Dubai Chocolate Bars Recipe
Creamy milk chocolate with a crunchy pistachio filling make our version of the viral Dubai chocolate bars, one you're going to love to make as much as you love to eat!
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
*You can use a double boiler method to melt the chocolate. We like using the microwave technique for amateur cooks, and it is also a more kid-friendly 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. 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.
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.
Nutrition
Calories: 255kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 4gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 94mgPotassium: 177mgFiber: 3gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 74IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 1mg
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