Viral Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cup Recipe

This Viral Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cup has taken the internet by storm and for good reason. These layered dessert cups combine juicy fresh strawberries, creamy nutty pistachio cream, crunchy buttery kataifi pastry and rich chocolate sauce. They are a delightful spin on the popular dubai pistachio chocolate bar which is a chocolate bar stuffed with a filling made of crispy kataifi pastry and pistachio cream. This dessert is a refreshing combination that adds the freshness of strawberries to cut through the richness of the other ingredients.

What is pistachio cream?

Pistachio cream is a thick spread, similar to Nutella but made from pistachios and white chocolate. You can make this from scratch or opt to buy it. I tried making a few different recipes I found online and every time I used homemade pistachio cream the pastry soaked up the liquid and became soggy very quickly. Because of this, I think most Dubai chocolate recipes should be made with a store bought pistachio cream if possible. Pistachio cream can be a difficult product to find in shops, usually found in specialty shops but the recent popularity of the product has some mainstream shops stocking it. I used the Dunnes Stores Pistachio Spread in my Dubai Chocolate recipes with great success. It has perfect texture and a creamy, nutty flavour.

What is kataifi pastry?

Kataifi pastry is a shredded filo pastry that is packed into long thin hair like strips. It stays very crispy and crunchy after cooking which makes it very versatile for desserts. You can find it in some Asian markets in the freezer sections. I found mine in Eastern Food Stores Cavan.

So how do I make this Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cups from scratch?

To begin, remove the pastry from the freezer. Using a sharp knife, cut the frozen pastry into small strips, separating the strands as much as you can. I found it easier to cut into the pastry while it was still frozen. When it starts to defrost it becomes more difficult. Heat the pan on a medium-low heat and add the butter. Once the butter has melted and the pan has warmed, add the kataifi pastry. Cook on a medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes stirring often until the pastry has all turned a dark golden brown. Remove from the heat and leave to one side to cool.

Add the chocolate and cream to a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 20 second bursts, mixing well in between until the chocolate has completely melted. Alternatively, add to a heat safe bowl and set over a saucepan smaller than the bowl filled 1/4 with hot water. Heat on a low heat, mixing the chocolate until melted. Leave to one side. In a bowl, mix together the cooked kataifi pastry and pistachio cream.

To assemble, spread a spoonful of the pistachio filling on the bottom of the serving glass/cup. Wash the strawberries and remove the stalks. Cut the strawberries into quarters. Add a handful of strawberries to the serving glass/cup before adding another layer of pistachio cream. Drizzle a spoonful of the chocolate sauce and repeat the layers until all the ingredients have been used or the glass/cup is full. Serve immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

For more Chocolate Recipes, check out my Chocolate Category, here.