Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cups (Print Version)

Rich chocolate biscuit base topped with creamy filling and fresh strawberries for a refreshing treat.

# Needed Ingredients:

→ Base

01 - 5.3 oz chocolate digestive biscuits or chocolate graham crackers, crushed
02 - 1.8 oz unsalted butter, melted

→ Cheesecake Filling

03 - 8.8 oz cream cheese, softened
04 - 2.8 oz powdered sugar
05 - 6.8 fl oz heavy cream, cold
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Strawberry Layer

07 - 7 oz fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
08 - 1 tablespoon sugar, optional

→ Chocolate Ganache

09 - 2.8 oz dark chocolate, chopped
10 - 2.7 fl oz heavy cream

→ Garnish

11 - 6 whole strawberries
12 - Dark chocolate shavings, optional
13 - Crushed pistachios, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine crushed chocolate biscuits with melted butter until well incorporated. Distribute the mixture evenly among six serving cups, pressing gently to create a compact base layer.
02 - Beat softened cream cheese and powdered sugar in a large bowl until smooth. In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream and vanilla extract to soft peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until fully combined and fluffy.
03 - Spoon or pipe the cheesecake filling over the biscuit bases in each cup, smoothing the tops evenly.
04 - Toss sliced strawberries with 1 tablespoon sugar if desired and let rest for 10 minutes. Distribute the macerated strawberries evenly over the cheesecake filling in each cup.
05 - Heat heavy cream to a gentle simmer. Pour over chopped dark chocolate and allow to rest for 1 minute. Stir until smooth and glossy. Cool slightly, then spoon a thin layer of ganache over the strawberries in each cup.
06 - Refrigerate the assembled cups for at least 2 hours until completely set.
07 - Top each cup with a whole strawberry, chocolate shavings, and crushed pistachios if desired before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They look impressively gourmet but come together in under 30 minutes of actual work.
  • No baking means no kitchen heat, and everything can be prepped ahead for stress-free entertaining.
  • Each cup is a complete dessert experience—you get texture, freshness, and indulgence all at once.
02 -
  • Cold heavy cream whips better than room-temperature cream, so keep it in the fridge until the moment you need it—this is non-negotiable for achieving proper peaks.
  • Folding the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture rather than stirring preserves all those air bubbles, which is what gives the filling its ethereal, mousse-like quality.
03 -
  • Room temperature cream cheese makes all the difference—it blends smooth without lumps, whereas cold cream cheese can seize and become grainy.
  • Using a piping bag for the cheesecake filling creates cleaner layers and looks more professional than spooning it in, even if you're just making these for yourself.
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