
Dubai Chocolate Bars
The viral sensation taking over social media — these indulgent Dubai chocolate bars feature a crispy, golden kataifi (shredded phyllo) and pistachio filling encased in a thick shell of rich dark chocolate. Every bite delivers a satisfying crunch against creamy, nutty filling, finished with a swirl of white chocolate for that signature look. No baking required and surprisingly simple to make at home.
6 servings · Prep 25 min · Cook 15 min · Total 100 min
Middle Eastern · Dessert
Ingredients
Open in recipe scaler →Chocolate Coating
14 oz dark chocolate 60–70% cacao, roughly chopped or high-quality chips
high-quality chips
1 tsp coconut oil helps thin chocolate for smooth coating
2 oz white chocolate chopped or chips, for decorative swirl
chips
Pistachio Filling
- 3 oz kataifi (shredded phyllo dough) thawed if frozen, pulled apart into loose strands
2 tbsp unsalted butter for toasting the kataifi- 1 cup pistachio cream or pistachio butter smooth, unsweetened preferred; store-bought or homemade
- pistachio butter
2 tbsp tahini adds depth and creaminess
0.5 tsp fine salt
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Topping
3 tbsp crushed pistachios roughly chopped, for topping
1 pinch flaky sea salt for finishing
Equipment
Stovetop
Microwave
Saucepan
Baking Sheet
Parchment Paper
Mixing Bowl
Skillet
Airtight Container
Freezer
Toothpick
Double Boiler
Wooden Spoon
Fridge
Pastry Brush
Spatula
Saucepan (1 Quart)
Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)
Ziploc Bag (Pint Size)
Instructions
- Melt the @[Butter] in a #[Skillet] over ^[medium heat]. Add the shredded @[Kataifi], breaking it apart with your fingers as you add it. Toast, stirring frequently, for ~[5–7 minutes] until deeply golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Once cool, roughly chop or crumble into smaller pieces.
- In a #[Mixing Bowl], combine the @[Pistachio Cream], @[Tahini], @[Vanilla Extract], and @[Salt]. Stir until smooth and well combined. Fold in the cooled, toasted @[Kataifi] until evenly distributed. The mixture should be thick and scoopable — if it's too stiff, warm it gently for ~[20 seconds] in the #[Microwave].
- Melt the @[Dark Chocolate] with the @[Coconut Oil] in a heatproof #[Mixing Bowl] set over a #[Saucepan] of barely simmering water (double boiler), stirring until completely smooth. Remove from heat. If using @[White Chocolate] for decoration, melt it separately in a small #[Mixing Bowl]. Spoon a thin layer of @[Dark Chocolate] into the bottom of each silicone bar mold, then use a #[Pastry Brush] or the back of a spoon to coat the sides evenly. If desired, drizzle a small amount of melted @[White Chocolate] into the mold first and swirl with a toothpick for the signature marbled look. Freeze the molds for ~[5 minutes] to set the shell.
- Remove the molds from the freezer. Spoon the pistachio-@[Kataifi] filling into each mold, pressing it down gently and leaving about 3–4 mm of space at the top. Pour the remaining melted @[Dark Chocolate] over the filling to seal each bar completely, smoothing the surface with a spatula. Tap the molds gently on the counter to release any air bubbles. Sprinkle crushed @[Pistachios] and a pinch of @[Flaky Sea Salt] over the top if desired.
- Transfer the filled molds to the #[Fridge] and chill for at least ~[45–60 minutes], or until the @[Dark Chocolate] is fully set and firm to the touch. Once set, gently flex the silicone molds and pop the bars out. Store in an #[Airtight Container] in the #[Fridge].





