Viral Dubai chocolate strawberries are a perfect summer dessert! Juicy strawberries, crispy pistachio butter kataifi, and gooey melted chocolate come together in one delicious bite. Serve the strawberries in individual cups or a trifle bowl to feed a crowd. They are especially great for special occasions like Eid or Valentine’s Day.
What Are Dubai Chocolate Strawberries?
Recipes They Want exists to bring you the recipes people are searching for, and right now, Dubai chocolate strawberries are everywhere! Don’t believe me? You should’ve seen the line at Borough Market in London a few weeks ago—and that was just for chocolate-covered strawberries!
This viral dessert draws inspiration from the famous Dubai chocolate bar that first sent the internet into a frenzy. Since then, recipes with pistachio cream, kataifi pastry, and melted chocolate have been popping up all over.
Sweet and tart strawberries are the perfect vessel for this flavor combo to create a fun twist on classic chocolate-covered strawberries that’s completely worth the hype. So jump on the trend, and let’s make the viral recipe!
Key Ingredients
Dubai chocolate strawberries take chocolate-dipped strawberries to a whole new level, and they’re surprisingly easy to make. They come together with just a handful of simple ingredients. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need to get started.
- Strawberries: Chocolate and pistachio are great and all, but in-season strawberries are the real star of the Dubai chocolate strawberry cups. You can leave them whole, but I recommend halving or quartering them to make them easier to eat, and depending on the size of the strawberries.
- Butter: Use salted butter to toast the kataifi (or phyllo dough) until golden brown and crispy.
- Kataifi: Kataifi is a shredded pastry dough used to make Greek and Middle Eastern desserts. It usually comes in long strands, so chop them up to make them easier to fry. You can generally find it in the freezer section of Middle Eastern or Mediterranean grocery stores or specialty international markets. If using frozen pastry dough, you will need to thaw it before using it.
- Pistachio Butter: Pistachio nut butter (or pistachio cream) gives the dessert that signature Dubai chocolate bar flavor. Look for it at Middle Eastern grocery stores or online, or make your own from scratch using shelled pistachios, olive oil, sea salt, and a bit of sweetened condensed milk if you want it to be sweeter.
- Chocolate: Use your favorite chocolate for the melted topping, but remember, the better the chocolate, the better the flavor and finish. You can’t go wrong with Ghirardelli dark or milk chocolate melting wafers to make the rich chocolate sauce, but dark chocolate bars or semi-sweet chocolate chips work great, too. You can even use white chocolate if that’s your thing.
- Coconut Oil: Melt the chocolate with some coconut oil for a smooth, glossy finish that’s easy to drizzle over the fresh strawberries.
- Pistachios: Finish the dessert cups with a sprinkle of crunchy pistachios.
Additions and Substitutions
The fresh-tasting dessert is easily customizable. Use your favorite chocolate, swap in other fruits, or add a dollop of whipped cream.
- Switch up the fruit. Swap strawberries for mixed berries, kiwi, or banana slices.
- Go for gold. Dubai is known for luxury and lots of GOLD. Add a touch of glam with edible gold leaf, gold flakes, or a dusting of gold glitter.
- Experiment with toppings. Replace the crushed pistachio with shredded coconut, pearl dust, or edible rose petals.
- Infuse the chocolate. Enhance the chocolate flavor with a pinch of ground cardamom, sea salt, saffron strands, or a drop of rose water.
Prepare the Strawberries
Wash the Strawberries. Gently rinse the strawberries and pat them completely dry to remove any moisture.
Trim and cut the strawberries to size. Trim off the stems, and slice them in halves or quarters, depending on the look you want and the size of the strawberries. Set them aside.
Tip
Make sure the strawberries are dry, as any moisture can prevent the chocolate from sticking properly.
How to Make Dubai Chocolate Strawberries
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Prepare the strawberries and set them aside, then crush the pistachios.
Step 2: Melt butter in a preheated large skillet over medium heat. Roughly chop the kataifi, as needed, and add it to the pan. Toast until the pieces are golden brown and crispy, for about 8-10 minutes. Stir to prevent the phyllo dough pieces from burning.
Step 3: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the pistachio butter. Set the mixture aside to cool.
Step 4: Add the chocolate wafers and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth and melted.
Step 5: Drizzle melted chocolate into the bottom and sides of a large bowl or individual cups. Add a layer of strawberries, then spoon the kataifi-pistachio mixture on top. Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients and top with crushed pistachios.
Tip
Serve at room temperature or chill for 10–15 minutes to set and harden the chocolate.
Expert Tips
- Pat dry the strawberries. Start by washing the strawberries, then pat them dry with paper towels. Any moisture can cause the melted chocolate to slide right off. Then, trim and cut the strawberries for the dessert.
- Don’t skip the oil. Melt the chocolate with a bit of oil (I like coconut oil) for a glossy, smooth, and pourable consistency. It also helps the chocolate melt evenly without seizing.
- Microwave in increments. Warm the chocolate in short, 30-second bursts, stirring in between, to keep the chocolate smooth and creamy and to prevent it from overheating.
- Serve room temp or chilled. You can serve the dessert right away, or pop it in the fridge for a few minutes if you prefer the chocolate to harden.
If you enjoy Dubai chocolate strawberries, try more Middle Eastern recipes!
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: If you have leftover Dubai chocolate strawberries, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for one day. Just note: the kataifi will soften slightly over time.
Dubai Chocolate Strawberries
- 1 pound strawberries, washed, dried, and halved or quartered
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 4 ounces shredded kataifi, roughly chopped
- 1 cup pistachio butter or pistachio cream
- 1 cup Ghirardelli chocolate melting wafers
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- ⅓ cup shelled pistachios, crushed
- Prepare the strawberries and set them aside, then crush the pistachios.
- Melt butter in a preheated large skillet over medium heat. Roughly chop the kataifi, as needed, and add it to the pan. Toast until the pieces are golden brown and crispy, for about 8-10 minutes. Stir to prevent the phyllo dough pieces from burning.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the pistachio butter. Set the mixture aside to cool.
- Add the chocolate wafers and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth and melted.
- Drizzle melted chocolate into the bottom and sides of a large bowl or individual cups. Add a layer of strawberries, then spoon the kataifi-pistachio mixture on top. Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients and top with crushed pistachios.Tip: Serve at room temperature or chill for 10–15 minutes to set and harden the chocolate.
- Pat dry the strawberries. Start by washing the strawberries, then pat them dry with paper towels. Any moisture can cause the melted chocolate to slide right off. Then, trim and cut the strawberries for the dessert.
- Don’t skip the oil. Melt the chocolate with a bit of oil (I like coconut oil) for a glossy, smooth, and pourable consistency. It also helps the chocolate melt evenly without seizing.
- Microwave in increments. Warm the chocolate in short, 30-second bursts, stirring in between, to keep the chocolate smooth and creamy and to prevent it from overheating.
- Serve room temp or chilled. You can serve the dessert right away, or pop it in the fridge for a few minutes if you prefer the chocolate to harden.