Pomegranate Dark Chocolate Bark

Chocolate Cravings Inspired This Recipe

As a pregnant mama, dark chocolate is definitely one of the foods on my mind every day.

Sometimes, I turn to High-Protein Dark Chocolate Marshmallows. Other days, a serving of Healthy No-Bake Cookies satisfies the craving.

But this pomegranate dark chocolate bark. It hits my cravings with so much nutrition that I probably should eat it much more often than I do.

What Is in This Pomegranate Dark Chocolate Bark

Dark chocolate.

The benefits of dark chocolate are well-known. Some of my favorite features are, of course, the delicious flavor and the high level of antioxidants (source).

Pomegranate.

Pomegranates have some of the best polyphenol content known, and they can have anti-inflammatory effects on the body (source). When added to the antioxidant benefits of dark chocolate, this combo is a real winner!

Pumpkin seeds.

This ingredient adds a powerful nutritional punch. According to Healthline, “[p]umpkin seeds are highly nutritious and may be associated with health benefits, including improved fertility, better heart health, and enhanced blood sugar control.”

Chopped pecans.

Besides adding a great crunchy texture to this dark chocolate bark, “pecans are a good source of calcium, magnesium, and potassium” (source).

Chopped walnuts.

Another source of crunch in this recipe also doubles as a wonderful source of nutrients: walnuts. These nuts “provide healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals,” says Healthline.

Organic desiccated coconut.

Because of its high fiber content, coconut may aid a healthy gut microbiome (source).

Desiccated coconut–like that used in this recipe–does not have as noticeable of a texture as shredded coconut.

Its flavor is also subtle, which means that even people who normally do not enjoy the flavor of coconut can still enjoy this recipe.

Dried orange.

To be frank, I added dried orange to this recipe because of its flavor–with no other considerations. Sometimes, I think, that can be reason enough. 😉

How to Make Dark Chocolate Bark with Coconut Oil

We love using coconut oil in our healthy homemade snack recipes because it has high fat content and also tends to be quite a bit less expensive than butter.

When you use coconut oil, however, make sure to buy cold-pressed virgin coconut oil. This is because (in the words of Eating Well) “[a] cold-pressed coconut oil avoids using heat to extract the oil. Cold-pressed coconut oil is thought to retain more nutrients than its counterpart.”

Dark Chocolate Bark with Pecans and Walnuts

What better flavor combinations exist than dark chocolate with nuts? (I mean, isn’t that exactly what chocolate and peanut butter is?)

This recipe for dark chocolate bark includes chopped pecans and walnuts because…well, it’s always great to up the nutritional value.

What do pecans and walnuts add to this snack?

“Pecans are rich in many vitamins and minerals important for healthy skin, eyes, teeth, bones, muscles, and nerves” including vitamin A, folate, and manganese, among many others (source).

And walnuts? According to Healthline, “[w]alnuts are a healthy nut chock-full of essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.”

These two nuts definitely improve this healthy snack.

Optional Add-Ins

• chopped dried fruit. We add dried orange pieces to this recipe, but the options are endless!
  • dried mango
  • dried cranberries
  • dried goji berries
  • dried blueberries
  • raisins
• a bit of vanilla extract. This would add spectacular flavor!
• candied dried ginger. Just a little bit can go a long way.

Kitchen Tools Needed for This Recipe

• a small saucepan or double-boiler
• a reusable silicone baking mat
• a 9″x9″ baking dish
• a freezer and/or refrigerator
• a spatulax

How to Make Pomegranate Dark Chocolate Bark (Step-by-Step Guide)

Step One: Line a 9″x9″ baking dish with a reusable silicone baking mat. (I do not recommend using parchment paper for this recipe, as it can easily disintegrate.)

Step Two: In a small saucepan or double-boiler, heat together the chopped dark chocolate and the coconut oil on low heat, just until melted.

Step Three: Pour the melted dark chocolate into the prepared baking dish.

Step Four: Top with the pomegranate seeds, dried orange pieces, desiccated coconut, pumpkin seeds, chopped pecans, and chopped walnuts. Give the mix a stir to incorporate some of the mix-ins into the chocolate itself. For the mix-ins that remain on the top, press the ingredients into the chocolate so that they become attached.

Step Five: Place in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the chocolate is set.

Step Six: Break into pieces and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.

Storage Instructions

Store this dark chocolate pomegranate bark in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. If you need to store it for a longer period of time, then freeze it for up to 3 months.

After freezing, the texture of the pomegranate can change slightly. See below for ideas on how to use the dark chocolate bark after freezing.

Does Pomegranate Make Chocolate Bark Watery?

It can. This is why we try to eat our homemade dark chocolate pomegranate bark within the first two days of making it.

Water can collect around the fruit and make the chocolate mushy.

In addition, pomegranate has a pretty fast spoilage rate because of its very soft texture.

Make sure to store your homemade pomegranate dark chocolate bark properly. And, if you cannot consume it within the first two days of making it, be sure to freeze it for later use.

Can You Freeze Homemade Chocolate Bark?

Yes! Our family has frozen this recipe with great results.

Know, though, that the texture of the pomegranate seeds will be affected by the freezing process and will not be the same as it would be fresh.

Therefore, I recommend that you eat frozen chocolate bark straight from the freezer or–at most–a few minutes after thawing slightly.

Ideas for Using this Pomegranate Chocolate Bark

If you are making this pomegranate dark chocolate bark for personal consumption, then you might want some ideas for using it up within a few days’ time. Here are a few:

• Use it as a topper for hot chocolate, stirring it in to meld the flavors together.
• Break pieces into your favorite basic chocolate chip cookie recipe to take the flavors up a notch.
• Add bits to a homemade milkshake (like our favorite Healthy Wendy’s Chocolate Frosty Copycat Recipe with Banana (No Sugar!)).