Description
Dubai’s chocolate brownies with pistachio topping bring Middle Eastern flair to a classic dessert, blending rich chocolate with nutty crunch. Drizzle some extra melted chocolate on top and watch your friends go crazy for these irresistible treats straight from the Emirates.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ cup chopped dates
Topping Ingredients:
- ½ cup milk or dark chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons crushed pistachios
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to exactly 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring edges are fully covered.
- Melt ½ cup butter completely. Whisk the melted butter with ¾ cup granulated sugar until smooth and well combined.
- Crack 2 large eggs into the butter-sugar mixture. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whisk vigorously until the mixture looks light and aerated.
- Sift ⅓ cup cocoa powder, ½ cup flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon cardamom directly into the wet ingredients. Stir gently until just incorporated.
- Optional: Fold ¼ cup chopped dates into the batter if desired. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should have moist crumbs when removed.
- Remove from oven and let brownies cool completely inside the pan for approximately 45 minutes.
- Melt ½ cup chocolate chips with 1 teaspoon coconut oil in 30-second microwave intervals, stirring between each.
- Pour melted chocolate over cooled brownies. Immediately sprinkle 2 tablespoons crushed pistachios across the surface.
- Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes until chocolate topping becomes firm. Cut into 12 equal squares before serving.
Notes
- Swap out regular sugar for coconut sugar to give these brownies a deeper, more caramel-like sweetness that complements the Middle Eastern flavor profile.
- Let the brownies cool completely before adding the chocolate topping, or the chocolate will melt and create a messy surface instead of a smooth finish.
- For a gluten-free version, replace all-purpose flour with almond flour or a gluten-free baking blend, which will keep the texture rich and moist.
- Toast the pistachios briefly in a dry pan before chopping to enhance their nutty flavor and add a subtle crunch to the chocolate topping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Brownies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 336 kcal
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg