Dubai Chocolate Shake Recipe

This Dubai chocolate shake is a chocolate-lined cup filled with creamy pistachio shake, topped with crunchy toasted kataifi and chopped pistachios. It's a copycat of Shake Shack's Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake, the limited-time treat that sells out fast and keeps coming back by popular demand. This version means you never have to time your cravings around whether it's actually in stock.

The Viral Dubai Chocolate Shake You Can Make at Home

I tried this shake for the first time the other day while grabbing a burger from Shake Shack, and it was honestly the most memorable milkshake I've ever had. The chocolate shell cracking apart as I dug in with my spoon, the pistachio cream blended into the shake itself, the crunchy katafi scattered throughout. It was an experience, not just a dessert.

The problem is that Shake Shack only brings this shake back for limited windows, and it sells out fast every single time it's available. So I knew I needed a version I could make myself whenever the craving hit, without having to check whether it happened to be on the menu that week. This homemade copycat nails the same core elements that make the original so memorable.

It has a hardened chocolate shell lining the cup that cracks when you dig in, a pistachio cream blended right into the smooth chocolate milkshake base, and that essential crunchy katafi and pistachio topping. It's quicker to make than you'd think and means this shake is available to you any single day of the year, not just during a limited run. If you've tried my Shack Shake sauce, then you know how spot-on my copycat recipes are, and this Dubai chocolate pistachio shake delivers.

Ingredients

• 1 cup coating chocolate
• 1 cup vanilla ice cream
• ½ cup milk
• 1¼ cup ice
• ⅓ cup pistachio cream
• Chopped pistachios and toasted katafi, for garnish

How to Make Dubai Chocolate Shake

Step 1: Melt the Chocolate

Add the coating chocolate to a microwave-safe bowl and melt in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until completely smooth and pourable. Coating chocolate (also called melting chocolate or candy melts) is specifically formulated to set up hard and glossy, which is exactly what you want for that signature cracking shell.

Step 2: Coat the Cup

Pour the melted chocolate into a plastic cup and tilt and rotate it so the chocolate coats the entire inside surface evenly, all the way up the sides. Pour out any excess back into the bowl. Set the cup aside and let the chocolate harden completely, either at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes or in the freezer for 5 minutes to speed things up.

Step 3: Blend the Shake

While the chocolate hardens, add the vanilla ice cream, milk, ice, and pistachio cream to a blender. Blend until completely smooth and thick, with no ice chunks remaining. The pistachio cream is what gives this shake its distinctive rich, nutty flavor that's central to the entire Dubai chocolate experience.

Step 4: Assemble and Garnish

Once the chocolate shell has fully hardened, pour the blended shake into the chocolate-lined cup. Top with a drizzle of any remaining melted chocolate, a generous sprinkle of chopped pistachios, and toasted katafi. Serve immediately with a spoon so you can fully experience that chocolate shell cracking apart as you dig in.

Pro Tips for the Best Dubai Chocolate MilkShake

Use coating chocolate, not regular chocolate chips. Coating chocolate, sometimes labeled as melting wafers or candy melts, is formulated to set up firm and glossy without needing tempering. Regular chocolate chips will work but may not harden into as clean or crackable a shell.

Coat the cup thoroughly and evenly. Take your time tilting and rotating the cup so the chocolate reaches every inch of the inside surface, especially near the rim. A thin spot in the shell means it won't crack as good when you dig in.

Let the chocolate harden completely before adding the shake. This is the step that makes or breaks the whole experience. If the chocolate hasn't fully set, the shake will melt right into it instead of staying separated until you crack through with your spoon. Be patient and give it the full hardening time.

Toast your own katafi if you can find it. Katafi (also spelled kataifi) is shredded phyllo dough that's available at Middle Eastern grocery stores and some specialty markets. Toasting it yourself in a dry skillet over medium heat for a few minutes until golden gives you maximum crunch and a deeper, nuttier flavor than pre-packaged versions.

Don't over-blend the shake. Blend just until smooth and thick. Over-blending can make the shake too thin and watery as the ice breaks down further than necessary. You want it thick enough to hold its shape with a spoon.

Serve immediately. Like any milkshake, this is best enjoyed right away while the texture is at its thickest and the chocolate shell is still fully intact and crackable.

How to Store Dubai Chocolate Shake

The shake itself. This is meant to be made and enjoyed immediately, just like any milkshake. Once blended, it separates and loses its texture if it sits too long, so there is no good way to store it after blending.

The chocolate shells. These are the one part of this recipe that prep ahead well. Melt and pour the chocolate into cups, then freeze them for up to a week. That way you always have a shell ready to go and can blend a fresh shake the moment the craving hits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake?

The Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake is a limited time menu item at Shake Shack inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate bar trend that began circulating on social media. Shake Shack's version features pistachio frozen custard blended with toasted kataifi shredded phyllo, topped with chopped pistachios and more kataifi, all coated in a crackable dark chocolate shell that mimics the experience of cracking into the original Dubai chocolate bar.

Is the Shake Shack Dubai Chocolate Shake available year round?

No, it is a limited time item. Shake Shack first introduced it in 2025, and it became the chain's most successful limited time shake ever, selling out within minutes at multiple locations on its debut. It returned to menus nationwide in summer 2026, but Shake Shack has indicated it remains a limited release while supplies of the specialty ingredients last, rather than a permanent menu addition. This homemade version is a great way to enjoy the flavor any time it is not currently available.

Can I make this shake dairy free?

Yes, with a few swaps. Use a dairy free vanilla or pistachio flavored ice cream alternative in place of the dairy custard, and check that your coating chocolate and pistachio cream are also dairy free, since some brands contain milk fat. My wife can't eat regular ice cream so I made her a dairy-free version and she loved it. 

Where can I find coating chocolate and kataifi?

Coating chocolate, also sold as candy melts or melting wafers, is available at most craft stores, baking supply shops, and the baking aisle of many grocery stores. Kataifi, also written as katafi, is shredded phyllo dough most commonly found at Middle Eastern grocery stores or in the international foods section of larger supermarkets. Both are also widely available online.

What is pistachio cream?

Pistachio cream is a sweet, smooth spread made from ground pistachios, similar in texture to Nutella but with a rich, nutty pistachio flavor instead of chocolate hazelnut. It has become widely available due to the popularity of the Dubai chocolate bar trend and can be found at specialty grocery stores, Middle Eastern markets, or online. If you can't find it in the grocery stores, you can make my homemade pistachio cream.

Can I use regular chocolate chips instead of coating chocolate?

You can melt regular chocolate chips, but they do not set up quite as hard or glossy as proper coating chocolate, which is specifically formulated for this purpose. If you're using chocolate chips, add a teaspoon of coconut oil or shortening to help it set up firmer and crack more cleanly.

Why does the chocolate need to fully harden before adding the shake?

The cracking chocolate shell is the entire signature experience of this dessert. If the chocolate has not fully hardened, the cold shake will start melting it immediately, and you will lose that dramatic, satisfying crack when you dig in with your spoon. 

More Copycat Drinks to Try Next

• Dirty Dr. Pepper
• Sonic Ocean Water
• McDonald's Mocha Frappe
• Starbucks Cold Foam
• Starbucks Vanilla Bean Frappuccino