Chocolate-covered strawberries are out - Dubai chocolate strawberries are in! Sweet, salty, nutty, crunchy, and totally irresistible - and they take just 15 minutes to make!
Dubai Strawberries Recipe Snapshot
What it is: An easy, no-bake dessert. made with fresh strawberries layered with melted chocolate and a crunchy, sweet-and-salty pistachio filling.
Why you'll love it: All the flavor of Dubai chocolate without tempering chocolate or making bars. And this easy recipe takes just 15 minutes.
How to make it: Toast the kataifi in a pan, then stir in the pistachio cream and layer with strawberries and melted chocolate.
My Dubai chocolate recipe from last year is one of my favourite things I've ever eaten - but honestly, I don't want to faff around tempering chocolate and making chocolate bars every time I'm craving that crunchy pistachio filling. These viral Dubai chocolate strawberries are the perfect solution: all that sweet-and-salty filling paired with melted chocolate and juicy strawberries, and the whole process takes just 15 minutes from start to finish. I'm utterly obsessed with this flavour combination.
Though there are a few versions of this out there, I'm always surprised by how many recipes don't explain the difference between pistachio butter and pistachio cream - using the wrong one can completely change the texture and flavor. I hate the idea of anyone wasting their time or pricey ingredients, so in this recipe, I'll tell you exactly which to use and why, ensuring your Dubai strawberries turn out completely irresistible.
Jump to:
What Are Dubai Chocolate Strawberries?
Dubai chocolate strawberries are an easy dessert inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate bar. The sweet, crunchy pistachio filling is layered with fresh strawberries and melted chocolate for a seriously indulgent alternative to chocolate-covered strawberries.
Ingredients
You might need to order some of these ingredients online if you can't find them in your local grocery store.
A few of them are a bit pricey, but you do get a lot out of them, and it's a lot more cost-effective than store-bought Dubai strawberries!
- Strawberries - Use fresh strawberries, as red and juicy as you can find.
- Kataifi - Also known as 'kadayif', kataifi is shredded phyllo dough. You can buy this online. Ideally, look for the 'dried and chopped' kind, but if yours isn't chopped, you can just cut the kataifi into small strands before using.
- Pistachio Cream - Make sure you buy pistachio cream, NOT pistachio butter. See below.
- Tahini - This is optional, but it just adds another layer of nuttiness and balances out the sweetness a little. You can substitute with a little natural peanut butter, or just leave this out entirely.
- Butter - For toasting the kataifi in, use unsalted butter, or salted if you like your desserts extra salty.
- Salt - Don't skip the salt! It really enhances the pistachio flavor and gives that classic sweet and salty taste.
- Chocolate - Unlike in the Dubai chocolate bars, this can be any kind of chocolate you like. Use your favorite chocolate bar to melt and pour over the strawberries. Dark chocolate balances out the sweetness, but milk chocolate works well too.
See the recipe card for quantities and the full recipe.
Pistachio Cream vs Pistachio Butter
These ingredients are not the same thing, despite how many recipe sites don't seem to know the difference.
Pistachio Butter is a pistachio paste made by blending up 100% pistachios into a nut butter. It's fantastic and I use it to add flavor in a lot of my pistachio desserts.
Pistachio Cream is a sweet spread that contains pistachio butter along with other ingredients like white chocolate. It tastes almost like a pistachio-flavored Nutella.
The sweetness and fat content are what give Dubai chocolate filling its sweet-and-salty flavor and helps it to hold together when mixed with the toasted kataifi.
While you could technically make this recipe with pistachio butter, it won't give the intended flavor or texture that makes Dubai chocolate strawberries so delicious.
How To Make Dubai Chocolate Strawberries
You can prepare the pistachio filling ahead of time and assemble the rest whenever you are ready to serve.
Toast the Kataifi
Melt the butter in a frying pan over medium heat, then add the chopped, dried kataifi and toast it, stirring occasionally until golden brown all over. This will take about 10 minutes.
Don't rush it - toasting the kataifi properly will give the filling that amazing crunch.
Pistachio Cream
Add the pistachio cream, salt, and tahini (if using) to a large bowl and stir together until combined.
Mix Filling
Pour the toasted kataifi into the bowl with the pistachio mixture and stir it until it is completely coated.
Use the filling to make the Dubai chocolate strawberry cups right away, or store until you are ready to serve (see storage section).
Prep Strawberries
Wash and thoroughly dry your strawberries - if they are moist, they can cause the chocolate to seize. Cut into halves or quarters.
Melt the Chocolate
When you are ready to serve, break or chop the chocolate into little pieces, then melt in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring in between until completely melted.
How To Serve Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cups
You can serve your Dubai chocolate strawberry cups in any dish you like, but the best option is a tall glass so you can see the layers.
- Start with sliced strawberries at the bottom of the glass.
- Pour or drizzle melted chocolate on top of the strawberries.
- Add a layer of the pistachio filling.
- Repeat the layers like a Dubai chocolate strawberry parfait.
Finish with more strawberries and a drizzle of chocolate. Sprinkle with some chopped pistachios for a finishing touch.
Variations
To be honest, I'm not sure you can improve on these much. But here are a few ideas if you feel like mixing it up:
- Whipped Cream - For a finishing touch, pipe some homemade whipped cream on top of the dessert, or take it to the next level with some chocolate whipped cream.
- Chocolate Sauce - If you don't want to melt chocolate, you can switch it out for a rich chocolate sauce instead.
- Ganache - For an even more indulgent option, drizzle the strawberries with chocolate ganache instead of melted chocolate.
- Other fruits - Strawberries are perfect for this, but you can definitely try some other fruits or fresh berries too - raspberries and cherries would work nicely.
How To Make Ahead
This recipe is so quick and easy to pull together, but you can make it even easier by preparing the elements ahead of time so you can assemble each Dubai chocolate strawberry dessert as you serve them.
The crunchy pistachio filling can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Any longer than this risks losing some of its signature crispness. Bring it to room temp or microwave it for 10-15 seconds before using.
The strawberries can be washed, dried, and sliced up to 8 hours ahead - store them in the fridge until ready to assemble.
When you are ready to serve, melt the chocolate, and you are good to go.
Once assembled, these are best eaten right away as the chocolate will set fairly quickly.
More Spoonable Desserts
These spoonable dessert recipes are perfect for dinner parties or date nights at home.
Show Me Your Bakes!
If you make this recipe, please tag @bonni_bakery on Instagram or send me a photo - I love seeing all your creations.
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Recipe
Dubai Chocolate Strawberries
Ingredients
- 4 cups Kataifi 150g (dried and chopped)
- 1 cup Pistachio Cream 290g
- 1 tablespoon Tahini
- 4 tablespoon Unsalted Butter 52g
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 12 oz Chocolate 340 (dark or milk)
- 1.5 pounds Strawberries 680g
Equipment
- Frying pan
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Serving Glasses
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat, then add the katafi and cook until it is a lovely golden toasted color. On medium heat with occasional stirring, this should take about 10 minutes.4 tablespoon (52 g) Unsalted Butter, 4 cups (150 g) Kataifi
- In a large bowl, stir together the pistachio cream, tahini and salt until combined.1 cup (290 g) Pistachio Cream, 1 tablespoon Tahini, ½ teaspoon (½ tsp) Salt
- Add the toasted katafi to the pistachio cream mixture and stir together until evenly distributed. Cover and set aside until you are ready to serve.
- Wash and fully dry the strawberries, then slice them into halves or quarters.1.5 pounds (680 g) Strawberries
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring in between until completely melted.12 oz (340 g) Chocolate
- Put a layer of sliced strawberries in the bottom of each of your serving glasses.
- Drizzle melted chocolate on top of the strawberries.
- Spoon in a layer of pistachio filling.
- Repeat the layers until the glasses are full. Top with some more fresh strawberries and a drizzle of chocolate.
- Serve immediately - the chocolate will set if left to sit.
Lewis
Unreal!! So delicious