Inspired by the viral Dubai Chocolate, these quick and easy Dubai Chocolate Donut Rolls are made with King's Hawaiian rolls, a crispy pistachio knafeh filling, and a shiny chocolate glaze. They take only 20 minutes of work, and look and taste incredible!
I've been seeing the Dubai Chocolate craze all over social media, and for the longest time, I was very skeptical (and kind of tired) of it. But I eventually decided to turn it into dessert and am now a big fan! The flavor combination of pistachio and chocolate is stellar, and the crunch from the knafeh filling is truly unique. These donut rolls are a very easy way to enjoy the flavors of Dubai Chocolate. In fact, they're easier to make than the chocolate itself, which requires special molds and tempering.
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What are these donuts made of?
These Dubai chocolate donut rolls are made of 3 main components:
- King's Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls. These are soft and fluffy brioche style bread rolls that feel and taste similar to donuts once they are filled and glazed, making them a great hack for donut style results without any of the effort!
- A crispy pistachio knafeh filling. Just like Dubai Chocolate, the rolls are filled with a pistachio knafeh / kataifi filling. This is made with toasted kataifi (shredded phyllo dough) and pistachio cream, and is both creamy and very crunchy at the same time
- Chocolate glaze. The rolls are then dipped in a silky, shiny chocolate glaze to get the proper donut flavor and feel
Optionally, you can also decorate the donuts with a simple icing. I colored some of the icing green to replicate the speckled look of the original Dubai chocolate.
Where to find the best ingredients
Let's quickly talk about the main ingredients and where you can find them:
- King's Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls. These are available at all major grocery stores in the US, and you can also find them on Amazon. However, if they're not available where you live, you can substitute them for any other soft and fluffy brioche rolls
- Kataifi. Kataifi, or shredded phyllo pastry, can be found at many middle eastern grocery stores and is also used to make Knafeh. However, it can be trickier to come by which is why I usually stick with Amazon! This is the exact one I use for all my Dubai Chocolate recipes. It is a big bag which will last you some time, and the pastry becomes perfectly crispy which is exactly what you need for this recipe
- Pistachio cream. Pistachio cream is different from pistachio butter, as it has more ingredients added to it to make it slightly sweeter and smoother. It can be found at different grocery stores from different brands, but I liked this one from the brand Pisti the most. I get mine from Amazon, but I have heard some Costco's akeep it in stock!
- Chocolate. Honestly, you can use whichever kind of chocolate you like best (as long as it is plain!). I prefer semi-sweet for this recipe, and used Ghirardelli's semi-sweet chocolate chips
Tips to perfect this recipe
This recipe is quite simple but that also means there is less room for error. Here are some of my best tips to get it right:
- Make sure to properly toast the kataifi. You want to toast it in butter on medium low heat for around 10 minutes until it is a deep golden color. This step is important in ensuring the pistachio filling remains crispy
- Taste and adjust the filling to your liking. You can add more or less pistachio cream depending on how strong you want the flavor or how creamy you want the texture. Remember, the filling will firm up as it cools down. Adding more spread will make it more creamy, but will also make the donuts a bit more messy to eat
- Add lots of filling to the rolls! The rolls can be a bit tricky to fill due to the texture of the filling and the size of the rolls. Try to get as much as you can in them without breaking them with a small spoon. I also recommend using a scale to try to get an even amount of filling in each roll
- Dip in the chocolate glaze while it is still slightly warm. At this temperature it will be easier to get a smooth, even glaze on the donuts. If the glaze is too hot, it will make a mess, and if it has cooled too much, it will be too thick to work with. You can always give it 10-15 seconds in the microwave to bring it to the right consistency
- Eat fresh. I recommend eating these donut rolls within 1-2 hours after assembly. This is because the rolls do start to dry out as time passes, and cannot be "warmed up" to combat that
Process with photos
The detailed recipe with ingredients, quantities and instructions is in the recipe card below, but let's go over the steps with photos to help you visualize everything.
First, toast the Kataifi with butter until it is golden brown and crispy:
Add the pistachio cream and a sprinkle of salt, and mix to combine:
Prepare the Hawaiian rolls by cutting holes into their sides and using your fingers to open them up. Fill them generously with the pistachio knafeh filling using a small spoon:
Prepare the chocolate glaze by melting the ingredients together in the microwave. Carefully dip each roll into the glaze to get it evenly coated:
Optionally, make a simple icing with powdered sugar and cream, and add food color if desired. Drizzle it on to decorate with the help of a piping bag (or use a spoon):
Serve and enjoy!
Frequently asked questions
I do not recommend making these donut rolls ahead of time as they dry out as time passes.
Keep them at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Related recipes
Here are some other recipes of mine you will enjoy:
Dubai Chocolate Donut Rolls Recipe
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 donut rolls
Description
Quick and easy donut rolls made with King's Hawaiian rolls, a crispy pistachio knafeh filling, and a shiny chocolate glaze.
Ingredients
Pistachio knafeh filling:
- 3 cups kataifi (100g)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter (56g), melted
- ¾ cup pistachio cream (210g)
- Pinch of salt
Chocolate glaze:
- 100g chocolate of choice; I used semi-sweet
- 100g heavy cream (⅓ cup + 1 tbsp)
- 1 tbsp oil
Assembly:
- 12 King's Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (1 pack)
Optional icing:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-4 tablespoon heavy cream
Instructions
Pistachio knafeh filling:
- Add the kataifi to a large pan and break any long threads into smaller chunks with your hands. Add the melted butter and mix
- Cook and stir on medium low heat until the kataifi is crispy and a deep golden color. This can take 10 minutes and is an important step in getting the crispy texture of the filling. Break any clumps as you go to ensure an even toasting
- Remove from heat and mix in the pistachio cream. Taste and add more if desired, and add a pinch of salt optionally
- Set aside and let it cool down for 5-10 minutes
Chocolate glaze:
- Add the chocolate, cream and oil to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 20 second increments until the chocolate is melted a smooth, shiny glaze forms
Assembly:
- Separate the rolls. Use a sharp knife to carefully cut holes into each roll from the side, and use your fingers to open the holes into pockets such that you can add filling to each roll from one side (see images above)
- Use a small spoon to generously fill each roll with the crispy pistachio knafeh filling. Try to add as much as you can without ripping them
- Make sure the chocolate glaze is warm and runny, but not hot. Carefully dip each roll into the chocolate glaze to get it well coated just like a donut. Shake off any excess and place on a wire rack to catch any chocolate dripping
- Let the glaze set for 5-10 minutes before icing or serving
Optional icing:
- Add cream to the powdered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time and mix until a thick, runny icing forms. Add food color if desired. Transfer to a piping bag and cut a small hole in it. Drizzle onto the donut rolls to decorate. Let set for another 5 minutes
- Serve & enjoy fresh!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
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