make sure that it will easily fit into your freezer. Spread the melted chocolate to within an inch from the sides of the pan.
4. Drizzle and Swirl. Use a spoon to drizzle and gently swirl the melted mixture of peanut butter and tahini on top of the chocolate.
5. Add Toppings. Top the bark with chopped dates, aleppo peppers, and sea salt flakes.
6. Freeze. Place the whole pan in the freezer for at least one hour, or as long as overnight. A finished bark should be nice and firm. Once done, break into pieces and enjoy.
What Does Tahini Chocolate Bark Taste Like?
To be sure, this is not your average chocolate bark recipe! The combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and tahini forms a mega dose of sweet, nutty earthiness while balancing out any bitterness in the tahini. On top of that (literally) we have deeply sweet dates, zingy aleppo pepper, and flaky sea salt. The resulting dessert is earthy, nutty, sweet, spicy, and salty all at once. It has a little bit of something for everyone.
Why Won’t My Chocolate Bark Harden?
This usually happens because the temperature in the room is too high. Bypass that problem in this chocolate bark recipe by sticking the whole pan in the freezer. If you are unable to use the freezer trick for any reason, make sure to let your candy set in a cool, dry place.
Make sure that the room temperature is no more than 65-68 degrees F. This is important both while your candy is hardening and afterwards, to keep it hard during storage.
If, despite all your best efforts, your bark still isn’t hardening, check to make sure your chocolate was tempered. Untempered chocolate takes much longer to harden. Most chocolate you buy from the store will already be tempered, but there are occasionally exceptions.
How Long Does Tahini Chocolate Bark Last?
In my house, it doesn’t last very long at all! But seriously, leftover chocolate bark is a breeze to store. Simply stash it in an airtight container and store it in a cool place for 2-3 weeks. Store it in the refrigerator or freezer for a little added freshness and snap.
Tahini Chocolate Bark
Ingredients
- 2 cups dark chocolate chopped or chips
- 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
- 3 tbsp tahini
- 1/4 cup dates chopped
- 1 tbsp aleppo pepper
- 1 tsp sea salt flakes
Instructions
- Place the chocolate and peanut butter chips in 2 separate microwave safe bowls. Microwave 90 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted.
- Stir the tahini into the melted peanut butter chips.
- On a parchment lined baking sheet (make sure it can fit inside your freezer) spread the melted chocolate within an inch of the sides of pan.
- Using a spoon, drizzle the melted peanut butter and tahini mixture on top of chocolate and make swirls.
- Top with chopped dates, aleppo pepper and sea salt. Place in freezer for 1 hour minimum or overnight Chocolate bark should be firm before breaking into pieces and served.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I will be making this today or tomorrow! This is right up my alley although more chocolate, I do not need, but this really sounds like a really tasty treat.
It’s a sweet little indulgence Cathy!