Ingredients
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1/2 cup (70 g) almonds, roughly chopped
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1/2 cup (64 g) roasted unsalted pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)
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7 oz (200 g) 85% dark chocolate, such as two 100 g bars of Lindt Excellence 85%, chopped
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1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
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Pinch of cayenne
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Zest of 1 orange (about 1 tbsp)
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1/4 tsp flaky sea salt
Allergens Contains: Tree nuts (almonds). Pumpkin seeds can be an allergen for some people. Many dark chocolates are made on shared equipment with milk, nuts, and soy — check your bar's label.
Instructions
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1
Line a baking sheet with parchment. Toast the almonds and pepitas in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for 4 to 5 minutes, until the pepitas start to pop and the almonds smell toasty. Let them cool for 5 minutes.
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2
Melt three-quarters of the chocolate in a bowl in the microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring each time, until just melted. Add the remaining chocolate and stir until smooth — this keeps the bark snappy rather than soft.
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3
Stir in the cinnamon and cayenne, then spread the chocolate on the parchment in a rough rectangle about 1/4 inch thick, roughly 8 by 10 inches.
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4
Scatter the nuts and seeds over the top and press gently so they stick, then finish with the orange zest and flaky salt.
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5
Refrigerate about 30 minutes, until fully firm and it snaps cleanly. Break into 24 shards of about 14 g each; two shards is one serving. Weigh a few the first time — it calibrates your eye for the rest.
Meal Prep Tip
Stored airtight in the fridge, the bark keeps 2 weeks, or 2 months in the freezer. Let frozen shards sit 5 minutes before eating — straight from the freezer the chocolate is hard enough to mute its flavor.
Storage & Food Safety
Store airtight in the fridge or a cool, dry place, away from heat so the chocolate doesn't soften or bloom. Not suitable for children under 4: hard chocolate pieces, whole seeds, and nut pieces are choking hazards at that age.
Make It Yours
Nut-free
Replace the almonds with 1/4 cup more pepitas and 1/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds. Protein stays about the same per serving; check that your chocolate is made in a nut-free facility.
Dairy-free
Most 85% bars contain no milk ingredients, but some add milk fat or share equipment with milk. Check the label; the nutrition doesn't change.
If 85% tastes too bitter
Use a 72% bar. Added sugar rises to roughly 5 g per serving, past the low-carb limit, though still well under a typical fun-size candy bar.
Budget or pantry-only
Skip the almonds and use 1 cup pepitas total, which are often cheaper. Protein goes up by about 1 g per serving.
Lower-sodium
Leave off the flaky salt and add extra orange zest for brightness. Sodium drops to under 10 mg per serving.
Nutrition
Per serving (2 shards, about 28 g) — estimate.
Calories
160
Net Carbs
5g
Total Carbs
9g
Fiber
4g
Total Sugars
2g
Added Sugars
2g
Protein
5g
Fat
13g
Saturated Fat
5g
Sodium
25mg
Nutrition pending review by our registered dietitian — estimate only. Not medical advice.
Keywords
DessertDark ChocolateMake-aheadPepitasHealthy FatsLow-Carb
