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My Dubai Chocolate Energy Bites are a healthier twist on the viral Dubai Chocolate Bars. This version features a filling made with chia seeds and chopped pistachios without the heavy cream in the melted chocolate. They’re a perfect sweet treat to enjoy with tea, an excellent addition to an afternoon tea spread, or an ideal option during the holy month of Ramadan.
What is Dubai Chocolate
Dubai Chocolate is a chocolate bar made with pistachios, chocolate, and kataifi. A pistachio kataifi filling, known as knafeh or the “green stuff,” is layered between two layers of dark chocolate.
Kaitaifi is shredded phyllo dough used in Middle Eastern and Greek desserts. It has a delicate and crispy texture. One of the most popular desserts made with kataifi is Kanafeh (Kunafa), a popular Middle Eastern treat with layers of crispy shredded dough and a fragrant sweet syrup.
This Dubai Chocolate Bar is a viral sensation on social media, with everyone putting their spin on it. In addition to Dubai Chocolate bars, I’ve also seen Dubai Chocolate cheesecake, cakes, and donuts.
Dubai Chocolate Energy Bites
Of course, I had to develop a version of the Dubai Chocolate. Since I love adding a healthier spin, I made the Dubai Chocolate Energy Bites.
I love energy bites, and I’ve made a few in the past, including this Healthy Almond Date Ladoo, Healthy Date Walnut Cacao Bites, and Pistachio Coconut Ladoo.
For the Dubai Chocolate Energy Bites, I toasted the kataifi with ghee instead of butter, which adds richness. Plus, I wanted that Indian touch.
Next, I made the pistachio filling, which is also known as knafeh. This concoction consists of toasted kataifi, sweetened pistachio butter, chopped pistachios, chia seeds, and cardamom.
Once I formed the energy bites, I coated them with melted dark chocolate and vanilla. As seen in the original Dubai Chocolate, no heavy cream is added to the melted chocolate. Refrigerate and enjoy! They’re so good; I hope you try them.
Video: How To Make Dubai Chocolate Energy Bites!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make – No complicated steps involved. This recipe requires barely any cooking and comes together in 20 minutes.
- Healthier Alternative – This treat is lighter than the viral Dubai Chocolate Bar. It skips the heavy cream and uses ingredients such as chia seeds.
- Ideal for Ramadan – A delicious treat if you’re observing Ramadan – perfect for suhoor or iftar.
- Perfect for Tea Time – They’re a guilt-free indulgence during tea time, and they’re filled with healthy fats, fiber, and protein.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Kaitaifi – You can purchase the kataifi on Amazon. Here is the brand I recommend buying on Amazon. Saute the kataifi in ghee until golden in color. Reserve one tablespoon for later use as garnish.
- Pistachio Butter – Pistachio butter can be purchased on Amazon. It’s creamy and already sweetened, so you don’t need to add additional sugar to this recipe.
- Ghee – This recipe calls for ghee, which adds richness. Feel free to swap butter for ghee.
- Dark Chocolate – For this recipe, I used Guittard Extra Dark Chocolate, which is 63% cacao. Feel free to use semi-sweet chocolate if you prefer a sweeter treat.
- Vegan option: Use coconut oil instead of ghee. Also, use a nondairy pistachio butter that doesn’t contain milk solids. Lastly, some dark chocolate may contain dairy, so use one that doesn’t. I love Guittard.
- Nut-free option: Replace pistachio butter with seed butter, such as sunflower butter. Skip the chopped pistachios. Feel free to add a tablespoon of chia seeds to compensate for the removal of nuts.
*See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.*
How to Make Dubai Chocolate Energy Bites
Lightly Toast Kaitaifi
Make Pistachio Filling (Kanafeh) & Freeze
Melt Chocolate
Coat Dubai Chocolate Energy Bites
Recipe Success Tips
- Kaitafi: You can purchase the kataifi on Amazon. Here is the brand I recommend buying on Amazon. Saute the kataifi in ghee until golden in color.
- Pistachio Butter (Pistachio Cream): Pistachio butter can be purchased on Amazon. It’s creamy and already sweetened, so you don’t need to add additional sugar to this recipe.
- Freeze Balls: Make sure to freeze the pistachio balls for 1/2 hour, or they will fall apart when added to melted chocolate.
Make-ahead Option & Storage
Pistachio energy bites can be made and stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. You can also wrap them individually and freeze them for up to 3 months.
More Energy Bites
Tried this recipe? If so, please leave a comment & rate this recipe. That would mean so much to me. If you’re on Instagram, please tag me so I can see your creations. I’m happy to share and mention you. Thank you!
Dubai Chocolate Energy Bites
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
For Sauteing Kaitaifi
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 1 cup kaitaifi, reserve 1 tbsp sauteed kaitaifi for garnish
For Pistachio Filling (Kanafeh)
- 1/3 cup pistachio cream
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tbsp chopped pistachios
- 1/16 tsp cardamom powder
- pinch of salt
For Melted Chocolate
- 1 cup dark chocolate, I used Guittard
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
For Garnish
- 1 tbsp sauteed kaitaifi
- 1 tbsp pistachios, chopped
Instructions
- Lightly Toast Kaitaifi. Heat a stainless steel pan on medium heat and add ghee. Once melted, add kataifi (shredded phyllo dough). Saute kaitaifi for a total of 7-8 minutes. Once the kataifi is golden in color, turn off the stove. Don't overcook the kataifi; otherwise, it will burn. Reserve one tablespoon of kataifi for later to use as garnish.
- Make Pistachio Filling (Kanafeh) & Freeze. Add the sauteed kataifi to a large mixing bowl, along with pistachio butter (pistachio cream), chia seeds, chopped pistachios, ground cardamom, and salt. Mix well until all the contents are well combined. Use a mini ice cream scoop to form even-shaped balls. Place the pistachio-shaped balls on a plate. Freeze the balls for 30 minutes.
- Melt Chocolate. Wait 25 minutes and then melt your chocolate using a double boiler method. Start by heating 1 inch of water in a pot over medium heat with a lid. Once the water is boiling, add the dark chocolate and vanilla extract to the mixing bowl. It will take about 5 minutes for the chocolate to melt.
- Coat Dubai Chocolate Energy Bites. Remove the pistachio-shaped balls from the freezer. Add one ball at a time. Using a small spatula, coat the entire ball with chocolate. Place the chocolate-coated ball onto the parchment paper to avoid sticking. Garnish with reserved sauteed kaitaifi and chopped pistachios. Refrigerate the energy bites for at least half an hour, and enjoy!
Notes
- Kaitafi: You can purchase the kataifi on Amazon. Here is the brand I recommend buying on Amazon. Saute the kataifi in ghee until golden in color.
- Pistachio Butter (Pistachio Cream): Pistachio butter can be purchased on Amazon. It’s creamy and already sweetened, so you don’t need to add additional sugar to this recipe.
- Freeze Balls: Make sure to freeze the pistachio balls for 1/2 hour, or they will fall apart when added to melted chocolate.
- Vegan option: Use coconut oil instead of ghee. Also, use a nondairy pistachio butter that doesn’t contain milk solids. Lastly, some dark chocolate may contain dairy, so use one that doesn’t. I love Guittard.
