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Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

These Dubai chocolate cheesecake bars pair all the flavor of the on-trend Dubai chocolate bar with creamy cheesecake for the ultimate layered treat — graham crust, pistachio cheesecake, toasted kataifi, and chocolate ganache.
Prep Time 55 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings 12 bars

Ingredients
  

  • Graham Cracker Crust:
  • 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • Cheesecake:
  • 1 package 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup pistachio cream
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • Kataifi Filling:
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 ½ cups frozen shredded phyllo dough kataifi
  • ¾ cup pistachio cream
  • 2 tablespoons tahini
  • Ganache:
  • 4 ounces semisweet chocolate chopped
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • Crushed pistachios optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment, letting the ends extend up the sides. In a large bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter until moistened. Press into the prepared pan. Bake until the edges begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add the pistachio cream, milk, and vanilla extract until incorporated. Beat in the egg until just combined. Pour over the cooled crust. Bake until the center is almost set, 20 to 22 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. To make the kataifi layer, melt the butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Toast the kataifi in the butter until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes; let cool. In a large bowl, stir together the toasted kataifi, pistachio cream, and tahini. Spread the kataifi layer evenly over the chilled cheesecake; place back in the refrigerator. To make the ganache, place the chopped chocolate in a heat-safe bowl. In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream to a low simmer. Pour the cream over the chocolate; wait 1 minute, then whisk until smooth. Pour the ganache over the kataifi layer. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Pull the bars from the pan using the parchment sides, slice, and serve. If desired, garnish with crushed pistachios.

Notes

Use pistachio cream (sweetened, with sugar and oil), not pistachio butter, for the right consistency. Find kataifi near frozen phyllo dough, at specialty stores, or online. Use the wobble test for doneness — set edges with a slightly jiggly center. The ganache will be soft-set, not fully hard. Use a parchment sling and a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts for clean slices. Variations: try a chocolate cookie, Nilla wafer, or shortbread crust; use dark chocolate for a richer ganache or milk chocolate for sweeter; sprinkle flaky sea salt over the ganache before it sets. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container up to 5 days. To freeze, freeze uncovered 1 to 2 hours until solid, wrap in storage wrap and foil, and freeze up to 2 months; thaw in the refrigerator.