Chewy protein chocolate-chip cookies with a hidden pistachio cream center and a toasted kataifi topping — the viral Dubai chocolate flavor in cookie format. 10 g protein, 120 calories per cookie.
Ingredients
For the cookie dough:
- 1 cup vanilla whey protein powder90 g
- 3/4 cup almond flour80 g
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted buttermelted (28 g)
- 3 tablespoons allulose36 g
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sugar-free dark chocolate chips45 g
For the Dubai chocolate finish:
- 3 tablespoons pistachio cream or pistachio butter45 g, for hidden centers
- 1/4 cup kataifi pastry20 g, toasted
- 1 teaspoon ghee or butterfor toasting kataifi
- 2 tablespoons sugar-free dark chocolate30 g, for drizzle
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1 pinch flaky sea saltoptional
Equipment
- Baking sheet
Parchment paper
- Cookie scoop
- 2 mixing bowls
Small skillet
- Whis
Method
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut kataifi into 1/2-inch lengths. Melt ghee in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add kataifi and toast, stirring constantly, 4 to 5 minutes until deeply golden. Spread on a plate to cool.
In a medium bowl, whisk together protein powder, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda and fine sea salt.
In a larger bowl, whisk melted butter and allulose until smooth. Add egg and vanilla and whisk to combine.
Add the dry mixture to the wet and stir into a soft dough. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Scoop 12 mounds of dough onto the sheet, 2 inches apart. Press an indent into the top of each. Spoon 1/4 teaspoon pistachio cream into each indent. Pinch the dough over the cream to seal completely — no green should be visible.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are golden and centers still look slightly underdone. Cool on the baking sheet 5 minutes.
Melt the 2 tablespoons dark chocolate with coconut oil in 15-second microwave bursts until smooth. Top each cookie with toasted kataifi, drizzle with melted chocolate, and finish with flaky sea salt.
Notes
Storage: Airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days, or freeze up to 2 months.
Pistachio cream: Seal it completely inside the dough. If it leaks, it burns. The fix is patience.
Bake time: Pull when centers still look slightly underdone. They firm up on the hot pan.
Kataifi: Always toast then add on top after baking. Never bake it into the dough.
Protein: Whey or casein only. Plant protein dries the cookies.