Homemade Dark Chocolate Bar

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Vanilla: Extract Easy

A smooth dark chocolate bar made from cocoa butter, cocoa powder, sugar and vanilla. It is a simple untempered home bar that is best kept cool and eaten within a couple of weeks. Makes 1 bar in about 1 hr 20 min.

Prep 15 min

Cook 5 min

Cooling 1 hr

Total 1 hr 20 min

Yield 1 bar

Diet Dairy free, Gluten free, Vegan

Ingredients

Adjust yield

bar

¾ cup (100 g)cocoa butter, chopped
⅔ cup (60 g)unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
½ cup (60 g)powdered sugar, sifted
½ tsp (3 ml)vanilla extract
1 pinchsalt
2 ½ tbsp (20 g)chopped roasted almonds, optional

Fresh ingredient guides

AlmondsHow to pick, season & nutrition · 188 kcal per 30 g

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Instructions

Melt the cocoa butter gently in a heatproof bowl set over barely simmering water until just melted, no hotter than 115 F (46 C).
Remove from the heat and whisk in the cocoa powder, powdered sugar and salt until completely smooth. Stir in the vanilla.
Cool for 5 minutes, stirring, until slightly thickened.
Pour into a bar mold or a small parchment-lined loaf pan, tap out bubbles and scatter the nuts, if using.
Chill 45 minutes until firm and snap out of the mold.

Tips

Sift the cocoa and sugar to avoid grittiness.
This bar is untempered, so it can look streaky and melts quickly in the hand.
Add dried milk powder for a milk chocolate version.
Good with espresso.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make homemade dark chocolate bar?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 5 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour to chill. The recipe makes 1 bar.

How should I store homemade dark chocolate bar?

Wrap in foil and keep in a cool place up to 2 weeks.

Can I make homemade dark chocolate bar ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 0.5 tsp vanilla extract (3 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

Serve it with espresso.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 1 serving this recipe makes.

1378 Calories / serving

118.4g Fat

99.5g Carbs

16.2g Protein

61.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (1 serving): ~1378 cal · 118g fat · 100g carbs · 16g protein · 61g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.