Dubai Chocolate Bars Recipe ( Gluten-Free, Dairy Free)
GLUTEN FREE II DAIRY FREE II VEGAN II NIGHTSHADE FREE II SESAME FREE II FISH FREE II SHELLFISH FREE II SOY FREE II EGG FREE
For those of you with FOMO (fear of missing out), I’ve got you covered! This is a gluten-free and vegan version of the famous Dubai chocolate bars that have the whole world in a spin.
So, what’s special about Dubai chocolate? It is a milk chocolate bar filled with a distinctive combination of pistachio cream and knafeh, which is a crispy shredded phyllo pastry. Traditional Middle Eastern desserts inspire the unique flavour profile of this chocolate, and its visually appealing green colour has made it popular, especially on social media. The blend of chocolate, pistachio, and knafeh creates a crispy, nutty, and indulgent texture and flavour.
Unfortunately, if you cannot eat gluten or dairy, you won't be able to enjoy the original Dubai chocolate version. So, I created a copycat recipe using a well-known cereal: Rice Krispies. This cereal is crunchy, crispy, and gluten-free. Since there are no gluten-free versions of knafeh pastry, and I wanted to keep things simple (and I know you do too!), I opted not to make it from scratch.
I hope you enjoy my gluten-free and vegan version of Dubai chocolate! Be sure to check the notes on ingredients for other filling options and swaps to accommodate different dietary needs below.
Notes on ingredients for Dubai chocolate
Rice Krispies
Available everywhere, this is a cost-effective and simple substitute for knafeh. Other fillings you could try that are popular in the gluten-free groups on Facebook are:
Cornflakes
Dried rice noodles, toasted in butter, but some say this remains hard, so the jury is still out on this one.
For a crunchy texture, use crunchy pistachio butter or add Rice Krispies to the mixture with shredded coconut.
Shredded coconut on its own with pistachio butter would be divine. (Shredded coconut and desiccated coconut differ primarily in their texture and moisture content. Shredded coconut has longer, more substantial pieces that retain some moisture, while desiccated coconut is finely ground and much drier and is found in most supermarkets. Buy shredded coconut online, in your local Asain store or online.)
If you're in the States, try using Rice Chex mix. Always check the packaging for allergens!
Pistachio butter
The original Dubai chocolate bars use pistachio cream, which is not gluten-free or dairy-free. I used pistachio butter instead, which is much healthier.
I want to note that pistachio butter can be quite expensive, ranging from £8 to £ 12 per jar. If you want to save a few pounds, consider making pistachio butter at home. I haven't tried making it myself, but the process seems straightforward. Add pistachios and oil to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. However, for convenience, I chose to buy the butter instead of making it myself.
I used only one jar of pistachio butter in this recipe, but next time I plan to use two jars, as the filling wasn’t as creamy as I had hoped. I believe adding a second jar of pistachio butter to the Rice Krispies will enhance the creaminess of the Dubai chocolate bars. Alternatively, to keep costs down, add a jar of coconut condensed milk to the mixture instead of a second jar of pistachio butter.
I ordered pistachio butter online, Im really picky about the ingredients I use and did not want extra crap and additives in my recipe. The brands I used only contain pistachios, no gums, fillers or questionable ingredients. Please take a look at my favourite brands below, all of which contain one ingredient: pistachios.
Nutural foods -This one is £10.00 ( This is the one I used.)
Borna pistachio butter from Ocado - This one is cheaper at £8.00
Sun and seed pistachio butter from Welleasy - It’s also £10
Welleasy is an online subscription health shop that sells the best brands at discounted prices. Use my code KAM15 at checkout to get a discount.
Pistachio butter is the hero of this Dubai chocolate bar. However, other alternatives that are nut-friendly are:
Try using either matcha or spirulina and add as much as needed to create a vibrant green colour. Add coconut condensed milk instead of the nut butter, in the same quantity mentioned in the recipe. Please experiment with quantities, though, as I’ve not tested this myself.
Use sunflower seed spread instead of nut butter and add spirulina or matcha as mentioned above and a little sweetener.
Chocolate
I like to use chocolate with a cocoa content of 70%, meaning that 70% of the chocolate has been made from ingredients in the cocoa bean. The remaining 30% will consist of other ingredients, such as sugar, predominantly but may also include, for example, tiny percentages of vanilla flavouring. The higher the percentage, the stronger the cocoa flavour, which means it will be more bitter and less sweet.
Use whatever chocolate you find palatable. Sometimes I will use 70/80% in my cooking and add a little extra sweetener like honey/agave/maple syrup. Dark chocolate is almost always dairy free unless it’s a cheap brand where they will add crappy fillers. My favourite brands to eat and use in cooking are (also allergy-friendly, not top 14 free; some are vegan, soy-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free).
Green & blacks - Click here to go to the website.
Ombar - Click here for more info - buy this online at well easy OR in Waitrose or health food shops.
Raw chocolate - Click here for more information.
Plamil chocolate - Click here for more info
If you have a soy allergy, always opt for raw chocolate, as it will not contain any soy ingredients. (Always check on the label, though.)
Flower petals, glitter and decorations for Dubai chocolate
I used flower petals from Polly's petals, ordered via Amazon. These flower petals are the most stunning and vibrant ones I have used. They are also inexpensive and great to have in the kitchen to add a touch of magic to virtually anything you make.
I also brushed the chocolate moulds with gold edible food colouring from the cake decorating company and then sprinkled a little over the chocolate for the finishing touch.
Tips
Chocolate moulds for Dubai chocolate
I purchased my chocolate moulds from Amazon. There are so many options to choose from. The ones I used are ideal for adding a filling to the chocolate, as they are quite thick. Here are my top recommendations:
Chocolate mould with funky design
Original - deep chocolate moulds- ( these are the moulds I used)
Diamond style chocolate moulds
If you prefer not to buy the moulds, you can use a rectangular baking tray instead. Spread the filling into the tray and freeze the Rice Krispies mixture. Once it’s frozen, allow it to defrost slightly so you can slice it into even portions. After slicing, dip each piece in chocolate and return them to the freezer to chill and set, making them easier to handle and work with.
How to temper chocolate
Tempering chocolate is important because it gives the chocolate a smooth, glossy finish and a firm "snappy" texture. This process helps prevent the chocolate from melting too easily and developing a dull or streaky appearance. Additionally, tempering allows the chocolate to set nicely for dipping and coating, while also preventing a whitish coating known as bloom.
Although it may sound fancy, tempering chocolate is quite simple. One easy method that doesn't require a thermometer is to melt most of the chocolate until it's smooth, then add a few chunks of unmelted chocolate and stir until completely melted. Read more about tempering chocolate here.
Other ways to decorate the Dubai chocolate Bars:
Drizzle some vegan white chocolate over the mould and chill until set. Then, pour the dark chocolate on top and set it aside. Next, add the filling.
Melt some vegan white chocolate, split it into 4 small bowls and add a different food colouring to the white chocolate, then drizzle or splash it over a chocolate mould. Chill it until it sets, then pour melted chocolate over the top to create a vibrant rainbow design.
Be careful not to burn the chocolate while melting it. I recommend using a bain-marie instead of a microwave for this process. Additionally, add 1 teaspoon of oil, such as vegetable, olive, or coconut oil, to the chocolate while it melts.
My fave white chocolate recommendations:
Plant-based chocolate tends to be even more temperamental than traditional chocolate, which is why it requires careful handling. For making vegan white chocolate, lower-quality ingredients can be used, but these may burn when melted. Therefore, I prefer using cooking or couverture chocolate. Couverture chocolate is primarily used for making fine confections and pastries due to its high quality and ability to be tempered properly.
Happi white chocolate - Vegan & gluten-free
Plamil white chocolate - Vegan & gluten-free
Couverture Chocolate: Gluten Free, Soya Free,& Vegan
Oat blonde couverture chocolate - Vegan & gluten-free
Food colouring recommendations: As a pastry chef and cake artist, I exclusively use paste food colouring. I would never recommend the low-quality food colouring typically found in supermarkets. To achieve the same vibrant effect as professional-quality food colouring, you would have to use multiple bottles of supermarket colours. Professional food colourings last for years, and you only need a tiny amount—a pinprick—to create stunning, vibrant colours. It's definitely worth the investment if you can.
Ingredients
Faq’s
How should I store homemade Dubai chocolate bars?
Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Can I add other local flavours?
Try adding orange extract to the chocolate or green cardamom or cinnamon powder to the pistachio butter filling to make the recipe your own. The addition of flower petals I used for the decoration gives the chocolate a beautiful floral flavour, which is synonymous with Middle Eastern cuisine.
Are Dubai chocolate bars gluten-free?
Yes, my recipe is! The Dubai chocolate bars that you can purchase at the moment are not gluten-free or vegan, which is why I created my own so that we don’t miss out! My recipe for Dubai chocolate bars is also vegan, dairy-free, and can be made soy-free and nut-free using my recommendations above.
Makes 3 bars - 2 hours prep & chilling time
Step by Step
Recipe
450g dark chocolate (see notes for recommendations)
1 tbsp coconut oil ( can use olive or vegetable oil)
80 g Rice Krispies
330g pistachio butter (see notes)
3 tbsp agave/honey
flower petals/gold food colouring & glitter to decorate * optional, see notes for tips
perMethod
Start by melting 90 per cent of the chocolate with 1 tbsp of oil, either in a Bain-Marie or a microwave. When melted, add the remaining 10 per cent of the chocolate and stir till melted. This is called tempering chocolate.
Brush the chocolate mould with some gold food colouring or glitter, then pour the melted chocolate on top. I also added chopped pistachios before adding the top layer of chocolate.
Be sure to swirl the chocolate around the mould so that every inch of the chocolate mould is coated with chocolate. Turn the mould upside down to remove any excess chocolate.
Leave the chocolate moulds to set in the fridge or freezer.
Add the pistachio butter to the Rice Krispies and add agave or honey.
Take out the chocolate moulds from the fridge or freezer once set, and spoon in the filling, ensuring that you spread it out evenly.
Pour the remaining chocolate on top of the pistachio mixture ( save 1 tbsp of chocolate for the final decoration). You may need to reheat the chocolate if it’s cooled down.
Place the finished chocolate bars in the fridge till completely set. Approx 1 hour. Or in the freezer for a fraction of the time.
When set, gently remove the silicone mould by peeling it off. Place the chocolate bars on a tray, and drizzle the remaining chocolate over them. Sprinkle the flower petals and extra glitter on top. Leave in the fridge for 15 minutes for the decoration to set.
Now your ready to take a glorious bite out of your very fancy Dubai chocolate bar! ENJOY!
Other recipes you might like
Chocolate-covered dates - Healthy, fudgy and super quick to make
Raw Chocolate Bars - Top 14 Free Chocolate Bars That Are Also Superfoods!
Dark chocolate apple slices - Perfect for a healthy snack
Crunchy Quinoa Chocolate Bites - Easy peasy snack that’s also top 14 free.
Vegan toffee crisp bars - Taste just like the original, only vegan & gluten-free
Dark Chocolate Bounty Bars - Taste better than the original and healthier!
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