Banana Bark Is The Freezer Snack You Didn't Know You Needed
One of the best things about chocolate bark — aside from its deliciously sweet taste, of course — is that it's one of the most versatile desserts you can make at home. All you need to do is melt a bit of chocolate, sprinkle it with some of your favorite toppings, and pop it into the freezer, and a toothsome treat is born. From double chocolate bark with salted almonds to white chocolate bark with pretzels, the variations are scrumptiously endless. But, for a fruity take on a classic candy bar, you should definitely try adding bananas to the mix.
Dubbed banana bark, the frozen chocolate-banana concoction is the latest iteration of TikTok's viral date bark, which is a luscious twist on stuffed dates. The crunchy date bark features flattened pitted dates layered with peanut butter, almonds, and dark chocolate all topped with a dash of salt. However, social media's newest sweet obsession features only four ingredients, including peanut butter, chocolate, and sea salt, opting for bananas in place of the dates for the base. And, apparently, it tastes just like a Snickers bar.
Freeze banana bark to perfection
Whipping up banana bark is easy; all you need is a parchment paper-lined pan and your four ingredients. Similar to date bark, the banana version is made by slathering the fruit with a hearty portion of peanut butter and melted chocolate and then topping it with sea salt. To help your decadent bark freeze faster, pop the peanut butter-covered banana slices into the freezer first so they can harden, which should take about 20 minutes. Once they're icy crisp, you can layer on the chocolate and flaky salt and then put the pan back into the freezer to finish chilling, and they're ready to be enjoyed.
When it comes to melting your chocolate, you can certainly liquefy it on the stove by cooking it in a saucepan over low heat. But, for a quicker option, simply place it in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it for about two minutes. To make it easier to spread the chocolate over the peanut butter, try adding about a teaspoon of coconut oil to your chocolate chips or bars before microwaving them. And, be sure to give the chocolatey mixture a good stir every 30 seconds or so to make sure it melts evenly.
Take your banana bark to the next level
Just like any other chocolate bark recipe, the flavor and texture variations of banana bark are seemingly neverending — and social media is certainly teeming with various social media creators' sweet creations. On Instagram and across TikTok, you can see various creators with their own takes. Some have opted for tahini in place of peanut butter; some add granola to the mix and sprinkle sesame seeds on top along with sea salt. Others have even used different cereals to give their bark a bit of crunch.
For a similarly crispy mouthfeel, you can add a nice crumble to your bark by garnishing it with nuts, such as crushed peanuts or walnuts. Or, simply slather on extra crunchy peanut butter instead of a smoother variety. In lieu of peanut butter, you can also use any type of nut butter you have on hand, such as almond, cashew, or hazelnut butter. And, make things even sweeter by coating your layer of chocolate with mini M&M's for a tasty treat you won't want to put down.