After sharing my first cottage cheese chocolate mousse recipe, a simple yet creamy dessert with high protein content, I had a light bulb moment. 💡
Dubai chocolate has gone absolutely crazy in 2024—trending everywhere on social media and famous for its indulgent, rich flavor twists. So I am a little late to the party, but once you check out my healthy dessert inspired by this flavor twist, you will understand why I still think this flavor combo is bomb.
It’s a real treat, but it often comes with an extra cost and way too much sugar for my taste buds. And yes, after trying it, I do think it’s a bit overpriced in my humble opinion, I mean, it’s a chocolate bar, OK. Yes, delicious, but still a chocolate bar. I know, I know, pistachios are expensive.
Although there are a few healthy Dubai chocolate-inspired desserts, I hadn’t seen anyone combine them with a creamy cottage cheese base for a healthier version.
So I thought, why not combine the cottage cheese craze with the Dubai chocolate craze? Sorry, I know you might already be sick of both of these trends, but let’s just say “TikTok made me do it.” It really does taste nice, and can actually be really healthy if you follow my recipe. So, why not?
I got inspired to create a layered Dubai Chocolate Cottage Cheese Mousse. I know, it’s a mouthful, but a delicious one hehe.
What Good Stuff Is In Dubai Chocolate Cottage Cheese Mousse?
I blended two luscious parts: a pistachio cream featuring tahini and monk fruit sweetener for subtle sweetness, and the classic creamy chocolate mousse made with blended cottage cheese, dark chocolate, and vanilla extract. Swirling them together strikes the perfect balance between nutty, rich chocolate flavor, and satisfying creamy texture.
To finish, I sprinkle crushed pistachios and sugar-free white chocolate chips. So I made this decadent treat a great option for anyone craving an indulgent dessert with fewer calories and way less sugar.
What’s The Deal With Dubai Chocolate: A Little Story Of How It All Unfolded?
The original recipe for Dubai Chocolate was created by Filipino chef Nouel Catis Omamalin. He was the culinary force who developed the signature bar for Fix Dessert Chocolatier after being approached by Sarah Hamouda for a collaboration. Sarah contributed the concept and branding, while Chef Nouel crafted the actual recipe and refined the chocolate’s unique textures and flavours.
Nouel Catis was a co-investor in the early stages, focusing on the technical and operational side, but he eventually left the partnership before the chocolate went viral. He has spoken out about not getting enough public credit for his critical role in creating the product.
The influencer who made Dubai Chocolate explode on TikTok was Maria Vehera. Her enthusiastic video tasting the bar in her car in December 2023 racked up millions of views and helped launch Dubai Chocolate’s global status.
Why Cottage Cheese?
For a boost of low-calorie protein, simple as that!
The chocolate mousse layer stays true to my original cottage cheese chocolate mousse, made with full-fat cottage cheese and melted dark chocolate. It has that creamy base reminiscent of traditional chocolate mousse but packs the additional benefit of an excellent source of protein, thanks to the cottage cheese and optional collagen powder.
Tips For Making This Dubai Chocolate Cottage Cheese Mousse:
Use a high-powered blender or mini food processor to get a silky smooth texture, particularly with pistachios.
Make the pistachio cream by blending shelled pistachios, tahini, monk fruit sweetener, salt, and a little cottage cheese or Greek yogurt for extra creaminess.
For the chocolate mousse layer, blend full-fat small curd cottage cheese with melted chocolate, vanilla, optional collagen powder, and a pinch of salt until whipped and silky.
Layer both parts in serving glasses, swirl gently, cover with plastic wrap, and chill for at least two hours in ready-to-serve glasses or cups.
Garnish with sugar-free white chocolate chips and crushed pistachios before serving.
Sweetness Level & Sweetener Options
The chocolate mousse is made with dark chocolate and already has some sweetness to it. If you prefer it a little sweeter, add some monk fruit or stevia to the chocolate mousse base or use sugar-free milk chocolate instead.
Because the pistachio layer is made with real pistachios and cottage cheese, you will need to add some sweetness to it; otherwise, it will not have that decadent dessert taste. So, ideally, some sugar-free white chocolate and some monk fruit or stevia are great for this.
Yes, you can use store-bought pistachio cream, but be aware that it often contains a lot of sugar.
Why Should You Give This Healthy Recipe A Try
This layered mousse is a fan of cottage cheese’s creamy texture and high protein content. It’s a great option for anyone looking to satisfy chocolate cravings while keeping blood sugar levels steady. Plus, it’s simple to store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy for days.
Adding collagen powder is optional, but it boosts the protein content and adds skin and hair-loving nutrients to this whipped cottage cheese dessert. With the perfect balance of pistachio nut butter and rich, satisfying chocolate, this is a dessert you can feel good about eating.
If this sounds like your next favorite dessert, don’t forget to leave a star rating and share your favorite toppings or tweaks in the comment section! This healthy dessert is an excellent source of protein, with a creamy base that satisfies a sweet tooth without all the extra calories or sugar.
I’ll link any ingredients I use through my affiliate advertising program below to help you get started if you want to try making it at home.
This decadent but healthy Dubai Chocolate Cottage Cheese Mousse combines trending flavors with simple, healthy ingredients. As a new recipe inspired by my original cottage cheese chocolate mousse, it’s a perfect sweet treat with a unique flavor profile you’ll love!
Dubai Chocolate Cottage Cheese Mousse Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Chocolate Mousse Layer:
- 1/2 cup full-fat cottage cheese liquid drained
- 50 g 1/3 cup sugar-free dark chocolate chips or chopped 70%+ dark chocolate bar, melted in a microwave can use sugar-free milk chocolate too
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cocoa powder for extra rich chocolaty flavor
- 1 tbsp monk fruit sweetener or stevia (double this amount if you prefer a sweeter taste)
- 1 scoop collagen powder optional, plain or chocolate flavor
Pistachio Cream Layer:
- 1/4 cup shelled pistachios raw or roasted
- 1 tbsp smooth tahini
- 1/4 cup sugar-free white chocolate chips or pieces optional, but it will make it much creamier and more indulgent
- 2 tbsps monk fruit sweetener or stevia use only half of it if you are adding white chocolate, taste to see if it's right for you
- 5 leaves of spinach for vibrant green color you won't taste it at all, and it's optional
- 1/4 cup full-fat cottage cheese liquid drained
- Pinch of salt
To Garnish:
- Crushed pistachios
- Sugar-free white chocolate chips
Instructions
- For the chocolate mousse layer: In a high-powered blender or mini food processor, combine blended cottage cheese, melted chocolate, vanilla, and monk fruit sweetener. Blend until creamy with a smooth texture.
- For the pistachio cream layer: Blend pistachios, tahini, melted white sugar-free chocolate, monk fruit sweetener, salt, and cottage cheese until creamy and luscious.
- Alternate spoonfuls of pistachio cream and chocolate mousse in serving glasses or jars. Use a knife to swirl gently for a marbled effect. Or you can put each mousse into a sandwich bag, cut off a little corner to make a hole and squeeze creamy mousse in swirly layers into a glass like I did in the picture.
- You can eat it right away or chill for about an hour if you like a firmer texture. Cover while chilling otherwise the mousse may dry up on the top.
- Garnish with crushed pistachios and optional chocolate chips before serving.
