Sweet things

Indulge in buzzy Dubai chocolate at these 8 Dallas-area dessert shops

Milkshake Factory in Grapevine recently rolled out a Dubai chocolate bar.

Milkshake Factory

Dubai chocolate, the internet-viral chocolate bar filled with creamy green pistachio paste and crunchy phyllo dough bits, is making big waves in Dallas.

There’s a short history behind the Dubai chocolate bar. It was created by Sarah Hamouda, a first-time chocolatier and founder of Fix Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai, to address her pregnancy cravings in 2021. Hamouda called it the "Can't Get Knafeh Of It" bar, inspired by a similar Middle Eastern dessert called knafeh.

Dubai chocolate has evolved beyond its original milk chocolate bar form, and now dessert makers and chocolatiers around the world have created cups, ice cream, cakes, and more.

Here are the eight best sweet shops around Dallas to satisfy a Dubai chocolate craving right now:

Al Nimer Roastery
Middle Eastern coffee roaster and candy shop with locations in Richardson and Arlington caught onto the craze early in Dallas. Though they sell nuts and Turkish delight candies, the Dubai chocolate has become their most popular item, selling out almost daily. Their bars start at $8.

Bigdash Ice Cream
Middle Eastern cafe chain in Frisco, Richardson, Garland, and Irving applies the Dubai treatment to a lot of their menu offerings, ranging from chocolate strawberry cups to crepes to cakes. There’s both a milk chocolate Dubai bar and a white chocolate spin on the bar mixed with a Biscoff cookie filling; each goes for $11.

Chocolate Secrets
Oak Lawn chocolate shop and gallery features chocolates from around the world. They have a thick Dubai chocolate bar featuring a filling of crispy katafi, pistachio, and tahini paste. As a bonus, you can pair the chocolates with one of their many wines. A small bar is $15, a large is $25.

Dubai chocolate bar, Dessert Lab Dubai chocolate is used in many desserts at Dessert Lab.Facebook/Dessert Lab

Dessert Lab
Small Dallas-based chain from two young owners saw the chocolate trend exploding and wanted to join in. They have a Dubai chocolate ice cream cup, churros, cheesecake, and a brownie sundae at their shops in North Dallas, Richardson, and Allen. Their Dubai chocolate crepe and a Dubai chocolate waffle both feature pistachio cream, tahini, shredded phyllo pastry, ice cream, and Nutella. Prices range from $13-$16.

Kilwins
The Michigan-based chocolate shop with locations in The Colony and Grapevine has some delightful bite-sized truffles bound to sell out. Dubai chocolate truffles come in dark chocolate and milk chocolate options, limited to six per person at $23. They’re also sold individually for $4 each.

MilkShake Factory
This dessert shop in Grapevine, best known for its crafted milkshakes and chocolate boxes, rolled out a Dubai chocolate bar in June. The square bar is thick and layered in the middle with pistachio crème and crispy toasted kataifi wrapped in milk chocolate. A bar goes for $6.

Dubai chocolate bars, Pistachio Dubai chocolate bars at Pistachio.Facebook/Pistachio

Pistachio
The name says it all— this Plano chocolate and gifts shop from Dubai founders was born to be a destination for this buzzy chocolate. They source some of their items from Dubai and also make chocolate in-house; they craft both Dubai chocolate bars and truffles. A large bar features 24 squares for $19 and small, with three squares, is $7.

Tifa Chocolate and Gelato
Dessert shop from California with locations in Lewisville and Euless has both milk and dark Dubai chocolate bars available for $20. They also carry Dubai chocolate strawberry cups with chocolate, pistachio cream, and katafi layered over the strawberries, then topped with katafi shreds.

chocolatiers dubai chocolate dubai chocolate bars ice cream trends desserts

Who's Hungry

Santa brunch tops 6 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Crown Block Dallas/Facebook

Christmas cocktails at Crown Block

This week's food events around Dallas include the opportunity to sip with Santa atop a sky-high restaurant for Sunday brunch. There's also a holiday market with bites and beverages at a local cafe; a winter beer pairing dinner, and seven nights of s'mores at an Italian spot in Frisco. Start the week with cocktails from guests chefs for a good cause.

Tuesday, December 9

Roots Chicken Shack Addison Grand Opening
Fried chicken restaurant from chef Tiffany Derry opens its second location in Addison with a party that will include a free sandwich to the first 25 diners through the doors on opening day starting at 11am.

Texas Lightning Classic at Midnight Rambler
Underground cocktail lounge at The Joule Dallas hotel in downtown Dallas will host the third annual fundraiser for the Southern Smoke Foundation featuring cocktails from guest Texas bartenders. Participating bars this year include the Roosevelt Room, Here Nor There (Austin), and Las Ramblas (Brownsville). The $30 ticket includes three drinks and the event will run from 7–11 pm.

Wednesday, December 10

Seven Nights of S’mores at Palato Italian Kitchen & Lounge
Hall Park Hotel restaurant in Frisco invites guests for a pre-fixe experience that will end with fireside gourmet s’mores. Start with meatballs, choice of salad, then choice of entrée from cacio e pepe, pizza, rigatoni bolognese, or trout, followed by DIY s’mores with additions like caramel sauce and raspberry spread. The experience is $60 plus tax and gratuity, and will run though December 18 with reservations from 5–7:30 pm.

Thursday, December 11

Winter Holiday Beer Dinner at Lochland’s Irish Pub
Lake Highlands Irish pub will pair four holiday-inspired dinner courses with four seasonal beers. The menu includes a cheese board, green apple & blue cheese salad, beef & Guinness pot pie, and chocolate pot de crème. The dinner is $60 plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 7 pm.

Sunday, December 14

Brunch with Santa at Crown Block
Dine with Santa sky-high atop Reunion Tower during this festive Sunday brunch at Crown Block. Santa will stroll the circular dining room while guests enjoy a brunch buffet, holiday-themed pastries, hot cocoa bar, and poinsettia and mimosa bar. Reservations are $125 for adults and $60 for children under 12. A photo with Santa is included and seating times run from 10:30 am to 1 pm.

Little Joy on the Block at Little Joy Café
Neighborhood coffee shop and café will transform into a festive block party-style celebration of local vendors, handcrafted goods, café bites, holiday drinks, and a visit from Santa. The event will run from 12–4 pm and guests are encouraged to bring a new toy or book for Mission Oak Cliff.

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