Here’s how to make Dubai Chocolate Bars in 4 delicious flavor variations, pistachio, biscoff, peanut butter & jelly, and nutella. These chocolate bars are rich, decadent, and easy to make at home!
Dubai Chocolate Bars recently became a viral TikTok sensation, and recreations are popping up all over the internet. A trip to Dubai isn’t in my plans, so I had to come up with my own version and give this latest dessert craze a try. I don’t usually follow viral food trends, but I have to admit—these are absolutely worth the hype!
The bar’s irresistible combination of textures and flavors is so amazing! The chocolate is rich and velvety, but the true standout is the pistachio-kataifi filling. It’s crispy, nutty and utterly irresistible. The creamy, yet crunchy texture makes it clear why this treat became a viral sensation!
Today, I’m going to show you have you can make these delicious chocolate bars in 4 different flavor variations. I’ll admit each is more delicious than the other so it’s going to be hard to choose just one!
Ingredients you’ll need
The original recipe from Fix Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai remains a mystery. With no international shipping, various places in the U.S. have recreated the decadent bars and are selling them for $30 to $60 per bar. But the good news is you can easily whip up a similar version at home. You only need 4 ingredients and a silicone chocolate bar mold!
- Chocolate: You can use milk or semi-sweet chocolate or your favorite melting chocolate.
- Creamy Spread: You can use your favorite spread. Pistachio sauce, nutella, biscoff spread, peanut butter or your favorite nut butter, or any delicious spread you can get your hands on will work!
- Crunchy Filling: Here’s where you can be super creative. The traditional recipe uses katifi toasted in butter, but phyllo pastry (the kind used for baklava works wonderfully too!) Other delicious filling s like crushed cookies, chopped nuts, chopped chips or pretzels are all delicious!
How to make this recipe
Melt chocolate: Chop chocolate into small pieces and microwave in 30-second intervals for about 90 seconds, gently mixing the chocolate between each interval, until melted and smooth. Be careful not to overheat or overmix the chocolate so it doesn’t harden or split.
Fill Mold: Pour a little more than half the chocolate into your chocolate molds, moving the mold around to cover the bottom and sides of the mold. Allow the excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl of melted chocolate. Transfer the mold to the freezer while you prepare the filling.
Prepare filling: For the traditional Dubai chocolate bars, toast the katifi or phyllo in some butter on the stovetop. For the other fillings, crush your cookies, nuts, or pretzels/chips and mix with your spread of choice.
Assemble: Remove the chocolate mold from the freezer. Divide the mixture evenly into the chocolate molds, then drizzle the remaining chocolate on top, carefully smoothing it using an offset spatula. Return to the freezer to set for about 5 minutes then carefully remove from the molds and enjoy!
Helpful Tips
- Low-sugar: For a lower-sugar option, you can use sugar-free chocolate chips.
- Small bars: Try smaller chocolate molds to create mini bars, perfect for portion control!
- Butter alternative: If preferred, you can swap the butter with coconut oil or another oil of your choice to cook the kataifi.
- Make a design: You can use a bit of melted white chocolate to make a swirl design on top of the bars for a unique presentation.
- Allow the chocolate to set: Be sure the chocolate is fully set before removing it from the molds.
Dubai Chocolate Bars (4 ways)
Ingredients
- 16 oz milk or semi-sweet chocolate bar or chocolate chips, white for the biscoff version
Pistachio Kunafa
- 1 cup kataifi or phyllo dough, chopped*
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 cup pistachio cream
Peanut Butter Pretzel
- 1 cup pretzels, chopped or crushed
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup jelly, optional, layer do not mix in
Biscoff
- 1 cup biscoff cookies, chopped or crushed (about 14 cookies)
- 1 cup biscoff or cookie butter
Nutella Crunch
- 1 cup toasted phyllo, kaitifi, or crushed oreos
- ½ cup hazelnuts, roasted & chopped* (optional)
- 1 cup nutella
Instructions
- Melt chocolate: Chop chocolate into small pieces and microwave in 30-second intervals for about 90 seconds, gently mixing the chocolate between each interval, until melted and smooth. Be careful not to over heat or overmix the chocolate so it doesn’t harden or split.
- Fill Mold: Pour a little more than half the melted chocolate into your chocolate molds, move the mold around to cover all the sides and corners of the mold with chocolate. Allow the excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl of melted chocolate. Transfer the mold to the freezer while you prepare the filling.
- Toast Phyllo: Heat a large heavy-duty pan over medium heat. Add the chopped phyllo pastry or kataifi and butter and cook strigging occasionally, until it is golden brown and crispy, then transfer to a medium mixing bowl. Add the pistachio cream to the toasted katifi and combine.
- Assemble: Remove the chocolate mold from the freezer. Combine ingredients for the chosen filling in a small bowl. For the peanut butter, do not mix in the jelly (layer it on). Divide the mixture evenly into the chocolate molds. Drizzle the remaining chocolate on top, carefully smoothing it using an offset spatula. Return to the freezer to set for about 5 minutes then carefully remove from the molds and enjoy!
Equipment
Notes
Frequently asked questions
How to store Dubai chocolate bars?
Store any leftover bars in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They will keep for up to a week. You can also freeze these in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature before enjoying.
Can I add tahini?
Some homemade recipes add a tablespoon or two of tahini paste to the filling. It adds a nutty, slightly bitter flavor that I don’t think is necessary but feel free to experiment and give it a try.
Recipe by Layla Atik // Photography by: Eat Love Eats
It was so funny making these bars!