Moon bark ~ Summer wintering moments + a celestial recipe for inner nourishment

I’m still reveling in the quiet moments of wintering I’m finding in the summer heat—a coolness born from slowness, shade, and soft, cool colors rather than artificial air conditioning.

There’s something deeply nurturing about a summer afternoon nap: a sensual laziness that lulls the body into the embrace of golden hour. It’s a heavy, honeyed slowness, accentuated by the crisp texture of freshly washed linens, cooling aromatherapy (rosemary, mint, eucalyptus, and lavender), and the lithe softness the body holds after a beach day and a cool shower.

I’d love to share with you a delicious recipe I spontaneously created on a day I craved something sweet but had to make do with what was in my pantry. It pairs beautifully with this kind of summer wintering.

A healing cocoa recipe on a plate by Caterina Roma.

Moon bark on a plate by Caterina Roma.

Moon Bark

A celestial bark for inner nourishment

Crafted under the light of intuition, Moon Bark is a soft, melt-in-your-mouth alchemy—like a cross between sacred fudge and petal-thin ritual chocolate. Rich with cocoa butter, oat, and the floral whisper of cardamom, it's laced with the feminine beauty of lavender and the earthiness of black sesame. A bark for soul-feeding, womb-healing, and quiet evenings.

✧ Ingredients

  • ½ cup cocoa butter (chopped or in discs)

  • 2 tbsp coconut butter (optional, for extra softness and body)

  • 2–3 tbsp agave syrup, or to taste (or sub with maple)

  • ⅓ cup finely ground oats (rolled oats blitzed into a soft flour)

  • ¼ tsp ground cardamom, or more to your liking

  • A pinch of sea salt

To decorate:

  • Dried lavender buds

  • Black sesame seeds

✧ Instructions

  1. Melt the base: In a double boiler (or a heatproof bowl over simmering water), gently melt the cocoa butter and coconut butter together until fully liquefied. Remove from heat.

  2. Sweeten & infuse: Stir in the agave syrup, cardamom, and sea salt. Whisk well until glossy and slightly thickened.

  3. Ground & ground: Add the finely ground oats and stir until the mixture becomes creamy, like a soft, warm fudge.

  4. Spread your moon: Pour the mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper and spread it very thinly—like the sliver of a crescent moon—with the back of a spoon or spatula. Aim for about 2–4 mm thickness, or follow your senses.

  5. Bless with beauty: While still warm and soft, sprinkle the surface with dried lavender buds and black sesame seeds. Let them seep in.

  6. Chill to set: Place the bark in the fridge (or freezer for faster magic) for 15–30 minutes, or until set and breakable.

  7. Break into pieces and store in a sealed container in the fridge. Best enjoyed cool, under the moonlight, or in moments of inner stillness.