Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cups (Printable)

Layers of chocolate biscuit, creamy filling, and fresh strawberries in convenient cups.

# What You’ll Need:

→ 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 for macerating

→ 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 Make It:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine crushed chocolate biscuits with melted butter until evenly moistened. Distribute mixture equally among 6 serving cups, pressing gently to create a compact, even base layer.
02 - Beat softened cream cheese and powdered sugar with an electric mixer until smooth and lump-free. In a separate bowl, whip cold heavy cream with vanilla extract to soft peaks. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture using a spatula until fully incorporated and creamy.
03 - Spoon or pipe cheesecake filling evenly over biscuit bases in each cup, smoothing the top surface with a spatula for a polished appearance.
04 - Toss sliced strawberries with 1 tablespoon of sugar if desired, allowing them to macerate for 10 minutes to release natural juices. Layer macerated strawberries evenly over cheesecake filling in each cup.
05 - Heat heavy cream in a small saucepan until just simmering. Pour over chopped dark chocolate and let rest for 1 minute without stirring. Stir until smooth and glossy. Allow ganache to cool slightly, then spoon a thin layer over strawberries in each cup.
06 - Refrigerate assembled cups for a minimum of 2 hours until ganache and filling are fully set and chilled.
07 - Top each cup with a whole strawberry, dark chocolate shavings, and crushed pistachios as desired before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No baking required – perfect for warm weather or when you don't want to heat up the kitchen
  • Individual servings make portion control easy and presentation stunning
  • Ready in just 20 minutes of active prep, then let the fridge do the work
  • Combines the richness of chocolate with the freshness of strawberries
  • Elegant enough for special occasions, simple enough for weeknight treats
  • Make-ahead friendly – prepare up to 24 hours in advance
02 -
  • Make the cups up to 24 hours in advance – the flavors actually improve as they meld together in the fridge
  • Use clear glass cups or jars to showcase the beautiful layers
  • Macerate the strawberries for exactly 10 minutes – any longer and they'll release too much juice
  • Cool the ganache slightly before pouring to prevent it from melting the cheesecake layer
  • For extra-smooth cream cheese filling, beat it alone first before adding any other ingredients
  • Pipe the cheesecake filling with a large star tip for a professional bakery look
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