The Viral Dubai Chocolate Is All Over TikTok. But What’s It Made Of? And Is It Dairy-Free?

From chocolate peanut butter cups to bars studded with crispy rice bits, chocolate is beloved worldwide. In fact, in 2023, the global chocolate market was valued at nearly $120 billion, according to Grand View Research. 

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Currently, there’s one particular chocolatey treat that has legions around the world drooling for a taste. Dubbed the “Dubai chocolate bar” by TikTok users, this viral creation is made by Dubai-based Fix Dessert Chocolatier. 

The confection first rose to prominence last December, when TikTok user @mariavehera25 posted a video where she sampled a number of Fix Dessert Chocolatier’s confections. But it was the pistachio- and knafeh-filled treat that piqued the internet’s interest. The video, which has now amassed over 76 million views, was flooded with comments as users inquired about the chocolate bar’s green-hued filling. 

Fix Dessert Chocolatier

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“When I first started FIX Dessert Chocolatier, I never imagined our chocolate bars would become so popular,” Sarah Hamouda, founder of FIX Dessert Chocolatier, tells People. “It’s been overwhelming in the best possible way.”

The bar—which is officially named Can’t Get Knafeh Of It—features crispy Middle Eastern knafeh combined with pistachio and tahini paste, all enrobed in milk chocolate. 

Is the Dubai chocolate bar dairy-free?

Unfortunately, the handcrafted bars are not suitable for vegans, as they’re made with milk chocolate. Knafeh can also contain animal ingredients depending on its preparation. The treat is typically made of kataifi (shredded phyllo dough) and is soaked in a sugar syrup before it’s layered with ingredients such as cream or nuts, depending on the region. Kataifi itself, however, is vegan-friendly. 

Luckily, for vegans itching to try the viral confection, a number of recipe developers have shared their dairy-free, plant-based recreations of the Dubai bar. 

How to make dairy-free Dubai chocolate

Stock up on chocolate molds and be prepared to make this one-of-a-kind bar again and again.

The All Natural Vegan

1Viral Dubai Pistachio Chocolate Bar by The All Natural Vegan

With just seven ingredients, you can recreate the Dubai chocolate bar right in your home kitchen. Like the original, this recipe calls for kataifi for the bar’s signature crunchy filling and opts for pistachio butter for a creamy touch. It’s also visually stunning, using both vegan white chocolate and dark chocolate to create a marbled effect.

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@veggiekins | Instagram

2Viral Dubai Pistachio Knafeh Chocolate Bar (Dairy-Free) by Veggiekins

Remy Morimoto Park, the recipe developer behind Veggiekins, makes the viral chocolate bar her own by swapping out milk chocolate for vegan white chocolate and infusing it with matcha. “Matcha and pistachio are so good together,” she says on Instagram. Opt for a chocolate mold with a geometric pattern for a bar this cool.

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The Little Blog of Vegan

3Viral Pistachio Chocolate Bar by The Little Blog of Vegan

Holly Jade of The Little Blog of Vegan is our go-to for all-things dessert! Her recipes aren’t just tasty, they’re also incredibly gorgeous. These dark chocolate hearts feature a marbling of vegan white chocolate and a delicious center of pistachio butter and crispy kataifi pastry. 

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Franci Alexa

4Viral Dubai Chocolate in Three Varities by Franci Alexa

If you’re not a fan of pistachios, don’t panic. This recipe offers not one, but three alternatives. Choose between tahini, peanut butter, or almond butter. The final product yields a tasty bar reminiscent of both nut butter cups and the viral Dubai chocolate bar.

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