Editor’s Note
Over the last few months, the $20 “Dubai Chocolate Bar” from Fix Dessert Chocolatier broke the internet. Everyone wanted to try that thick milk chocolate filled with sweet pistachio cream and crunchy toasted pastry. However, flying to Dubai or paying huge shipping fees is just not possible for most people. We spent days testing how to turn this viral candy bar into a drinkable dessert. The biggest problem was keeping the pastry crunchy inside a wet milkshake. We finally cracked the code! By toasting the pastry in butter and layering it instead of blending it, we created the ultimate Dubai Chocolate Milkshake. Now you can enjoy this luxurious, billion-dollar taste right in your own kitchen!
People love the amazing mix of smooth milk chocolate, rich roasted pistachio cream, and the loud crunch of toasted kataifi (a thin, stringy pastry). But sadly, getting your hands on the real chocolate bar is very hard and incredibly expensive.
What if you could get that exact same gourmet flavor and satisfying crunch in a freezing cold, creamy dessert? Today, we are teaching you how to make the ultimate Dubai Chocolate Milkshake at home. It is incredibly easy, looks like a fancy restaurant dessert, and will completely satisfy your sweet tooth. Let us get started!
What Exactly is the Dubai Chocolate Trend?
If you are new to this trend, you might be wondering why everyone is so obsessed with this specific chocolate.
The original viral treat is made by a company in Dubai. They take a thick shell of high-quality milk chocolate and fill the inside with two special Middle Eastern ingredients. The first is pure, sweetened pistachio cream. The second is “kataifi,” which is a very fine, shredded phyllo dough that gets toasted until it is super crunchy.
When you bite into it, you get a loud crunch and a burst of nutty, sweet flavor. Our milkshake recipe uses these exact same ingredients to recreate the magic in a cold, drinkable form.
The Secret to the Crunch: What is Kataifi?
The biggest mistake people make when trying to recreate this recipe is using the wrong crunch. You cannot use crushed cookies or graham crackers. You need kataifi.
Kataifi is a shredded pastry dough that looks like very thin noodles. You can easily find it in the frozen section of Middle Eastern grocery stores or order it online. When you cook these thin dough strings in a pan with a little bit of butter, they become perfectly crispy. This is the secret ingredient that makes the Dubai Chocolate Milkshake so special!
If you love making viral, crispy, and creamy desserts at home, you absolutely have to check out our famous Homemade S’mores McFlurry Recipe next!
Simple Ingredients You Will Need
You do not need to be a professional pastry chef to make this luxury shake. Here is everything you need to grab from the store:
Kataifi Pastry: 1 cup of finely chopped kataifi dough (thawed if frozen).
Unsalted Butter: 1 tablespoon of butter to toast the pastry perfectly.
Pistachio Cream: 3 tablespoons of sweet pistachio cream (also called pistachio butter).
Vanilla Ice Cream: 3 large, generous scoops of premium vanilla bean ice cream.
Whole Milk: 1/2 cup of very cold whole milk.
Chocolate Syrup: 2 tablespoons of thick, rich chocolate fudge syrup for coating the glass.
Dark Chocolate Chips: 1 tablespoon of mini chocolate chips for extra texture.
Step-by-Step Instructions: The Crunch Layering Method
Making this milkshake is all about how you build it. If you put the crunchy bits in the blender, they will turn into soggy mush. Follow these exact steps to keep that famous viral crunch!
Step 1: Chop and Toast the Kataifi
Take your kataifi dough and use a knife to chop it into very small, bite-sized pieces. Place a small frying pan on your stove over medium heat. Add your 1 tablespoon of butter and let it melt. Add the chopped kataifi to the pan.
Step 2: Get the Golden Crunch
Stir the pastry strings constantly with a wooden spoon for about 4 to 5 minutes. Watch it carefully so it does not burn! Once the kataifi turns a beautiful dark golden brown and feels crispy, take the pan off the heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the pistachio cream and mix it with the hot pastry. Set it aside to cool.
Step 3: Decorate the Serving Glass
To make your drink look like it came from a fancy cafe, take a tall, clear glass. Drizzle your thick chocolate syrup all around the inside walls of the glass. Then, take another tablespoon of pistachio cream and smear it along the inside. Place the glass in the freezer for 5 minutes so the syrups stick to the sides.
Step 4: Blend the Base Perfectly
Now, grab your blender. Add your 3 huge scoops of vanilla ice cream, the cold whole milk, and the last tablespoon of pistachio cream. Blend everything at high speed for just 20 seconds. You want the milkshake to be very thick, not watery.
Having trouble getting your blended drinks perfectly thick? Read our expert blending guide in the Dunkin Frozen Hot Chocolate Recipe!
Step 5: The Famous Layering Technique
Take your decorated glass out of the freezer. Drop a big spoonful of your crispy, buttery kataifi mix into the very bottom of the glass. Pour half of your thick milkshake over the crunch. Add another layer of crunchy kataifi, then pour the rest of the milkshake.
Step 6: Garnish and Enjoy!
Top your magnificent dessert with a huge mountain of whipped cream. Sprinkle the remaining toasted kataifi and the mini dark chocolate chips over the very top. Add a wide straw and a long spoon. Enjoy your luxury Dubai treat instantly!
Expert Tips for a Restaurant-Quality Shake
If you want to ensure your dessert turns out flawless on the first try, keep these professional tips in mind:
Do Not Skimp on Fat: Always use whole milk and premium full-fat ice cream. Skim milk or water-based ice creams will make the shake icy and thin instead of rich and velvety.
Cool the Pastry Completely: Never put hot, freshly toasted kataifi into cold ice cream. It will instantly melt your milkshake. Let the crispy strings sit on a cool plate for at least 10 minutes before layering.
The Spoon is Required: Because this dessert is packed with crunchy textures and thick creams, a regular thin straw will get clogged. Always serve this with a wide boba tea straw and a long dessert spoon.
Trending Customizations to Try at Home
Once you master the classic recipe, you can easily change the flavors to create your own viral masterpieces. Here are the most searched variations:
The Double Dark Chocolate Version
Instead of vanilla ice cream, use deep, dark chocolate ice cream for the base. The bitterness of the dark chocolate cuts through the extreme sweetness of the pistachio cream, making a perfectly balanced adult dessert.
The White Chocolate Raspberry Twist
Starbucks lovers are obsessed with this one! Add a tablespoon of raspberry syrup into the blender with white chocolate ice cream. The bright, fruity flavor mixes incredibly well with the nutty roasted pistachios.
The Vegan Dubai Shake
You can easily make this dairy-free! Toast your kataifi in coconut oil instead of butter. Use a thick oat-milk vanilla ice cream and swap the regular milk for creamy cashew milk. Make sure your chocolate syrup is a certified vegan brand!
Conclusion
You do not need to spend hundreds of dollars on a plane ticket or expensive international shipping just to taste the internet’s favorite dessert. By toasting some kataifi pastry and blending a thick, rich pistachio base, you can make the ultimate Dubai Chocolate Milkshake right in your own home. It is creamy, crunchy, totally satisfying, and looks absolutely stunning in a glass. Gather your ingredients, start toasting that pastry, and treat yourself to a luxurious gourmet experience today!
FAQs
Where can I buy Pistachio Cream?
Pistachio cream (or sweet pistachio spread) has become very popular lately. You can usually find it at large grocery stores in the jam and peanut butter aisle. If your local store does not carry it, you can easily order a jar online from Amazon or specialty Italian food websites.
Can I make the crunchy kataifi ahead of time?
Yes, absolutely! You can chop and toast a large batch of the kataifi pastry in butter. Once it is completely cool, store it in an airtight plastic container at room temperature. It will stay perfectly crunchy for up to 3 days, so you can make milkshakes all weekend long.
What can I use if I cannot find Kataifi dough anywhere?
If you simply cannot find kataifi, the best emergency substitute is using regular cornflakes cereal. Put a handful of plain cornflakes in a bag and crush them lightly. Toss the crushed cereal in a pan with melted butter and toast them for a few minutes. It is not the authentic Middle Eastern pastry, but it provides a very similar, satisfying crunch!
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