Introduction
Pocket's Chocolates' Dubai Style Crispy Pistachios are a chocolate-coated nut snack, rather than a filled pastry. The original release paired roasted pistachios with a pistachio coating, crispy kadayif and dark chocolate, finished with sea salt. It's a lot of crunch for one little bite.
If that combination has sent you looking for more pistachio and choc, we're with you. At LoveRaw®, we think the best pairings give both flavours room to show off: nutty pistachio, chocolate that melts on your tongue, and something crisp to keep each bite interesting. Here's what makes the Pocket's snack distinctive, plus a way to make your own chocolate and pistachio clusters at home.
What Are Pocket's Chocolate Pistachios?
Pocket's Chocolates described its original Dubai Style Crispy Pistachios as roasted pistachios coated with pistachio filling and crispy kadayif, then covered in dark chocolate with a sprinkle of sea salt. The company announced them as a limited release in Southern California and Hawaii.
The format is the useful bit to know: these are individual coated pistachios, not a chocolate bar with a pistachio centre. The coating brings the chocolate and extra crunch, whilst the nut sits in the middle.
Kadayif is made from fine strands of pastry. In a chocolate coating, it brings a lighter, more delicate crispness than the firm bite of the pistachio itself. Think two different kinds of crunch, with dark chocolate around the outside.
The original announcement describes one release, so check the pack you're buying for its current ingredients and product details. A similar name doesn't necessarily mean an identical recipe.
What Makes Chocolate And Pistachio Work Together?
Pistachios have a distinctive roasted, nutty flavour that can hold its own against chocolate. Dark chocolate brings a deeper cocoa taste, whilst salt can sharpen the contrast between the sweet coating and the nut.
Texture matters just as much. A smooth chocolate shell feels different from a crisp pastry layer, and both give way to the crunch of the pistachio. That's why a coated pistachio can be so satisfying even though it's small.
Prefer a softer centre? Our Pistachio Butter Cups offer a different take on the same flavour pairing. They're a filled chocolate treat rather than individually coated nuts, so don't expect the same kadayif crunch.
Are They The Same As Dubai-Style Chocolate Bars?
They share a flavour idea, but the format is different. A Dubai-style chocolate bar typically has a chocolate shell around a pistachio filling with crisp pastry. Pocket's original snack puts those flavours around individual pistachios.
That changes how you eat them. A bar gives you pieces of chocolate and filling in each square. Coated nuts are small, separate bites, with the pistachio itself providing a firmer centre.
If you're after that contrast at home, you don't need to make a filled bar. Chocolate clusters with roasted pistachios are a straightforward alternative. Add a little crisp wafer if you'd like another texture, though it won't be quite the same as kadayif.
What To Check On The Pack
The front of a packet can tell you the flavour, but the ingredients and allergy information tell you whether it's right for you. That's especially useful with imported snacks, where products with similar names may have different formulations.
Look for the following:
- The product name: Check whether you're buying coated pistachios, a filled bar or another pistachio-flavoured snack.
- The chocolate and filling: Dark chocolate isn't automatically made without dairy. Check the full ingredient list if you want a vegan product.
- The pastry: Kadayif is a pastry ingredient. Check its ingredients if you need to avoid wheat or gluten.
- Allergy information: Pistachios are nuts, and other ingredients or cross-contamination warnings can vary by product.
- Availability: The original limited release was announced for US stores. Check the seller's current listing for UK availability rather than assuming it'll be stocked locally.
Make Chocolate And Pistachio Clusters
These clusters aren't a copy of Pocket's coated pistachios. They're bigger, irregular bites with a generous chocolate coating. They're also a simple way to bring roasted pistachios and dark chocolate together without making a filled shell.
Chocolate And Pistachio Cluster Recipe
Serves: 6, with approximately two clusters each
Prep time: 15 minutes, plus approximately 30 minutes chilling
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
- 150g dark chocolate, checked for vegan ingredients if needed
- 100g shelled, roasted pistachios
- A small pinch of flaky salt, optional
- 1 M:lk® Choc Cre&m® Wafer Bar, chopped into small pieces, optional
Method
- Line a tray or large plate with baking paper.
- Break the dark chocolate into pieces and place it in a heatproof bowl over a pan of gently simmering water. Keep the bottom of the bowl above the water and stir until the chocolate melts.
- Remove the bowl from the heat. Stir in the pistachios until they're coated.
- Spoon the mixture into approximately 12 small clusters on the lined tray. Scatter over the salt and chopped wafer, if using.
- Chill until the chocolate is firm, approximately 30 minutes. Lift the clusters from the paper to serve.
Make Them Your Own
For a more pronounced salty-sweet bite, use salted pistachios and skip the extra salt. If you're using unsalted nuts, a small pinch on top is plenty.
The wafer adds a crisp topping, but it's optional. Add it while the chocolate is still soft so the pieces stick. Wafer layers contain wheat, so leave them out if wheat isn't suitable for you.
For a softer pistachio finish, serve the clusters with a little Pistachio Spread "Pistachio Bliss" on the side. It's lovely for dipping, but we wouldn't stir it into the melted chocolate for this recipe because that changes how the clusters set.
Serving And Storage
Serve the clusters as they are, or pile them onto a plate alongside sliced fruit and other chocolates. They're also good chopped over a dairy-free dessert when you want a bit of crunch.
Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy them over the next few days. If you've added wafer, it's at its crispiest when the clusters are freshly made.
Tip: Let chilled clusters sit for a few minutes before eating if you prefer the chocolate a little less firm.
Chocolate And Pistachio Without The Coating
Coated nuts aren't the only way to get your pistachio fix. The format you choose makes a difference to the bite.
- For crunch: Try the homemade clusters with roasted pistachios and a scattering of wafer.
- For a soft centre: Pick Pistachio Butter Cups.
- For spreading or dipping: Spoon Pistachio Bliss onto toast, pancakes or a plate beside your chocolate.
- For wafer fans: Chop a M:lk Choc Cre&m Wafer Bar over a dessert. It brings crunch, though it isn't a pistachio-coated nut.
Call us biased, but a little contrast makes chocolate more fun. Choose the texture you're craving rather than expecting every pistachio treat to eat like the same snack.
Conclusion
Pocket's original chocolate pistachios put roasted nuts, crisp pastry and dark chocolate into individual bites. They're a different treat from a filled bar or pastry pocket, but the chocolate and pistachio pairing is easy to enjoy in other ways.
- Choose coated nuts when you want a firm, crunchy centre.
- Make clusters at home for a shareable chocolate and pistachio treat.
- Check the packaging for current ingredients and allergy information.
Key Takeaway: The distinctive bite comes from layering chocolate, pistachio and crisp pastry, not from the pistachio flavour alone.
For a softer take on the pairing, try our LoveRaw Pistachio Butter Cups.
FAQ
Can I buy Pocket's chocolate pistachios in the UK?
The original limited release was announced for stores in Southern California and Hawaii. For a UK purchase, check a seller's current product listing and delivery details before ordering.
Are Pocket's chocolate pistachios vegan?
Check the ingredients on the specific pack. Dark chocolate doesn't automatically mean a product is made without dairy, and formulations can differ.
Do Pocket's chocolate pistachios contain gluten?
The original release included kadayif, a pastry ingredient. Check the pack for its full ingredients and allergy information. Please check the packaging for full allergy information, as cross-contamination is possible.
Are chocolate pistachio pockets the same as coated pistachios?
Not necessarily. A chocolate and pistachio pastry pocket has a filling enclosed in pastry, whilst the Pocket's snack discussed here is made from coated pistachios.
