The name says "Dubai," but you won't find it there. The "Dubai Chocolate" craze that heated up Korea in 2024 has evolved in 2025 into a unique Korean recipe: the "Dubai Sticky Cookie" (hereinafter "Dubai Cookie"). Moving beyond a simple snack to a global trend and even becoming the subject of a meme that baffled a Michelin chef, Seoulicious investigates the true identity of this green dessert.
Strictly speaking, the Dubai Cookie is a dessert thoroughly localized and born in Korea in 2025. It does not actually exist in Dubai, the home of the original Dubai Chocolate. It started as a hybrid of the Dubai Chocolate trend and the sticky cookie (a popular chewy cookie style in Korea). It features a filling made of kataifi (thin pastry noodles) and pistachio spread, which is then wrapped in a chocolate-coated marshmallow and baked into a chewy cookie. The name "Dubai" is derived solely from the use of the key ingredients—pistachio and kataifi.
This sweet trend crossed borders via social media, fueled by major stars and pop culture icons. Girls' Generation's Yoona, the original K-pop trendsetter, posted a photo of the dessert, instantly signaling its "hip" status to the public. The craze even reached the gaming world; the official account of "Cookie Run" posted witty content featuring their characters eating the Dubai Cookies, delighting fans with the meta-concept of "cookies eating cookies." The momentum exploded globally in late 2025 when top idols, including IVE’s Jang Won-young, shared proof shots of themselves enjoying the treat.
Following these celebrity endorsements, major convenience stores like CU and GS25 rushed to release similar products. Riding this wave, cafes in Tokyo’s Koreatown (Shin-Okubo) and Osaka are now selling them as well, showing how Korean dessert trends are being transplanted overseas in real-time.
Following these celebrity endorsements, major convenience stores like CU and GS25 rushed to release similar products. Riding this wave, cafes in Tokyo’s Koreatown (Shin-Okubo) and Osaka are now selling them as well, showing how Korean dessert trends are being transplanted overseas in real-time.
However, a bitter reality lies behind the explosive demand. A severe shortage of the core ingredient, kataifi, has made sourcing it like "picking stars from the sky." To make matters worse, prices for raw materials like pistachios have risen, driving up the product price day by day. While consumers complain that one cookie now costs as much as a full meal, its unique texture keeps its popularity burning hot.
The peak of this trend came unexpectedly from Chef Ahn Sung-jae, a judge on the hit Netflix show Culinary Class Wars (Black and White Chef). On Christmas Eve 2025, Chef Ahn uploaded a video on his YouTube channel making these cookies with his children. However, prioritizing his children's health, he pushed his own "healthy" reinterpretation, resulting in cookies that were as hard as stones.
Netizens exploded with hilarious reactions, commenting, "That’s not Dubai, not sticky, and not a cookie." The comment section was particularly ruthless, referencing Chef Ahn's past critique of Chef Edward Lee: "If you’re going to make something totally different and insist it's a Dubai Sticky Cookie, why did you ask Edward Lee, 'Where is the intention (bibim) in this bibimbap?'"
Eventually, this mystery snack earned nicknames like "Dad’s Rock-Hard Dubai Gangjeong" or "Abu Dhabi Hard Gangjeong." The happening ended when Chef Ahn posted a photo of a proper, store-bought Dubai Cookie on his Instagram. The topic even resurfaced in content filmed with Monk Seonjae, proving the cookie had become a cultural phenomenon beyond just food.
From Seoul to Tokyo, and even shaking up a Michelin chef's kitchen, the "Dubai Sticky Cookie" is here to stay. If you haven't tasted it yet, why not visit a nearby convenience store or bakery before prices rise further? Of course, for the sake of your teeth, we recommend a professional's version over Chef Ahn Sung-jae's recipe.
Netizens exploded with hilarious reactions, commenting, "That’s not Dubai, not sticky, and not a cookie." The comment section was particularly ruthless, referencing Chef Ahn's past critique of Chef Edward Lee: "If you’re going to make something totally different and insist it's a Dubai Sticky Cookie, why did you ask Edward Lee, 'Where is the intention (bibim) in this bibimbap?'"
Eventually, this mystery snack earned nicknames like "Dad’s Rock-Hard Dubai Gangjeong" or "Abu Dhabi Hard Gangjeong." The happening ended when Chef Ahn posted a photo of a proper, store-bought Dubai Cookie on his Instagram. The topic even resurfaced in content filmed with Monk Seonjae, proving the cookie had become a cultural phenomenon beyond just food.
From Seoul to Tokyo, and even shaking up a Michelin chef's kitchen, the "Dubai Sticky Cookie" is here to stay. If you haven't tasted it yet, why not visit a nearby convenience store or bakery before prices rise further? Of course, for the sake of your teeth, we recommend a professional's version over Chef Ahn Sung-jae's recipe.