Growing up a third-culture kid in Brooklyn, I never baked cookies and rarely made any Western desserts with my Cantonese mom. Like many first-generation Asian Americans her age, my Mom used our oven for storage, stuffing it full of pots and pans. But she and I did make plenty of Jell-O desserts together. Jiggly, colorful, and fun—I mean, what’s not to love, right?
So when I spotted an easy, 5-ingredient dessert inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate bars on Jell-O’s TikTok account, I knew I had to try it and share it with my mom. She loves not-too-sweet desserts, and this one just seemed perfect to make to impress her. It’s also ideal for the summertime, when you don’t want to turn on the oven or stove, or whenever you’re craving something comforting.
What’s In the Viral 5-Ingredient Jell-O Dubai Chocolate Dessert?
This dessert is Jell-O’s own take on the viral Dubai chocolate bars, whose popularity shows no signs of dying down (this video alone has racked up over 1.7 million views already!) The pudding cup is a cold dessert that reminds me of mousse, icebox pie, and creamy tiramisu. It features the same flavors of pistachio and chocolate with crunchy kataifi (shredded phyllo dough), just like Dubai chocolate.
I have yet to make or buy kataifi, so I swapped out this ingredient with what I already had on hand: a box of cornflakes. When developing cookie recipes for my upcoming cookbook, “108 Asian Cookies,” I used plenty of cornflakes to add extra crisp texture to recipes, so swapping out the kataifi for cornflakes here felt natural and easy. You could, of course, stick with kataifi if you already have it in your pantry.
I love how these pudding cups had a hard shell made with melted chocolate; When you crack it open with a spoon, it feels like you’re digging in for treasure. In this case, the treasure within is a fluffy, creamy, light green pudding treat.
How To Make Jell-O Dubai Chocolate Cups
The recipe from Jell-O is relatively straightforward. Add a tub of thawed whipped topping (like Cool Whip), one packet of pistachio-flavored instant pudding mix, and 1/4 of your milk of choice to a mixing bowl. Use a rubber spatula to stir the mixture until it is well combined, with no dry pudding mix remaining. Fold in 1/2 cup of pre-toasted kataifi or cornflakes.
Then simply spoon the mixture into serving cups or bowls and top with melted semisweet or dark chocolate. If you’re up for it, garnish with chopped pistachios and/or sea salt flakes. Then refrigerate until the chocolate solidifies into a shell before serving.
In the video, Jell-O added vanilla protein powder into the pudding-whipped topping mixture and used sugar-free pudding mix. I skipped that step and used full-sugar options, but you can use whatever you like. While I have nothing against making protein-packed desserts, I prefer to make this dessert without it.
Kat Lieu
My Review of the Jell-O Dubai Chocolate Cups
So, does Jell-O’s viral dessert live up to the hype? Well, I have to say that it doesn’t disappoint. It’s easy to fall in love with the combo of pistachio pudding, crispy cornflakes, and a fun and irresistible chocolate shell. (My kiddo loved it and for more than one serving!) The treat comes together in under 5 minutes (plus a quick chill), making it the perfect anytime dessert, especially when you’re short on time.
Next time, I might experiment with vanilla pudding and matcha powder (along with some miso to balance the sweetness). This is one of those flexible, fun recipes that practically begs for spins and customization. You can even make this into a parfait, alternating between cornflakes or kataifi, pistachios, chocolate, and pudding layers.
So, if you’ve got a tub of Cool Whip in the freezer and a packet of pistachio Jell-O pudding mix in your pantry, go for it. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Dining and Cooking