Easy Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cups (Printable Version)

Rich chocolate base with creamy filling, topped with fresh strawberries and glossy ganache in individual cups.

# What You 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 tsp vanilla extract

→ Strawberry Layer

07 - 7.1 oz fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
08 - 1 tbsp 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 bowl, combine crushed chocolate biscuits with melted butter until evenly coated. Distribute the mixture equally among six serving cups, pressing gently with the back of a spoon to form a compact base.
02 - Beat softened cream cheese and powdered sugar together until smooth and free of lumps. In a separate bowl, whip cold heavy cream with vanilla extract to soft peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture using a spatula until fully combined and creamy.
03 - Spoon or pipe the cheesecake filling evenly over the biscuit bases in each cup, smoothing the tops to create an even surface.
04 - Toss sliced strawberries with 1 tablespoon sugar if desired and allow to sit for 10 minutes to release their natural juices. Layer the macerated strawberries evenly over the cheesecake filling in each cup.
05 - Heat heavy cream in a small saucepan just until it reaches a simmer. Pour the hot cream over chopped dark chocolate and let sit for 1 minute without stirring. Whisk until smooth and glossy. Allow to cool slightly, then spoon a thin, even layer over the strawberries in each cup.
06 - Refrigerate the prepared cups for at least 2 hours until the cheesecake is fully set and firm to the touch.
07 - Top each chilled cup with a whole strawberry, dark chocolate shavings, and crushed pistachios if desired. Serve immediately or store refrigerated.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No baking required—just mix, layer, and chill while you do literally anything else.
  • The chocolate-strawberry combination feels fancy but tastes like pure comfort.
  • Make them hours ahead and they actually improve as flavors meld together.
  • Individual servings mean everyone gets their own perfect cup without slicing drama.
02 -
  • If your cheesecake filling isn't cold enough when you fold in the whipped cream, it'll deflate faster than a balloon at a porcupine convention—chill everything first.
  • Don't skip the cooling step for the ganache or it'll melt the strawberries and sink through your layers like it's searching for gold.
03 -
  • Whip your heavy cream in a cold bowl with cold beaters—it reaches soft peaks faster and holds them longer than you'd expect.
  • If your ganache sets up too thick before you can spoon it, reheat it gently over a warm water bath rather than the microwave, which can make it grainy and separate.
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