By now, you’ve probably seen the viral Dubai chocolate bars all over social media, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably felt like you absolutely need to try them. Well now you can — while staying low-carb, gluten-free, and no sugar added. These Keto Dubai Chocolate Bars have the perfect balance of textures: a slightly crunchy pistachio layer which gives you that kataifi-like texture, creamy pistachio filling, and smooth, rich chocolate.
Why This Keto Dubai Chocolate Bars Recipe is the Best
Inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate bars
Dubai chocolate has taken over social media, with its signature combination of pistachio, kataifi, and chocolate. This recipe recreates that indulgent flavor and texture profile while keeping the carbs low.
Rich pistachio flavor in every layer
Unlike many pistachio desserts that rely on artificial flavoring, these bars use real pistachios in both the crust and filling for authentic flavor and beautiful color.
Perfect make-ahead dessert
These bars need to chill before slicing, which makes them ideal for preparing ahead of time for gatherings, holidays, or whenever you want a keto dessert ready in the fridge.
Ingredients Breakdown
See recipe card at the end of the post for full ingredient measurements and units.
Blanched Almond Flour
Almond flour forms the base of the crust and provides a soft, slightly crumbly texture that works perfectly in keto dessert bars.
Pistachios
Pistachios are the star of this recipe. They add natural flavor, color, and richness to both the crust and the filling. I recommend using pre-shelled, roasted pistachios.
Sugar-Free Sweetener
I like to use a blend of allulose and monk fruit, but erythritol-based sweeteners can also be used. If using erythritol, make sure to use a granulated sugar-free sweetener for the crust and a powdered sugar-free sweetener for the filling, as erythritol doesn’t dissolve as well as allulose. If you don’t need sugar-free/keto, feel free to use regular sugar.
Butter
Melted butter helps bind the crust together and adds a rich, buttery flavor.
Egg Yolk
The egg yolk helps hold the crust together and gives it structure once baked.
Vanilla Extract
Vanilla enhances the sweetness and balances the nutty pistachio flavor.
Cream Cheese
Cream cheese creates the rich, creamy base for the pistachio filling.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt lightens the filling slightly.
Avocado Oil
A small amount of oil helps the pistachios blend smoothly into a nut butter consistency. Any other neutral flavored liquid oil can also be used.
Egg
The egg gives the filling structure and helps it set properly while baking.
Almond Extract
Just a small amount enhances the pistachio flavor beautifully.
Heavy Cream
Heavy cream melts the chocolate chips into a smooth ganache for the topping.
Chocolate Chips
Chocolate chips create the glossy chocolate topping that finishes the bars.
Green Food Coloring (Optional)
This is completely optional, but it helps enhance the natural pistachio color for a more vibrant look.
How to Make Keto Dubai Chocolate Bars
1. Prepare the pistachio crust
Pulse the pistachios in a food processor until they resemble a finely chopped crumb.
In a mixing bowl, combine almond flour, ground pistachios, sweetener, and salt. Add the melted butter, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and green food coloring if using. Stir until a dough forms.
Press the dough into an even layer in a parchment-lined 8×8 inch pan.
2. Make the pistachio filling
Pulse the pistachios with the avocado oil in a food processor until a relatively smooth nut butter forms.
Add the cream cheese 1/4 cup at a time, blending between each addition until smooth. Add the Greek yogurt and blend again.
Add the powdered sweetener and salt and blend until fully incorporated.
Add the egg, vanilla extract, almond extract, and green food coloring if using. Blend again just until smooth. Avoid overblending once the egg is added.
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3. Bake the bars
Bake at 325°F for about 22 minutes.
Allow the bars to cool completely before adding the topping.
4. Make the chocolate topping
Heat the heavy cream on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot but not boiling.
Add the chocolate chips and stir until melted and smooth.
Pour the chocolate ganache over the cooled bars and spread evenly. For the design, pipe green icing in stripes across the ganache (I used a mixture of melted sugar-free white chocolate chips, heavy cream, and green food coloring), then drag in the opposite direction with a toothpick. Sprinkle chopped pistachios around the edges.
5. Chill and slice
Refrigerate the bars for several hours until the chocolate layer is fully set.
Slice into bars using a sharp knife.
Tips for Success
Use room temperature cream cheese
Cold cream cheese can create lumps in the filling. Let it soften first for the smoothest texture.
Don’t overblend after adding the egg
Overblending can incorporate too much air and affect the final texture of the filling.
Chill completely before slicing
Allowing the bars to chill ensures clean slices and helps the chocolate topping set properly.
FAQs
Dubai chocolate refers to viral pistachio-filled chocolate bars that have become extremely popular online. They usually feature a greenish colored pistachio cream with crispy kataifi enrobed in chocolate.
You could definitely experiment with using dairy-free cream cheese and yogurt alternatives!
Not at all. The pistachios naturally give the filling and crust a light green color, but the food coloring can make it slightly more vibrant if desired.
Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze for longer storage.
Try This Keto Dubai Chocolate Bars Recipe!
These keto Dubai chocolate bars are truly everything you imagined the viral chocolate bar would be, without all the sugar or gluten.
When you make them, be sure to leave a comment and rating on the recipe card below to let me know how they turned out. And if you share them on Instagram, tag me @sarahsfitfood so I can see your creations!
XO,
Sarah
Keto Dubai Chocolate Bars
Want to save this recipe? 💌
I’ll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later! -Sarah
Ingredients
Crust
- ¾ cup blanched almond flour
- ½ cup shelled pistachios
- ¼ cup granulated sugar-free sweetener
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Green food coloring optional
Filling
- ½ cup pistachios
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil
- ½ cup cream cheese room temperature
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup powdered sugar-free sweetener
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon almond extract
- Green food coloring optional
Topping
- ½ cup sugar-free chocolate chips semi-sweet or dark
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped pistachios
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Pulse pistachios in a food processor until they resemble a finely chopped crumb. In a bowl combine almond flour, ground pistachios, sweetener, and salt. Add melted butter, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and green food coloring if using and stir until a dough forms. Press into an even layer in a parchment-lined 8×8 inch pan.
- Make the pistachio filling: Pulse pistachios and avocado oil in a food processor until a relatively smooth nut butter forms. Add cream cheese 1/4 cup at a time, blending between each addition until smooth. Add Greek yogurt and blend again. Add powdered sweetener and salt and blend until smooth. Add egg, vanilla extract, almond extract, and green food coloring if using and blend just until smooth. Do not overblend once the egg is added.
- Bake: Bake at 325°F for 22 minutes. Allow bars to cool completely.
- Make the topping: Heat heavy cream until hot. Add chocolate chips and stir until melted and smooth.
- Finish the bars: Pour chocolate over cooled bars and spread evenly. For the optional design, pipe green icing in thin stripes across the ganache (I used a mixture of melted sugar-free white chocolate chips, heavy cream, and green food coloring), then drag in the opposite direction with a toothpick. Sprinkle chopped pistachios around the edges.
- Chill: Refrigerate until chocolate is fully set. Slice into bars with a sharp knife. Enjoy!
So satisfying if you’re a pistachio lover or just if you’ve been wanting to try the viral chocolate bars. I’m obsessed!!