Three months ago, Oliver came home from school completely obsessed with something called Dubai chocolate cheesecake after seeing it all over TikTok. He kept bugging me to find some around here, but honestly, the places that had it were charging thirty bucks for a single slice. So we did what we always do - figured out how to make it ourselves. After weeks of testing (and eating way too much cheesecake), we finally nailed this viral dessert that mixes rich chocolate cheesecake with that famous Dubai chocolate flavor.
Why You'll Love This Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake
After making this for everyone from Oliver's skeptical friends to my coworkers who kept asking where I bought it, here's why this recipe always gets people talking: it tastes like something you'd pay crazy money for at some fancy dessert place, but you can make it in your own kitchen with stuff you can actually find. The combination of that creamy chocolate cheesecake with the crunchy pistachio and kunafa bits is completely addictive - like regular chocolate cheesecake but way more interesting and exotic. Oliver was convinced he wouldn't like it because he's picky about textures, but now he asks for it specifically when his friends come over.
What really sold me on perfecting this recipe is how it makes regular occasions feel special without needing any fancy skills or equipment. You don't need a stand mixer or any complicated tricks - just patience while it gets cold and the willingness to try something that looks way harder than it actually is. The Dubai chocolate trend might fade, but this recipe is definitely staying in our regular rotation because it's become Oliver's signature dessert request and my go-to when I want to impress people without spending all day in the kitchen.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake
- Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake Ingredients
- How To Make Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake Step By Step
- Substitutions
- Creative Twists on Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake
- Equipment For Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake
- Storing Your Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake
- Top Tip
- FAQ
- Time for Viral Dessert Magic!
- Related
- Pairing
- Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake
Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake Ingredients
For the Crust:
- Chocolate graham crackers
- Melted butter
- Sugar
- Pinch of salt
The Cheesecake Base:
- Cream cheese
- Heavy cream
- Dark chocolate
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Eggs
The Dubai Chocolate Magic:
- Shredded kunafa
- Roasted pistachios
- Tahini or pistachio butter
- More dark chocolate for ganache
- A little sea salt
Optional Fancy Touches:
- Edible gold flakes
- Extra chopped pistachios for topping
- Chocolate shavings
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake Step By Step
Step 1: Make the Crust
- Crush chocolate graham crackers fine
- Mix with melted butter and sugar
- Press firmly into springform pan bottom
- Bake 10 minutes, then cool completely
Step 2: Prep the Dubai Chocolate Elements
- Melt dark chocolate carefully (don't burn it)
- Toast kunafa lightly in dry pan until golden
- Chop pistachios into chunky pieces
- Let everything cool while you make filling
Step 3: Make Cheesecake Filling
- Beat cream cheese until totally smooth
- Add powdered sugar and melted chocolate
- Whip heavy cream separately to soft peaks
- Fold whipped cream into chocolate mixture gently
Step 4: Assemble and Chill
- Spread half cheesecake mixture on crust
- Sprinkle kunafa and pistachios evenly
- Add remaining cheesecake mixture and smooth
- Refrigerate at least 4 hours (overnight better)
Step 5: Finish with Ganache
- Heat cream and pour over chopped chocolate
- Stir until smooth and shiny
- Pour cooled ganache over chilled cheesecake
- Add final pistachio and kunafa topping
Substitutions
From making this Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake for various dietary needs and ingredient shortages, here are the substitutions that actually work:
Crust Options:
- Chocolate graham crackers → Regular graham crackers + cocoa powder
- Graham crackers → Oreo cookies (remove filling)
- Regular crust → Gluten-free graham crackers
- Butter → Vegan butter or coconut oil
Cheesecake Base Swaps:
- Cream cheese → Vegan cream cheese (cashew-based works best)
- Heavy cream → Coconut cream (chilled can, thick part only)
- Dark chocolate → Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Powdered sugar → Regular sugar (blend it fine first)
Dubai Chocolate Elements:
- Kunafa → Shredded phyllo dough (toast it first)
- Pistachios → Crushed almonds or hazelnuts
- Tahini → Almond butter or peanut butter
- Fresh kunafa → Crushed cornflakes (weird but works)
Dietary Fixes:
- Regular version → Sugar-free sweeteners throughout
- Dairy → Completely dairy-free with coconut products
- Eggs → Skip them (this is no-bake anyway)
- Gluten → Use gluten-free cookies for crust
Flavor Variations:
- Dark chocolate → White chocolate version
- Plain → Add orange zest for citrus twist
- Standard → Rose water for Middle Eastern flair
- Regular → Espresso powder for mocha version
Creative Twists on Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake
Flavor Mashups:
- Add strawberry puree to half the filling
- Swirl it through for marble effect
- Top with freeze-dried strawberries
- Oliver's current obsession
Salted Caramel Version:
- Drizzle caramel between layers
- Add sea salt flakes on top
- Use salted pistachios instead
- Makes it taste even more expensive
Texture Adventures:
- Double the kunafa amount
- Add crushed cookies between layers
- Mix some crunch right into filling
- For people who love texture contrast
Mini Individual Cheesecakes:
- Use muffin tins instead of springform
- Perfect portion control
- Great for parties
- Kids love having their own
Fancy Occasion Versions:
- Real edible gold on top
- Rose petals for decoration
- Pistachio dust around edges
- Instagram-worthy presentation
Chocolate Overload:
- Chocolate crust, filling, and ganache
- Three different chocolate types
- Chocolate shavings everywhere
- For serious chocolate addicts
Seasonal Twists:
- Add cardamom and cinnamon
- Orange zest in the filling
- Candied orange peel topping
- Perfect for winter gatherings
Summer Light:
- Lemon zest addition
- Lighter ganache with milk chocolate
- Fresh mint garnish
- Less heavy feeling
Equipment For Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake
- 9-inch springform pan
- Food processor for crushing crackers
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Double boiler or microwave-safe bowls
- Rubber spatula for folding
- Measuring cups and spoons
Storing Your Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake
After making way too many of these and figuring out what keeps them perfect, here's how to store them right:
Short-Term Storage (3-5 days):
- Keep in springform pan until serving
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap
- Store in refrigerator always
- Don't leave out more than 2 hours
Long-Term Storage (1 week):
- Remove from pan and wrap well
- Use airtight container if you have big one
- Keep away from strong smells in fridge
- Slice only what you need
Freezing (2-3 months):
- Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap
- Then wrap again in foil
- Label with date (you'll forget)
- Thaw in fridge overnight before eating
Serving Tips:
- Let sit 10 minutes before slicing
- Use warm knife for clean cuts
- Wipe knife between cuts
- Serve on chilled plates
What Not to Do:
- Never store at room temperature overnight
- Don't freeze with ganache topping (gets weird)
- Don't cover while still warm
- Don't stack slices without parchment between
Top Tip
- Last month, Oliver was helping me make Dubai chocolate cheesecake for his birthday party when he accidentally spilled some of the leftover pistachio pieces right into the warm ganache while I wasn't looking. I was about to start over because I thought it would mess up the smooth texture, but he convinced me to just stir it in and see what happened.
- Now we deliberately mix about a quarter cup of finely chopped pistachios right into the warm ganache before pouring it over the cheesecake. It gives you these little bursts of nutty crunch throughout the smooth chocolate layer, and people always ask what makes our version taste so much better than the ones they've tried elsewhere.
FAQ
Does Costco have the viral Dubai chocolate?
Yeah, Costco started carrying some Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake bars in certain locations, but they sell out super fast and cost way more than making this cheesecake at home. Plus, the Costco version doesn't have that same creamy cheesecake texture - it's just the chocolate bar. Making your own Dubai chocolate cheesecake gives you way more dessert for less money.
Why is Dubai chocolate so expensive?
Dubai chocolate costs so much because it uses expensive stuff like high-quality pistachios and kunafa, plus it's become this trendy social media thing so places can charge crazy prices. The real kicker is that most places import the ingredients or the actual chocolate, which drives up costs. Making it yourself cuts out all that markup.
What is so famous about Dubai chocolate?
Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake got famous on TikTok and Instagram because of that satisfying crunch when you bite into it - the combo of smooth chocolate with crispy kunafa and pistachios makes this crazy good texture contrast. Plus, it looks really fancy and exotic, so people love posting pictures of it. The whole viral thing just blew up from there.
What does Dubai chocolate taste like?
Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake tastes like rich, smooth chocolate mixed with nutty pistachios and this light, crispy texture from the kunafa. It's not super sweet like regular chocolate - more complex and interesting. The pistachios add this earthy, buttery flavor, and the kunafa gives you that satisfying crunch that makes you want to keep eating more.
Time for Viral Dessert Magic!
This Dubai chocolate cheesecake has become our thing for special occasions when we want something that looks and tastes expensive but doesn't need culinary school skills or a month's grocery budget. It's one of those desserts that makes people think you're way more talented than you actually are, but really, if you can crush crackers and mix cream cheese, you've got this figured out. Oliver loves making it almost as much as he loves eating it, and watching him get confident with something this fancy has been pretty awesome.
Looking for more show-stopping treats that actually work in real kitchens? Try our Healthy Red Velvet Brownies Recipe that gives you all that rich chocolate taste without the guilt or sugar crash. Our Best Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe turns garden rejects into something people fight over at dinner. And for quick sweet fixes, our Easy Lemon Truffles Recipe Ready in 20 minutes delivers fancy-tasting desserts with minimal effort and maximum impact!
Share your Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake wins! We love seeing your creative twists, hearing about your own kitchen discoveries, and watching families bond over trendy treats!
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Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake
Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake
Equipment
- 1 9-inch springform pan (For cheesecake assembly and chilling)
- 1 Food processor (For crushing graham crackers)
- 1 Hand or stand mixer (To beat cream cheese and whip cream)
- 2 Mixing bowls (For crust and filling)
- 1 Rubber spatula (For folding whipped cream)
- 1 Saucepan or microwave-safe bowl (For melting ganache)
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1 ½ cups Chocolate graham crackers - Finely crushed
- 5 tablespoon Unsalted butter - Melted
- 2 tablespoon Sugar - Optional
- 1 pinch Salt - Optional
Cheesecake Base:
- 16 oz Cream cheese - Softened
- 1 cup Heavy cream - Whipped to soft peaks
- 6 oz Dark chocolate - Melted and slightly cooled
- ¾ cup Powdered sugar - Sifted
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract - Optional
Dubai Chocolate Layer:
- ½ cup Shredded kunafa - Toasted until golden
- ⅓ cup Roasted pistachios - Chopped
- 2 tablespoon Tahini or pistachio butter - Optional for richness
Ganache Topping:
- 4 oz Dark chocolate - Chopped
- ½ cup Heavy cream - Warmed
- ¼ cup Finely chopped pistachios - Stirred into ganache (optional)
Optional Decorations:
- Edible gold flakes - For decoration
- Extra chopped pistachios - For topping
- Chocolate shavings - For garnish
Instructions
- Make the crust with crushed crackers, butter, and bake briefly
- Prep Dubai toppings: melt chocolate, toast kunafa, chop pistachios
- Make cheesecake filling: whip, mix, and fold
- Assemble layers, add toppings, chill
- Make ganache, pour on top, add final toppings
Susan says
Idk how the pic is the same dessert you made. Why originally at the top of the post you have eggs written in but then there are no eggs which I'm glad because this is a no bake recipe. Your recipe is confusing you wrote cheesecake base. But I'm assuming you mean crust? Or are you saying filling? It can't be filling because you can see there's no chocolate which you have written in the cheesecake "base" also where the katafi? I can't even see where you put it in the pic. I wanted to try to make this, and I'm an experienced baker and could put this all together myself but girl your recipe and your instructions need help.