Dubai Strawberry Cup

This Valentine’s Day, we’re going to indulge in the Dubai Strawberry Cup! We’ve all seen the Viral Dubai Chocolate Bar making its rounds on the internet: the famous $20 bar featuring pistachio butter, knafeh, and chocolate. This is our spin on the Viral Dubai Chocolate Bar layered up in a gorgeous presentation, enjoyed by the spoonful. Freshly chopped strawberries are stacked with buttery crisp shredded filo and rich pistachio butter and smothered in dark melted chocolate. One bite and you will be in heaven!

What stands out

This is a chocolate dessert unlike any you’ve seen before. Get ready to indulge in the ultimate sweet! Whether serving this for Valentine’s Day, girl’s night, fulfilling a sweet tooth, or just PMSing, this is THE dessert to make when you want something straightforward, and impressive. Forget tricky truffles, chocolate molds, and soufflés; this is the dish chocolate lovers want! It’s got texture: flaky, buttery shredded filo, juicy strawberries, smooth, melted chocolate sauce, and crunchy pistachio. It’s got flavor: creamy, nutty pistachio butter, tangy, bright fruit, and bold cocoa. Just say no to grocery store chocolate boxes and make this sinfully dessert for your love!

How to Prepare

Follow the package directions for thawing the fil o in the fridge. Once thawed, place it on a cutting board and cut into thin sections across.

With clean hands, separate the filo, making sure there are no clumps and the strands are all separated.

Heat a pa n over medium heat and melt the butter. Once the butter shimmers, add the shredded filo. Cook the filo, stirring the whole time, for 5 to 10 minutes, until crispy and lightly golden.

Remove the filo from the heat and transfer to a bowl to cool.

Melt the pistachio butter for a few seconds in the microwave or in a double boiler on the stove, just until runny. Add it to the filo and mix to combine.

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave, until runny.

Take one larger mason jar (or two small) and start to layer your Dubai Strawberry Cup.

Begin with strawberries, followed by 2 to 3 tablespoons of the pistachio filo, and lastly a drizzle of chocolate on top. Repeat until the jar is full.

Top it off with any remaining crispy filo and some chopped pistachios! Enjoy!

Kitchen tip

We like to separate the shredded filo with our hands, making sure there are no clumps and the strands are all separated. Cook it in the butter until golden and crispy!

Swaps

1. Want mess free layers? Use a piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped off to drizzle the chocolate beautifully. You could also use a wide-mouth jar for less mess!
2. Gluten-free? Traditional filo has gluten, but you can try crushed gluten-free cookies, toasted coconut flakes, or even chopped nuts for that crunch!
3. Strawberries are definitely the star of the show here, but feel free to try this recipe with raspberries, blackberries, or even sliced bananas for a different twist!
4. If you don’t have a double boiler just place a heatproof stainless or glass bowl over a pot of simmering water, or melt the chocolate in the microwave in 20-second bursts.
5. If you’re short on time, you can prep ahead! Make the crispy filo mixture and store it separately, then assemble just before serving so it stays perfectly crunchy.

About the Ingredients

This dessert takes inspiration from the viral Dubai chocolate bar, but let’s talk about what makes it so special—starting with knafeh dough!

• What is Knafeh: Knafeh is a beloved Middle Eastern dessert made with shredded filo dough, a layer of soft cheese, and then baked until crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside. It’s the flaky, buttery magic of the shredded filo that gives this dessert its irresistible crunch! To top it off, it’s drizzled with syrup and garnished with ground pistachios for irresistible flavor.
• Pistachio Butter: And then there’s pistachio butter—think of it as peanut butter’s sophisticated older cousin. Pistachio butter is rich, creamy, and nutty with a naturally sweet, slightly floral taste. It’s an absolute game-changer in desserts, pairing beautifully with dark chocolate and fresh fruit.

Serve it with

• Save room for dessert! Dubai Strawberry Cup is the ending to a mouthwatering Ribeye Steak dinner.
• Few things on the planet are more satisfying that pasta and chocolate! Pair this dessert with Cherry Tomato Pasta for the ultimate indulgence.
• Need handheld snacks suited to mingling? Serve this dessert with Shrimp Spring Rolls at your next gathering.

Questions

Can we make this dubai strawberry cup gluten free?

Traditional filo dough contains gluten, but you can try using gluten-free puff pastry or toasted coconut flakes for a gluten-free alternative.

what if i don’t have a double boiler?

No double boiler? No problem! Just pop a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water (make sure it’s not touching!) and stir until silky. Or, take the straightforward route—microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring in between until smooth!

can we make this without pistacios?

Yes! If you can’t find pistacio butter or you’re allergic to nuts, you can substitute with another creamy spread like Biscoff for beautiful results.

Can we make this dessert ahead of time?

You can prep all the ingredients in advance, but for the best texture, assemble the dessert just before serving to keep the filo crisp and the strawberries fresh.

Can we use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?

Thawed frozen strawberries turn mushy and watery, and trust us, that’s not what we want here! Stick to fresh for the ultimate flavor and texture.

Ingredients

Makes 2 jars

• 1 ½ cups shredded filo, or Kataifi
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ⅓ cup pistachio butter, or Biscoff
• 1 bar dark chocolate, or your favorite type of chocolate
• 7 strawberries, sliced or quartered
• chopped toasted pistachios, for garnish

Equipment

• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Cups + Spoons
• Frying Pan
• Spatula
• Medium Mason Jars 16oz
• Pistachio Butter
• Shredded Filo Dough

Method

1. Note: We purchased a 454 gram pack of Krinos Kataifi (shredded filo dough) and used 150 grams from that pack (1/3 of the package). You can find shredded filo in the frozen section of most grocery stores. We like to buy ours from Adonis or Highland Farms.
2. Follow the package directions for thawing the filo in the fridge. Once thawed, place it on a cutting board and cut into thin sections across.
3. With clean hands, separate the filo, making sure there are no clumps and the strands are all separated.
4. Once separated, heat a pan over medium heat and melt the butter.
5. Once the butter shimmers, add the shredded filo. Cook the filo, stirring the whole time, for 5 to 10 minutes, until crispy and lightly golden.
6. Remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl to cool.
7. Melt the pistachio butter for a few seconds in the microwave or in a double boiler on the stove, just until runny. Add it to the filo and mix to combine.
8. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave, until runny.

To Assemble

1. Take one larger mason jar (or two small) and start to layer your delicious Dubai Strawberry Cup.
2. Begin with strawberries, followed by 2 to 3 tablespoons of the pistachio filo, and lastly a drizzle of chocolate on top. Repeat until the jar is full.
3. Top it off with any remaining crispy Filo and some chopped pistachios! Enjoy!

Kitchen notes

Nutritional information:

This recipe makes 1 medium 500ml mason jar or two smaller 250ml jars. The approximate calories are 800 per small jar but please feel free to plug in the ingredients you use into an app such as our fitness pal for accuracy. Filo Dough: We purchased a 454 gram pack of Krinos Kataifi (Shredded Filo Dough) and used 150 grams from that pack which is 1/3 of it. You can find shredded Filo in the frozen section of most grocery stores. We like to buy ours from Adonis or Highland Farms. Additional Tips: If you can’t find Pistachio butter feel free to use any other sweet spread, such as Biscoff.