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Healthy yet indulgent-tasting coconut oil chocolate bark, made with 4 ingredients! It uses cocoa powder instead of chocolate and is vegan, paleo, gluten-free, grain-free, and includes a keto option, too!

4 ingredient vegan chocolate bark
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An Easy, Healthy, Delicious Chocolate Bark Recipe

I have a perfect recipe for gifting and celebrating, any time of the year. It is go-soft-in-the-knees delicious, super-simple to make, and relatively frugal, too, plus naturally vegan, Paleo gluten-free, and Keto (with easy swaps). I meant it when I said it is perfect!

The recipe in question is my decadent Coconut Oil Chocolate Bark, made with only 4 ingredients. This dark chocolate bark uses cocoa powder instead of chocolate, making it a more affordable treat, and present, too.

While this is definitely a treat, and not low in calories, they are nutritious calories: coconut oil has a plethora of health benefits, cocoa powder is rich in antioxidants, and maple syrup is a natural, unrefined sweetener. Toppings such as nuts, seeds and dried fruit add even more nourishment. No worries about artificial junk making its way into your gift!

Don’t you want to reach into your screen and grab a piece, right now?

sheet pan covered in chocolate bark

Recipe Benefits

  • 4 ingredients
  • Vegan (egg-free, dairy-free)
  • Customizable (choose the toppings you like best)
  • Grain-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Keto (with super easy swaps)
  • Super easy
  • Made with cocoa powder, not chocolate

Ingredients

The exact amounts of each ingredient are indicated in the recipe card at the end of the post. Toggle between US Customary (volume) and Metric (weights) for preferred measurement option.

4 white ramekins filled with ingredients for chocolate bark

The essential ingredients for the bark are minimal:

  • Virgin Coconut Oil
  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder or Raw Cacao Powder
  • Maple Syrup (or honey, if you are not vegan)
  • Toppings (e.g., Nuts, Coconut and/or Dried Fruit)

That’s it!

Step by Step Instructions

Note that the complete directions are also in the recipe card below.

  • Line a small rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. The small baking sheet I use is a standard 1/4 size sheet pan (9×13 inches/ 22.5×32.5 cm).
  • Melt the coconut oil in a small saucepan set over medium-low heat. Remove from heat and whisk in the cocoa powdermaple syrup and salt. Return to heat and whisk for 1 minute longer.
  • Scrape chocolate mixture onto prepared parchment paper; using a silicone spatula, spread to an even thickness (about 1/4-inch thick). 
  • Sprinkle with desired toppings.
  • Transfer baking sheet to the freezer (for 30 minutes) or refrigerator (for at least an hour) until bark is firm.
  • Transfer bark (on the parchment paper) to a cutting board and cut into about 25 pieces.

Coconut Chocolate Bark: A Perfect Gift

Coconut chocolate bark is ideal for gift-giving because you can personalize the toppings according the palate of your intended recipient. My Dad, brother and husband are less is more types (especially when it comes to chocolate); for example,  some chopped almonds or hazelnuts, and, perhaps, a sprinkle of coarse sea salt.

But I have plenty of friends and other family member who (like me) prefer more is more toppings (fruits, nuts, seeds, coconut!).

white box filled with chocolate bark

Variations

  • Add toppings directed into the bark: f you like, stir some of the toppings directly into the coconut oil-cocoa mixture, instead of on top of the chocolate, before spreading on the parchment. Lumpy-bumpy is a very good thing here!
  • Swap maple syrup for another liquid sweetener: For example, brown rice syrup, agave nectar, date syrup, or (if you do not follow a vegan diet) honey.

Storage

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 month or the freezer for 6 months.

Topping Ideas

You can add extra sweetness, a little crunch, and, overall, lots of extra flavor and texture with a wide range of toppings. Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Chopped Nuts: For example, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, almonds, peanuts, cashews and macadamia nuts. Toasted or roasted nuts deliver a lot more flavor, but you can use raw, too.
  • Seeds: For example, pumpkin seeds (pepitas), sunflower seed kernels, chia seeds, hemp hearts and sesame seeds. The same goes for seeds: toasting adds extra flavor and crunch.
  • Coconut: Add raw or toasted unsweetened coconut shreds or flakes.
  • Chopped Dried Fruits: Sucha s dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried apricots, dried blueberries, dried mango, raisins, figs and prunes.
  • Freeze dried fruit: Look for options such as freeze-dried strawberries, blueberries, apples and raspberries. Crumble onto the bark or leave whole.
  • Nut butters and seed butters: Stir in a few tablespoons of nut butter or seed butter, such as peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter or tahini. Heat the nut butter or seed butter slightly so that it is more runny, and easier to swirl.

Make Keto Coconut Oil Chocolate Bark

It’s a cinch to make this bark keto-friendly:

  1. swap the maple syrup for a keto-friendly liquid sweetener.
  2. Do not use dried fruit in the topping. Instead, use nuts, seeds, unsweetened coconut flakes, and, for a fruit option, freeze dried fruit (such as strawberries; you can find these in the baby food section of most supermarkets).

Happy chocolate, everyone!

More Healthy Chocolate Desserts to Love:

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5 from 3 votes

Coconut Oil Chocolate Bark (4-Ingredients, Vegan)

By: Camilla
Easy coconut oil chocolate bark, made with 4 ingredients! It uses cocoa powder, not chocolate, and is vegan, paleo, gluten-free & includes a keto option, too.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 4 minutes
Servings: 25 pieces

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 2/3 cup virgin coconut oil
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup, (see notes for keto & other options)
  • Optional: large pinch salt
  • 6 ounces Assorted chopped toppings, (See notes below for suggestions)

Instructions 

  • Line a small rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. The small baking sheet I use is a standard 1/4 size sheet pan (9×13 inches/ 22.5×32.5 cm).
  • Melt the coconut oil in a small saucepan set over medium-low heat. Remove from heat and whisk in the cocoa powder, maple syrup and salt. Return to heat and whisk for 1 minute longer.
  • Scrape chocolate mixture onto prepared parchment paper; using a silicone spatula, spread to an even thickness (about 1/4-inch thick).
  • Sprinkle with desired toppings.
  • Transfer baking sheet to the freezer (for 30 minutes) or refrigerator (for at least an hour) until bark is firm.
  • Transfer bark (on the parchment paper) to a cutting board and cut into about 25 pieces.

Notes

Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 month or the freezer for 6 months.
Keto Option: Replace the maple syrup with an equal amount of keto-friendly liquid sweetener. Do not use dried fruit in the topping. Instead, use nuts, seeds, unsweetened coconut flakes, and, for a fruit option, freeze dried fruit (such as strawberries; you can find these in the baby food section of most supermarkets).
Variations
  • Add toppings directed into the bark: f you like, stir some of the toppings directly into the coconut oil-cocoa mixture, instead of on top of the chocolate, before spreading on the parchment. Lumpy-bumpy is a very good thing here!
  • Swap maple syrup for another liquid sweetener: For example, brown rice syrup, agave nectar, date syrup, or (if you do not follow a vegan diet) honey.
 
Topping Ideas
  • Chopped Nuts: For example, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, almonds, peanuts, cashews and macadamia nuts. Toasted or roasted nuts deliver a lot more flavor, but you can use raw, too.
  • Seeds: For example, pumpkin seeds (pepitas), sunflower seed kernels, chia seeds, hemp hearts and sesame seeds. The same goes for seeds: toasting adds extra flavor and crunch.
  • Coconut: Add raw or toasted unsweetened coconut shreds or flakes.
  • Chopped Dried Fruits: Sucha s dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried apricots, dried blueberries, dried mango, raisins, figs and prunes.
  • Freeze dried fruit: Look for options such as freeze-dried strawberries, blueberries, apples and raspberries. Crumble onto the bark or leave whole.
  • Nut butters and seed butters: Stir in a few tablespoons of nut butter or seed butter, such as peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter or tahini. Heat the nut butter or seed butter slightly so that it is more runny, and easier to swirl.

Nutrition

Serving: 1piece (just the bark, not toppings) | Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 6.2g | Saturated Fat: 5.5g | Sodium: 25mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 2.7g
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

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About Camilla

I'm Camilla, food writer, author, runner, and spin instructor. PowerHungry® is where I share my easy, minimalist, plant-based recipes, designed for living a healthy, delicious, empowered life.

5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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13 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I’m in Texas and making chocolate was part of preparing for the ice storm. I made one sheet and added granola on one section, made peanut butter on another, and added nuts on another before sprinkling sea salt. The recipe was ultra easy to follow and I love how little time it took to make these so I could do more prepping. They taste delicious and I love that worst case scenario, they’re shelf stable for at least a little while! This recipe was exactly what I was looking for and it did not disappoint!

    1. Hi there, fellow Texan! Hope you are staying warm, the storm was a doozy :). Umm, I love that your pre-storm plan was to make chocolate bark 😍😍😍. The addition of PB and nuts sounds divine. Yum!

    1. Hi Allison! Apologies, adding that now. It is a standard 1/4 size sheet pan, which is 9×13 inches. You could also use a 9×13 baking dish. Cheers 🙂

  2. Can I keep this in a cool dry place in an airtight container for a week? I’m making this for a party next week and do not want to store in the refrigerator or freezer in case it starts melting at the restaurant.

    1. Hi Mary Ann,
      That should work. So long as it is relatively cool, it should set up firmly without issue 🙂

    1. You are so welcome, Tina! You are reminding me to make some (pronto!)–it’s been a while since I have treated myself to a batch of this bark.

  3. Camilla! I love your blog & it’s on my daily rounds of website checking now. I made this for Paul on Valentines Day. He ate half of the bark in one sitting 🙂 Success!

  4. Hi Jenny! So good to hear from you! Let me know what you think of the recipe when you try it 🙂 All the best to you!

  5. Hi Camilla,
    I haven’t been by for awhile, but I am drooling over this recipe! So easy, too! Hope all is well with you and your family. I am going to make this this weekend!