MANILA, Philippines — Bringing a sweet local twist to the Middle Eastern favorite is Chef Cza of Czaczacza Café with her new Knafeh Donuts, inspired by the viral pistachio knafeh chocolate bars from Dubai!
The knafeh-filled donuts are priced at P250 per piece, which can be quite expensive for a donut, but Czaczacza Café told Rappler that they are a more “accessible option compared to Knafeh chocolate bars,” which can cost around P1,100 each.
The donuts come in Pistachio and Biscoff flavors, each one stuffed with a filling of slightly crispy kataifi pastry, pistachios/Biscoff, tahini for some creaminess, and then a coating of Belgian chocolate and colorful drizzles of chocolate. It’s a hefty piece, with more kataifi filling than donut dough.
Kataifi Kataifi is a finely shredded phyllo dough commonly used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean desserts. It has a unique, crispy texture when baked, used to add crunch to baklava and knafeh.
It’s a dense, compact treat that can be shared by two, but the donut itself isn’t too heavy and overly sweet.
The Biscoff flavor was my favorite — the sweet, cinnamon-spiced flavor of the cookie was instantly noticeable at first bite, but it remained well-balanced and not overpowering.
“The baking process starts with crafting the signature Knafeh filling, achieving a combination of gooeyness and crunch. The rich, soft dough envelops the filling, creating a unique fusion of flavors. Each donut is then baked to a golden brown, ensuring a light and airy texture,” the brand shared.
Czaczacza Café was founded by Chef Cza and her husband Chef Marvin during the pandemic, when the couple began baking donuts as a creative outlet. After sharing their creations online, and sparking interest among friends, their hobby quickly escalated into an overwhelming demand from loved ones.
Czaczacza Café opened its first standalone pop-up store in SM San Mateo. As of October, the homegrown brand has kiosks in SM Marikina, SM Grand Central, SM North EDSA, SM San Mateo, SM Southmall, and SM Masinag.
The pistachio kataifi trend seems to resonate with many Filipino sweet tooths — other small businesses have created their own twists and treats on the popular delicacy.
Czaczacza’s donuts are baked fresh daily, and sell out in stores fast. For more information, you can check them out on Facebook. — Rappler.com
