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Dubai chocolate has been all the rage in the U.S. for the last couple years now. I actually think it's been losing some of it's trendiness recently, but in January 2026,
This drink flavor actually makes a lot of sense for them considering they already have all the necessary ingredients in store: pistachios, mocha sauce, chocolate cold foam, etc.
In conjunction with the annual launch of their pistachio drinks,
Today I'm showing you how to make the matcha drink, which I have to say is surprisingly delicious!
🍫 What is Dubai chocolate?
Dubai chocolate is a luxury chocolate bar that's filled with a rich pistachio cream and crispy shredded pastry, usually "kataifi." It's fun looking, it's delicious, and it's been all the rage in the U.S. It's also quite pricey as far as chocolate foes!
The chocolate bars went viral on TikTok some time in 2024 with creators breaking it open to show the unexpected green pistachio cream inside. And these days, it seems like every brand is coming out with their own version of Dubai chocolate or Dubai chocolate-inspired products.
💚 Why this recipe works
Matcha and pistachio go really well together: I knew the Dubai Chocolate Mocha would be delicious, but I had my doubts about matcha, pistachio, and chocolate. However, I have to tell you matcha and pistachio cream are so tasty when combined! And the chocolate really works with the pair, too.
Tastes like Dubai Chocolate for matcha lovers: this drink really marries the flavors of matcha and Dubai chocolate and will delight anyone who is a fan of both. You can taste the pistachio, chocolate, and matcha with toasted cookie notes from the topping.
Each component is simple: this drink may seem like a lot of components (matcha, pistachio sauce, chocolate cream cold foam, salted brown butter cookie topping), but each is really easy to make and I have several shortcuts you can take to make the drink even easier.
Components can be made in advance: even better, several of the components can be made in advance, including the pistachio cream, cookie topping, and chocolate cold cream. When you're ready to enjoy the drink, all you have to do is mix together the matcha and milk with the pistachio cream and whip up the cold cream into a cold foam.
🗒 Ingredients
The
Here's everything you need to make the drink with some tips on how you can cut down on the amount of work you have to do in the kitchen (be sure to view the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions):
- Matcha powder:
Starbucks used to use sweetened matcha powder in their drinks, but now they use unsweetened. So, I always use unsweetened, too - 2% milk: or the dairy/non-dairy alternative of your choice
- Pistachio sauce recipe below: It's easy to make your own with the recipe I share. But if you don't want to make it, you can substitute with store-bought pistachio syrup
- Ice
- Chocolate cold foam: I share my easy recipe with you in this post
- Salted brown butter cookie topping: I share my recipe with you here, but I also recently discovered this great brown butter seasoning that works really well!
If you're making your own pistachio sauce:
- Pistachio butter: unsweetened is best. You can also make your own using pistachios
- Sweetened condensed milk
- 2% milk: or the dairy/non-dairy alternative of your choice
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
For the chocolate cream cold foam:
- Heavy cream
- 2% milk
- Chocolate malt powder
- Vanilla syrup: You can either purchase or make your own. If in a pinch, you can substitute with 1-2 teaspoon of granulated sugar and a little vanilla extract if you have it. Alternatively, you can add 1-2 teaspoon of sweetened condensed milk.
And if you're making your own salted brown butter cookie topping:
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Salt
🧋 Recipe tips
- You can make the pistachio sauce in advance. When kept in an airtight container in your fridge, it should stay fresh for about 2 weeks.
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- I've made pistachio sauce in the past for this Pistachio Cream Cold Brew, but I've refined my recipe since then to make it blend into drinks better. I'll be updating that post with the new recipe (with a note on the old one for anyone who liked it thicker).
- I like using store-bought pistachio butter to make my sauce, but I've also made it with homemade pistachio butter, which is so easy to make! All you have to do is put ⅓ cup shelled pistachios in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. You can also put them in a mortar and use a pestle to crush them and turn them into a paste.
- You can make the chocolate cold cream in advance (before turning it into a foam) and store it in an airtight container in your fridge for a few days.
- The cold foam has vanilla syrup in it, which you can purchase or make yourself. If you don't want to make or buy it, simply add 1-2 teaspoon of granulated sugar into the cold foam mixture and a little vanilla extract if you have it. Alternatively, you can add 1-2 teaspoon of sweetened condensed milk.
- When you're ready to enjoy your iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha, use an electric frother, hand mixer, or blender to whip into cold foam. Or you can simply shake it vigorously in a mason jar.
- Add just a little bit of milk to your cup when you mix the matcha in. This will help avoid clumps and will let your matcha dissolve more smoothly.
- After whisking the matcha powder into the small amount of milk, you can add the rest of the milk, pistachio cream, and ice.
- And top with the chocolate cold foam and salted brown butter cookie topping. Or this super simple brown butter seasoning.
- Taste and adjust to your tastes. If you like a sweeter drink, you can add more pistachio cream, cold foam, or even a little vanilla syrup.
Not only was I very pleasantly surprised by how the
I love the pretty matcha/pistachio and chocolate layers.
🎉 Variations on recipe
I actually think this chocolate pistachio matcha is pretty perfect as is. But, of course, like any
Here are some ideas:
- Use the milk or non-dairy alternative of your choice.
Starbucks standard is 2% milk, but you can make it with anything you want. Oat milk is especially delicious in this drink. Coconut milk works really well, too. - If the drink is too sweet for you, cut the pistachio sauce in half, only adding 1 Tbsp.
- If you want more pistachio flavor, add some of the sauce to the cold foam as well.
- To make this drink hot, gently heat milk and pistachio sauce and whisk matcha powder into warmed mixture. Top with lightly frothed chocolate foam.
- If you don't feel like making the cold foam, you can simply add a little more milk to the drink and stir in some chocolate malt powder. The drink won't be quite as pretty, but still still bring Dubai chocolate vibes.
- Put the milk, pistachio sauce, and chocolate cold cream in blender with ice and blend until thick. Pour into glass for a Frappuccino-like drink.
- Sprinkle chopped pistachios or chocolate shavings on top.
- Add a mocha sauce drizzle.
❄️ More Starbucks winter drink recipes
Starbucks has lots of winter drinks that are only released after the holidays are over and the excitement of peppermint mocha and eggnog lattes is gone. Here are some of my favorite winter drinks:
You'll definitely want to try the Iced Dubai Chocolate Mocha, too! You can see all of my copycat Starbucks recipes here.
Have you jumped on Dubai chocolate trend and will you be trying these new 2025
📖 Recipe
Dubai Chocolate Matcha {Starbucks Copycat}
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ teaspoon unsweetened matcha powder
- ¾ cup 2% milk (or dairy/non-dairy alternative of your choice)
- 2 tablespoon pistachio sauce recipe below (can substitute with pistachio syrup)
- Ice
- ⅓ cup chocolate cream cold foam recipe below
- ¼ teaspoon salted brown butter cookie topping recipe below or store-bought
Pistachio Sauce
- ¼ cup pistachio butter (unsweetened is best) see notes if making your own
- ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup 2% milk (or dairy/non-dairy alternative of your choice)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Chocolate Cream Cold Foam
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup 2% milk
- 1 ½ tablespoon chocolate malt powder
- 2 teaspoon vanilla syrup
Salted Brown Butter Cookie Topping
- 2 tablespoon butter (salted or unsalted)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt (use only if using unsalted butter)
Instructions
- Put matcha powder in glass and add about 3 tablespoon milk. Whisk until powder is dissolved and mixture is smooth.
- Add remaining milk and stir in pistachio sauce. Pour mixture into an ice-filled glass.
- Top with chocolate cold foam and brown butter cookie topping.
Pistachio Sauce
- Put all ingredients in blender and process for about 45 seconds until completely smooth.
- Pour sauce into a jar or other airtight container and keep in fridge until ready to use. Sauce should keep fresh in fridge for about 2 weeks.
Chocolate Cream Cold Foam
- Place cream, milk chocolate malt powder, and vanilla syrup in a mason jar and shake well to combine. If you don't have a jar, mix all ingredients in a bowl. Keep in fridge until ready to use.
- To turn into foam, you can either use an electric frother, hand mixer, or blender with ⅓ cup of cream at a time. Alternatively, you can shake the mixture in a mason jar until it's frothy.
Salted Brown Butter Cookie Topping
- Put butter in a small saucepan and melt over medium heat. Once melted, continue cooking, swirling saucepan often, until butter turns golden brown and smells nutty. Remove from heat.
- In a small bowl, combine sugar and salt (if using).
- Pour browned butter over sugar and stir until evenly coated and crumbly.
- Spread mixture evenly on a piece of parchment paper or wax paper (or a plate). Let rest for about 30 minutes to dry, stirring once halfway through.
Notes
-
If making your own pistachio butter, put ⅓ cup shelled pistachios in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. You can also put them in a mortar and use a pestle to crush them and turn them into a paste. You want the pistachio butter to be fairly smooth, but you can leave some chunks if you want.
- The cold foam has vanilla syrup in it, which you can purchase or make yourself. If you don't want to make or buy it, simply add 1-2 teaspoon of granulated sugar into the cold foam mixture and a little vanilla extract if you have it. Alternatively, you can add 1-2 teaspoon of sweetened condensed milk.
- Cold foam recipe makes enough to top about 3 drinks. You can keep the cream stored in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 days and turn it into cold foam right before making drink.
- Pistachio sauce recipe makes enough to make about 12 drinks. You can keep extra in an airtight container in the fridge for about 2 weeks.
- Salted brown butter cookie topping makes enough for a lot of drinks! Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week.
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