Popular! You’re gonna be popular—when you pregame for the Nov. 22nd premiere of Wicked with a batch of these pistachio-crunch-filled chocolate orbs. (C’mon, you know I had to go there.) After seeing all of the buzz—and every collab known to man, one-upping 2023’s Barbie blitz—I had to make a treat inspired by the Broadway play-turned-two-part-movie.
When I started thinking about Wicked-inspired desserts, my mind immediately turned to all things green. And how my Instagram and TikTok feeds were full of riffs on “Can’t Get Knafeh of It,” the pistachio-cream-and-kataifi-filled candy bar from Dubai’s Fix Dessert Chocolatier (learn more about it—and the inspiring creator—here). As the bar, which oozes a crispy, pale green filling, grew in popularity, it became known as the “viral Dubai chocolate bar,” with people making their own twists on it and stores hawking imported versions (which are disputed as to their authenticity) for $20 apop.
I won’t be going to Dubai anytime soon, but I can get myself to a movie theater (provided I can find a babysitter). And you better believe I can make half-sized chocolate bars in my own home.
Here’s the recipe, and under it, I’ve answered some of the top questions I received when I had people try it (from “where do you buy pistachio butter?” to “What other fillings could I use?”).
Now, onto our Wicked-inspired dessert! Here’s the recipe:
Wicked-Inspired Chocolate Pistachio Orbs
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp green candy melts
- 2 tbsp pink candy melts
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- 1 cup shredded mini wheat
- 2 tsp tahini
- 3/4 cup pistachio butter
Instructions
- Place the green and pink candy melts in their own small, microwave-safe bowls. Microwave each in 25-second intervals, stirring in between, until fully melted.
- Use a spoon to drizzle the pink and green candy melts inside the cups of a spherical mold. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized, microwave-safe bowl, place chocolate chips and canola/vegetable oil. MIcrowave in 25-second intervals, stirring in between, until fully melted. It should be about as runny as pancake batter. If it seems really thick, add a teaspoon of canola oil and warm for 25 seconds more, mixing afterward, to help thin it out.
- Brush the melted chocolate inside the molds of the sphere, over the candy melt drizzle. Once you have an even layer, set it aside in the fridge to harden. (This should take at least 15 minutes.) Set aside remaining chocolate for now.
- Make the filling: Pour the shredded mini wheat into a gallon-sized resealable bag. Get out any excess air and seal shut, then use a rolling pin or wooden spoon to smash the mini wheats to tiny bits. (You could also use a high-powered blender or food processor.) Pour it into a large mixing bowl. Add tahini and pistachio butter, stirring to combine.
- Place the pistachio mixture in each spherical mold, filling it about 3/4 of the way up.
- Melt remaining chocolate in the microwave. Use it to cover the filling in an even layer in each mold. Place the mold in the fridge for at least 20 minutes to set before popping them out and serving.
All Your ‘Wicked’ Dessert FAQs, Answered
What Do These Chocolate Pistachio Candy Bars Taste Like?
Imagine the crispity crackle of a Crunch bar, only with a richer, semisweet chocolate base and a slight pistachio-tahini flavor. The core is a bit gooey, but not runny by any means. It’s more like a crunchy chocolate bar, in my opinion.
What Do You Fill It With?
If you’re trying to get as close to the texture and flavor of “Can’t Get Knafeh of It,” you’ll want to use a mix of pistachio butter, tahini (adding a nutty, savory note) and kataifi, a shredded phyllo pastry dough. Kataifi can be hard to come by—I tried six grocery and specialty stores, to no avail—and online retailers have boasted some pretty inflated prices as the dessert has become more popular.
For an affordable sub that offers similar crunch, try taking shredded mini wheats, popping them in a resealable bag and smashing them to bits. They’ll be a smidge sweeter, thanks to their powdered sugar coating, but they offer a comparable texture. (That’s what I used in this recipe.)
Where Did You Find Pistachio Butter? What about Kataifi?
While I use shredded mini wheats in this recipe, I eventually found (and ordered) kataifi, pre-cooked, from Amazon. I bought pistachio butter at Walmart, since it was a bit better priced than other places I’d shopped.
Can I Fill It With Something Else?
Absolutely. You could fill these Wicked-inspired chocolate bars with:
- marshmallow creme (my daughter loved this!)
- peanut butter
- mini M&Ms
- sprinkles
- no-bake cheesecake filling
How Do You Make Them into Orbs?
Remember when hot cocoa bombs were all the rage? This is a great way to use that silicone mold again. (And if you didn’t hop on that bandwagon, did you even pandemic?! You can find them on Amazon and at most major craft and cake supply stores.)
Note: I am not affiliated with Wicked or Universal Pictures in any way. I just created a Wicked-inspired dessert for other fans to enjoy as they get ready to see the movie in theaters this Nov. 22.
