Billie Eilish Turns Dubai’s Famous Kunafa Chocolate Into A Vegan Treat
Food trends usually flash and fizzle out in no time, but every so often, one manages to leap continents and enter the global pop-culture kitchen. That’s exactly what happened with a pistachio-stuffed chocolate bar born in Dubai. What started off as a luxurious, kunafa-inspired dessert from the Middle East somehow made its way into the hands of Hollywood’s favourite eco-conscious star, Billie Eilish. And true to her green (and plant-based) lifestyle, she didn’t just taste it—she recreated it in her own vegan way, much to the delight of her fans.
Billie In The Kitchen
Billie took to TikTok, in a short clip just over a minute, to share her experiment. Her approach was refreshingly simple. She began by toasting dokme tel kadayıf—those hair-thin pastry strands usually used in kunafa or baklava—until they turned a tempting golden brown. But instead of leaving them crunchy and dry, she folded in pistachio spread, creating a thick, nutty green paste.
Next came the chocolate. Instead of the standard milk version, Billie used vegan chocolate, pouring it into a mould. She dropped in the pistachio-pastry filling, smoothed it out, and sealed the deal with another glossy chocolate layer. After a quick chill in the fridge, her chocolate bar was ready for the big reveal.
Taste Test Time
Billie didn’t hold back on her honest review. Holding the chocolate up for the camera, she admitted with a laugh, “Didn’t nail the side,” before taking a bold bite. The snap was crisp, the filling held together, and the texture looked as indulgent as the viral Dubai original. The fact that she turned such a decadent dessert into a plant-based treat was, of course, peak Billie Eilish—playful, slightly imperfect, but totally authentic.
Kunafa Keeps Stealing The Spotlight
Kunafa has always been a show-off in the dessert world. With its rich layers of shredded pastry, cream, and syrup, it doesn’t need much help to grab attention. Yet, inventive twists keep popping up. Not long ago, a Dubai eatery went viral for creating kunafa chocolate pani puri. Yes, you read that right. The dish arrived in a toy truck (because, why not?), each pani puri stuffed with kataifi and crowned with pistachio cream. Instead of tangy spiced water, diners poured thick chocolate syrup into the puris before popping them whole. Quirky? Absolutely. Delicious? The internet seemed divided, but the drama was worth every click.
A Turkish Take That Sparked Debate
Before Billie’s experiment, another kunafa chocolate video stirred conversations online. Turkish creator Turkan Atay bought the viral bar just to find out what made people so obsessed. After unwrapping it, she gave it a sniff and didn’t mince her words—it smelled like “cheap” chocolate to her. She even pointed out she’d paid 150 Turkish lira for it, making her less than impressed with the hype. Her brutally honest review only added fuel to the kunafa-chocolate craze, showing that food trends can be as polarising as they are exciting.
Fun Fact To Chew On
Kunafa isn’t new to experiments. In fact, the pastry itself dates back to the Ottoman Empire and has had dozens of regional spins over the centuries. From creamy versions in Palestine to cheesy takes in Lebanon, and now to chocolate bars in Dubai, this dessert has a knack for reinvention.
What Do You Think?
Billie’s vegan kunafa chocolate is proof that food trends no longer stay in one place—they travel, adapt, and find new identities. Some people fall in love instantly, while others roll their eyes at the hype. If you’ve tried kunafa chocolate yourself, whether in Dubai, Turkey, or a home kitchen, we’d love to know—did it live up to the buzz or leave you unimpressed?
