Easy Dubai Chocolate Brownies with Pistachio – Rich & Moist
The Ultimate Dubai Chocolate Brownies Recipe: Master the Viral Sensation at Home
If you’ve spent any time online recently, you’ve likely encountered that viral, crunchy chocolate bar from Dubai. Have you found yourself wondering if you could replicate that amazing texture and flavour at home? We’re here to tell you that you can—and we think we’ve made it even more delicious. We’re taking that internet-famous treat and transforming it into the richest, fudgiest, and most memorable dessert you’ll bake this year: our definitive Dubai Chocolate Brownies.
This recipe marries a dense, intensely chocolatey brownie base with a stunningly crisp middle layer, which is filled with toasted kadaif pastry and luscious pistachio cream. It’s a textural delight that delivers on every promise, from its striking appearance to its even more remarkable taste. Don’t just follow a trend; with our guide, you are about to perfect it. Let’s begin and create a true showstopper that will have everyone asking for your secret.
What Exactly Are Dubai Chocolate Brownies?
The inspiration for this dessert phenomenon comes from the famous chocolate bars by Fix Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai. Their “Can’t Get Knafeh of It” bar, which encases a pistachio cream and crunchy toasted kataifi (also known as knafeh or kadaif pastry) in smooth chocolate, became an overnight internet star. The deeply satisfying crunch and unique blend of flavours sparked a global craze.
We witnessed this brilliant concept and immediately thought, “How could we make this even more decadent?” The solution was simple: merge it with our all-time favourite gooey, fudgy brownie. Our recipe layers that distinctive crunchy pistachio chocolate brownies filling between two slices of dense brownie batter, offering a dessert that truly has it all. You experience the profound, comforting taste of a classic brownie alongside the thrilling, contemporary twist of that viral crunch. It’s a fusion dessert that is simply divine.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- A Remarkable Textural Journey: The interplay between the soft, fudgy brownie and the incredibly crisp kadaif centre is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s a true delight for the senses with every mouthful.
- Elegant Flavours, Effortless Method: We’ve blended the refined notes of rich dark chocolate and nutty pistachio in a recipe that feels wonderfully luxurious, yet our clear, step-by-step guide makes it entirely achievable for bakers of any skill level.
- A True Showstopper: This is so much more than a standard brownie. It’s a talking point and a guaranteed centrepiece. We promise that if you bring a tray of these to any event, you’ll be the talk of the town.
- Beautifully Balanced Indulgence: We have meticulously calibrated the richness of the chocolate and the sweetness of the pistachio cream to ensure the final bake is indulgent without being cloying. It’s a treat you will find yourself wanting to make time and again.
The Key Ingredients for Your Brownies
The secret to this recipe’s success is using high-quality ingredients, allowing each element to truly sing. Here is what we suggest you have ready before you start.
For the Fudgy Brownie Base
This is our go-to fudgy brownies recipe, which we’ve honed over time to be perfectly dense, moist, and deeply chocolatey. It serves as the ideal canvas for our crunchy filling.
- Dark Chocolate: We recommend a high-quality bar with at least 70% cocoa solids for the best flavour.
- Unsalted Butter: This is crucial for giving the brownies their rich, melt-in-your-mouth quality.
- Caster Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create that iconic crackly top.
- Eggs: Ensure they are at room temperature, as this helps them incorporate more easily.
- Plain Flour: Just the right amount to provide structure without creating a cakey texture.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Adds an extra layer of intense chocolate depth.
- Vanilla Extract & Salt: These are non-negotiable for enhancing all the other flavours!
For the Crunchy Pistachio Kadaif Filling
This is the core of our recipe, capturing the essence of the viral Dubai chocolate. You’ll be surprised at how straightforward it is to create.
- Kadaif Pastry: Also known as kataifi, this is essentially shredded phyllo dough. You should be able to find it in the freezer aisle of most Middle Eastern or Mediterranean food shops, or online.
- Unsalted Butter: Used for toasting the kadaif until it is golden and perfectly crisp.
- Pistachio Paste or Cream: This is what provides the vibrant, nutty flavour. You can either buy it ready-made or create your own by processing pistachios in a food processor until smooth.
- Tahini: A small amount of tahini lends an authentic, slightly savoury note that cuts through the sweetness beautifully.
- White Chocolate: This not only adds a delightful creaminess but also helps to bind the filling.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Dubai Chocolate Brownies
Are you ready to start baking? Let’s break the process down into simple, easy-to-follow stages. We assure you, it’s much easier than it seems!
- Preheat and Prepare Your Tin: First things first, preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C Fan). Line a 20cm (8-inch) square baking tin with baking parchment, ensuring there’s an overhang on the sides to make lifting the brownies out easier later on.
- Create the Crunchy Filling: To prepare the crunchy filling, place the kadaif pastry in a large bowl and gently tease the strands apart with your fingers. Pour over the melted butter and toss well to coat every strand. Spread the pastry onto a baking tray and bake for 10-15 minutes, until it’s a lovely golden brown and crisp. Allow it to cool down completely. Once cool, crumble it into smaller pieces and combine it with the pistachio paste, tahini, and melted white chocolate, mixing until everything is incorporated.
- Begin the Brownie Batter: Now, let’s start the brownie batter. In a heatproof bowl placed over a saucepan of gently simmering water, melt the dark chocolate and butter together, stirring occasionally until you have a smooth, glossy mixture. Take it off the heat.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: Whisk the caster sugar into the warm chocolate and butter mixture. Next, add the eggs one by one, followed by the vanilla extract, whisking thoroughly after each addition until the batter is visibly thick and shiny.
- Incorporate the Dry Ingredients: Sift the plain flour, cocoa powder, and salt directly over the wet mixture. Using a spatula, gently fold everything together until it is just combined. It’s very important not to overmix at this stage!
- Assemble the Brownies: Pour half of the brownie batter into your lined tin, spreading it out to create an even layer. Carefully spoon the pistachio kadaif filling on top, spreading it out to form a distinct middle layer. Finish by topping it with the remaining brownie batter, spreading it gently to cover the filling completely.
- Bake Until Just Right: Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes. The brownies are ready when the edges are set, but the centre still has a slight jiggle. A skewer inserted into the middle should emerge with moist, fudgy crumbs attached, not wet batter.
- Cool Down Completely: This is arguably the most challenging step, but it’s vital! You must allow the brownies to cool entirely in the tin before you even consider slicing them. For the neatest, cleanest cuts, we strongly suggest chilling them in the fridge for at least one hour.
Top Tips for the Best Homemade Brownies
If you want to guarantee your brownies are utterly flawless, follow our trusted tips for success.
- Resist the Urge to Overbake: The secret to a perfectly fudgy brownie is to remove it from the oven while it’s still slightly soft in the middle. It will carry on cooking as it cools, giving you that wonderfully gooey centre we all adore.
- Quality Makes a Difference: The flavours of your chocolate and pistachio paste are the stars of the show, so using high-quality products is paramount. For more advice on selecting the best chocolate, we find this guide from King Arthur Baking to be an excellent resource.
- Patience is a Virtue: We cannot emphasise this enough—let the brownies cool completely. Attempting to slice a warm brownie will lead to a delicious but messy result. Chilling them first ensures clean, professional-looking squares. If you enjoy creating unique traybakes, you might also fall in love with our simple and chewy Biscoff Rice Krispie Treats.
- Room Temperature is Best: By using eggs that are at room temperature, you help them to emulsify into the batter more effectively, which results in a smoother, more consistent texture.
- Be Adventurous: Don’t hesitate to play around with new ideas! If you are in the mood for another impressive and enjoyable dessert, why not give our marvellous Apple Cider Whoopie Pies a try?
FAQ
Your Viral Treat Awaits!
And there we have it—our complete guide to recreating the viral dessert of the moment, with an even more luxurious touch. Our Dubai Chocolate Brownies recipe offers more than just a sweet fix; it’s a full sensory experience. The deep, fudgy chocolate base paired with the nutty, impossibly crunchy pistachio filling results in a dessert that is truly one of a kind.
We have shared all the steps, tips, and secrets to help you achieve a spectacular result. Now it’s over to you to get into the kitchen and whip up a batch of these phenomenal kadaif chocolate brownies. We are confident you will adore them just as much as we do.
We are so excited to see your creations! If you decide to make our Dubai Chocolate Brownies, please be sure to tag us on social media or leave us a comment below to share how they turned out. Happy baking!
Easy Dubai Chocolate Brownies with Pistachio – Rich & Moist
A decadent, fudgy brownie layered with an irresistibly crunchy pistachio and kadaif filling. This is the viral Dubai chocolate trend, made even better.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C Fan) and line a 20cm (8-inch) square tin with baking parchment.
- Toss the kadaif pastry with melted butter, spread on a tray, and bake for 10-15 minutes until golden and crisp. Let it cool completely.
- Once cool, crumble the kadaif and mix with the pistachio paste, tahini, and melted white chocolate. Set this filling aside.
- For the brownie, melt the dark chocolate and butter together in a bowl over simmering water. Remove from heat and whisk in the sugar.
- Whisk in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla, until the batter is thick and glossy.
- Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Gently fold until just combined—do not overmix.
- Pour half the brownie batter into the prepared tin. Spread the pistachio filling evenly on top. Cover with the remaining batter.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes. The edges should be set, but the centre should still have a slight wobble.
- Allow the brownies to cool completely in the tin before slicing. For the cleanest cuts, chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
Calories: 380 kcal
Protein: 6g
Carbs: 38g
Fat: 23g
