When we first saw the viral Dubai Chocolate Bar on TikTok, it didn’t seem like a combination of flavors that I would enjoy. I couldn’t have been more wrong, and our version is a whole lot cheaper than buying the original.
The original creators of the “Can’t Get Knafeh of It” chocolate bar, aka Dubai chocolate bar, are Dubai’s Fix Dessert Chocolatier. And once you’ve tasted this delectible creation, you’ll understand that “Fix” stands for “Freakin’ Incredible eXperience”.
You’ll also find creations called Butter To Be Safe Than Salty, and Mind Your Own Buiscoff on their website. I know what I want for Christmas!
There is something about the crunch of this bar that makes you want more. The sound draws you in, and the incredible blend of flavors surrounded by creamy milk chocolate makes these homemade candy bars hard to resist.
If you’re a chocolate lover, make sure to try our Ultimate Chocolate Mud Cake and Chocolate Pudding Cake recipes.
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients to prepare our Dubai Chocolate Bars recipe. Culinary professionals call this the “Mise en Place,” which means “everything in its Place.”
Setting up your ingredients not only helps speed up the cooking process but also ensures you have all the necessary ingredients on hand to make the recipe.
Can I Change Up the Recipe?
Yes, you can. We used pistachio nut butter in the recipe because it has a more natural pistachio flavor. It also has a gritty texture that gives the filling a crunchier bite, somewhat like a cross between a Nestlé Crunch bar and a Kit Kat.
For a creamier texture, use pistachio cream. It has a milder pistachio flavor, but it has a sweeter taste. For a richer pistachio flavor and vibrant color, use pistachio paste. It can be sweetened, but it’s generally used in baked goods for a richer pistachio flavor.
Milk chocolate was my first choice for our Dubai bars, but dark or semi-sweet can also be used. You can also change them around by using white chocolate as the main ingredient and dark chocolate for decoration.
Pistachio is the signature flavor in the Dubai Chocolate Bar Recipe, but you can use any of your favorite nut butters.
If you can’t find Katafi in your local supermarket to make your own viral Dubai chocolate bars, look for Middle Eastern grocery stores that are in your area.
How to Make Homemade Dubai Chocolate Bars
Follow along with my simple step-by-step instructions to learn how to make homemade Dubai Chocolate Bars in your home kitchen.
- Clean and dry the chocolate bar molds thoroughly, then set them aside until needed.
- Place the white chocolate in the microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave it for 15-30 second intervals, stirring in between until the desired consistency of the melted white chocolate is reached.
- Add one teaspoon of the pistachio butter to the melted white chocolate.
- Stir to combine.
- Use a spoon to drizzle the white chocolate evenly throughout the chocolate molds, then set them in the freezer until needed.
- Add the unsalted butter to a large skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter, then add the katafi pastry dough to the pan.
- Cook for 7-10 minutes until the katafi is crispy and golden brown.
- Remove the pan with the toasted katafi from the heat. Add the remaining pistachio nut butter, tahini, and salt to the crunchy katafi pastry.
- Mix until well combined, and let it cool for 10-15 minutes.
Chef Tip: Make sure to toast the katafi until it’s really crunchy.
- Place half of the milk chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Melt in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval.
- Heat until the desired consistency of melted chocolate is reached.
- Pour the milk chocolate into the chocolate bar mold over the top of the white chocolate. Use a rubber spatula or pastry brush to create an even level, then place it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
Chef Tip: Don’t skip the freezer time called for throughout the recipe. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a chocolaty mess.
- Remove the chocolate molds from the freezer. Sprinkle the cooled katafi pistachio mixture evenly into both molds.
- Use a rubber spatula to spread the mixture into an even layer, then return the molds to the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
- While the filling is setting up in the freezer, melt the remaining milk chocolate in the microwave in 15-30 second intervals until the desired creamy consistency is reached.
- Pour the remaining melted chocolate over the top of the katafi. Use a rubber spatula or pastry brush to smooth the remaining chocolate evenly.
- Place the chocolate bars in the freezer for 15 minutes or in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Then pop them out of the molds.
*This recipe yields two large chocolate bars, which can be broken into 10 pieces each. For fun, bite-sized treats, get peanut butter cup moulds.
If you’ve got a chocolate lover in your house, why not make our Dubai Chocolate Bars for them? Or better yet, make them for yourself and hide them. Because after one bite, you’ll understand why they went viral!
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in a cool area of the kitchen for 5-7 days.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can, but add them sparinly. Cinnamon, cardamom, rosewater, flaky salt, or a hint of saffron can be added for extra flavor.
Coconut oil is a good substitute for the butter used to toast the kataifi. It will add a subtle coconut flavor, which complements the other ingredients.
Kataifi pastry is a type of filo pastry made into fine strings, resembling vermicelli noodles or shredded wheat.
More Chocolate Recipes You’ll Love!
Dubai Chocolate Bars Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ounces meltable white chocolate 2 ounces
- 16 ounces meltable milk chocolate for a thicker chocolate coating use 24 ounces
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 4 ounces katafi shredded dough chopped
- 1 7 ounces pistachio butter or pistachio paste
- ¼ cup tahini
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- Clean and dry the chocolate bar molds thoroughly, then set them aside until needed.
- Place the white chocolate in the microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave it for 15-30 second intervals, stirring in between until the desired consistency of the melted white chocolate is reached.
- Add one teaspoon of the pistachio butter to the melted white chocolate. Stir to combine.
- Use a spoon to drizzle the white chocolate throughout the chocolate molds and set in the freezer until needed.
- Add the unsalted butter to a skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter, then add the katafi pastry dough to the pan.
- Cook for 7-10 minutes until the katafi is crispy and golden brown.
- Remove the pan with the toasted katafi from the heat. Add the remaining pistachio nut butter and tahini to the crunchy katafi pastry.
- Add the remaining pistachio butter, tahini, and salt to the browned katafi pastry and mix until combined. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes
- Mix until well combined, and let it cool for 10-15 minutes.
- Place half of the milk chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Melt in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval. Heat until the desired consistency of melted chocolate is reached.
- Pour the milk chocolate into the chocolate bar mold over the top of the white chocolate. Use a rubber spatula or pastry brush to create an even level, then place it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.*Don't skip the freezer time, it's essential!
- Remove the chocolate molds from the freezer. Sprinkle the cooled katafi pistachio mixture evenly into both molds.
- Use a rubber spatula to spread the mixture into an even layer, then return the molds to the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
- While the filling is setting up in the freezer, melt the remaining milk chocolate in the microwave in 15-30 second intervals until the desired creamy consistency is reached.
- Pour the remaining melted chocolate over the top of the katafi. Use a rubber spatula or pastry brush to smooth the remaining chocolate evenly.
- Place the chocolate bars in the freezer for 15 minutes or in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Then pop them out of the molds.
- *This recipe yields two large chocolate bars, which can be broken into 10 pieces each. For fun, bite-sized treats, try using peanut butter cup molds.
Notes
For a creamier texture, use pistachio cream. It has a milder pistachio flavor, but it has a sweeter taste. For a richer pistachio flavor and vibrant color, use pistachio paste. It can be sweetened, but it’s generally used in baked goods for a richer pistachio flavor. Milk chocolate was my first choice for our Dubai bars, but dark or semi-sweet can also be used. You can also change them around by using white chocolate as the main ingredient and dark chocolate for decoration. Pistachio is the signature flavor in the Dubai Chocolate Bar Recipe, but you can use any of your favorite nut butters. If you can’t find Katafi in your local supermarket to make your own viral Dubai chocolate bars, look for Middle Eastern grocery stores that are in your area. Can I add spices to the filling? Yes, you can, but add them sparinly. Cinnamon, cardamom, rosewater, flaky salt, or a hint of saffron can be added for extra flavor. What can I use as an alternative to butter? Coconut oil is a good substitute for the butter used to toast the kataifi. It will add a subtle coconut flavor, which complements the other ingredients. What is Kataifi? Kataifi pastry is a type of filo pastry made into fine strings, resembling vermicelli noodles or shredded wheat.
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