Dubai Chocolate Latte

Personally, I typically enjoy my coffee black or simply with a splash of cream. That said, I’m also a sucker for creative, fancy coffee shop drinks. Whether I’m ordering them from my local Starbucks or trying to invent them on the fly at home, I’ll try just about any coffee once out of pure curiosity—which is how my recipe for a Dubai chocolate latte was born.

Like the rest of the world, I’ve recently become infatuated with the viral Dubai chocolate bars that have taken over social media. After seeing what seems like a million reels of these tantalizing chocolate bars getting broken open by travel and food influencers alike, I decided to not only get my hands on one of these real-life Reptar Bars (my fellow ’90s kids will know what I’m referring to) but also create a latte recipe inspired by this internet sensation.

If you enjoy the Starbucks pistachio latte, then I think you’ll go nuts for this Dubai chocolate latte recipe.

What is Dubai chocolate?

If you’re unfamiliar with a Dubai chocolate bar, prepare to be enlightened. The bar features a creamy milk chocolate shell filled with a generous amount of ooey-gooey green pistachio cream, tahini and crunchy kataifi. It was created in Dubai by Fix Dessert Chocolatier, a luxury chocolate brand known for its inventive chocolate bars.

Kataifi is a pastry product made from delicate, thin strands of shredded phyllo dough. Similar in texture to vermicelli, it’s a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean recipes, such as kanafeh and variations on traditional tiropita and baklava. In the Dubai chocolate bar, kataifi adds a wonderful crispy crunch in every bite, and when that’s paired with the nutty flavors of pistachio and tahini, it makes the whole bar truly irresistible.

Dubai Chocolate Latte Ingredients

• Chocolate sauce: Authentic Dubai chocolate bars are delicious because they use quality ingredients. Therefore, for the best Dubai chocolate latte, you’ll want to use a high-quality chocolate sauce.
• Brewed espresso: For a 16-ounce iced Dubai chocolate latte, you’ll want to use a minimum of two shots of espresso. If you want a stronger espresso flavor (or need a caffeine boost), you can add an extra shot.
• Pistachio cream: The secret to replicating the pistachio filling flavor is sourcing a jar of pistachio cream. Pistachio-flavored syrups don’t have quite the right flavor, and pistachio butter lacks the right amount of sweetness, so we recommend spending the extra effort (and money) to find pistachio cream online.
• Tahini: A touch of tahini adds a subtle extra note of nuttiness that’s present in the original Dubai chocolate bar.
• Milk: We used regular old 2% milk to make our Dubai chocolate latte. However, you can use any type of milk or nondairy milk alternative you enjoy for this recipe.
• Heavy cream: For a rich and creamy pistachio cold foam, you’ll want to use heavy cream. It emulsifies well with the pistachio-tahini mixture and foams up like a dream when shaken or mixed with a milk frother.
• Vanilla syrup: A small drizzle of vanilla syrup helps further sweeten the pistachio cold foam. If you like your coffee super sweet, feel free to add extra.
• Kataifi: Kataifi (pronounced ka-ta-if-ee) can be purchased frozen, dried or toasted. If you can only find frozen or dried kataifi, you can toast it yourself on your stovetop in a matter of minutes, but we purchased it toasted to keep things simple.
• Ice: For an Instagram-worthy Dubai chocolate latte, learn how to make crystal clear ice cubes at home without any special tools or fancy ice makers.

Directions

Step 1: Mix the espresso-chocolate and the pistachio-tahini

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Add the chocolate sauce to a 1-cup glass measuring cup. Add the hot brewed espresso over the top and then whisk together until the chocolate is evenly blended into the espresso. Set aside to cool slightly.

In a small Mason jar, stir together the pistachio cream and tahini until blended.

Step 2: Add the pistachio-tahini cream

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Then, use a spoon to smear half the pistachio-tahini mixture onto the inside of a tall glass in an abstract pattern.

Editor’s Tip: If desired, add a few drizzles of chocolate sauce to the inside of the glass too.

Step 3: Pour the milk over the ice

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Fill the glass with ice, and then top with 6 ounces milk.

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Follow the milk with the cooled chocolate espresso. Stir.

Editor’s Tip: You may need more or less milk depending on the glass you use and the amount of ice you have in the cup. Ultimately, you’ll want enough milk and espresso to fill your glass to within an inch of the top, which leaves room for the cold foam.

Step 4: Make the pistachio cream cold foam

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Finally, add the heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, to the remaining pistachio-tahini mixture, whisking after each addition until smooth. Add the remaining 1 ounce of milk and vanilla syrup, then insert a milk frothing wand. Froth for one to two minutes or just until the mixture becomes foamy and doubles in size.

Editor’s Tip: If you don’t own a milk frothing wand, you can purchase one for under $10 on Amazon. You can also make the cold foam by screwing the lid tightly on your Mason jar and shaking the mixture for a few minutes until foamy.

Step 5: Top with cold foam and kataifi

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Gently spoon or pour the pistachio cold foam over the iced latte. Garnish with a final drizzle of chocolate sauce and a generous sprinkle of the toasted kataifi. Enjoy immediately.

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Dubai Chocolate Latte Variations

• Try a hot Dubai chocolate latte: For a steaming-hot Dubai mocha—which is really the same as a chocolate latte—whisk 1 to 2 tablespoons of the pistachio-tahini cream into the chocolate sauce. Then, brew the espresso over the top and stir to combine. Steam 8 ounces of milk on the stovetop and then froth to the desired consistency with a milk frother. Pour over the espresso and then garnish with kataifi.
• Opt for a Dubai chocolate matcha latte: If you don’t enjoy coffee, you can try making this Dubai chocolate latte with matcha instead of espresso. You could also add pistachio cream and chocolate to this copycat Starbucks green tea Frappuccino recipe for a frosty, blended variation.
• Amp up the pistachio flavor: If you can’t get enough pistachio flavor, consider adding some pistachio-flavored syrup to your latte or even using pistachio milk.

How to Store Dubai Chocolate Latte

An iced Dubai latte is best enjoyed as soon as it is prepared. That said, you can prepare several of the components for this coffee recipe ahead of time and store them for future enjoyment.

How should you store kataifi?

Store toasted kataifi in an airtight food storage container for up to a week. Alternatively, you may freeze it for up to two months. Use extra kataifi to make this Dubai chocolate Basque cheesecake.

How should you store pistachio-tahini cream?

You can premix a larger quantity of pistachio cream and tahini for Dubai chocolate lattes on demand. Store the mixture in an airtight food storage container (a small Mason jar also works great) at room temperature for up to a month.

How should you store pistachio cold foam?

This pistachio cream cold foam is best enjoyed fresh. However, you can store leftovers (or make a double batch) in a Mason jar for up to five days in the refrigerator. Keep in mind that the cold foam will deflate as it sits, so give it a good shake or froth before using it to re-establish its foamy texture.

Dubai Chocolate Latte Tips

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Can you brew espresso without a machine at home?

Yes. If you don’t own an espresso machine and are not in the market to purchase one, you can still make a latte without a machine. Brew extra-strong coffee using a regular drip coffee maker or a pour-over coffee maker. Alternatively, you could purchase a Moka pot, which is an affordable alternative to a big, bulky machine that allows you to brew outstanding, espresso-style coffee on your stovetop.

Where can you buy kataifi?

You can find several options for dried kataifi and toasted kataifi on Amazon. Otherwise, try shopping local: Search for “Middle Eastern grocery stores” on Google, and you may find several in your area. They had everything that I needed for this latte, a selection of Dubai chocolate bars for sale and a whole host of other unique food items you could use to make recipes from around the world.

How do you prepare untoasted kataifi?

To toast frozen or dried kataifi, preheat 1 tablespoon of canola or vegetable oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup thawed, room-temperature kataifi and toast for two to three minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp and golden brown. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to cool completely before using.

Where can you buy pistachio cream?

You can purchase pistachio cream online on Amazon. I was also able to find some at my local World Market and several Middle Eastern specialty grocers in my area. Fair warning: Buy two jars, not just one. This stuff is so delicious, you’ll want to use it in more than just your Dubai chocolate latte (and probably just eat it by the spoonful too).