This pineapple dream dessert is one of my family’s favorites. You know those desserts that seem to be at all the family gatherings? Those recipes that your grandma has been making for years? Like Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Ambrosia and Watergate Salad. This is one of those desserts.
This light and fluffy pineapple cream cheese dessert can be easily transported, hence it appearing at all those family functions, and rarely has leftovers.
PSSST – Yes! You are in the right place! Our photos have been updated, but the recipe is the same. This photo look familiar??
I’ve had similar reactions to this Chocolate Lasagna recipe, everyone seems to love it. So the only thing you’ll take home is a dish that needs washing!
Frequently Asked Questions
Back in the late 60’s Cool Whip entered the marketplace. It only took two years for this convenience item to become the company’s best-selling item. Cool Whip has come under fire many times and the current version now contains milk and cream.
If you prefer, you can substitute freshly made whipped cream for the Cool Whip in this recipe. To substitute fresh whipping cream for the 8-ounce tub of Cool Whip, 1 cup of fresh whipping cream whipped is the proper substitution.
HOWEVER Cool Whip has stabilizers in it that help hold its shape while fresh whipping cream does not. There you can try this recipe for homemade stabilized whipped cream to replace the Cool Whip.
If you love the idea of this pineapple dream dessert, you’ll love the strawberry version too- Strawberry Dream Dessert. You’re basically replacing the pineapples for strawberries and you have yourself another ultra-delicious one-pan dessert!
Yes, you can use fresh pineapple for this recipe. However, the juices that canned pineapple come in help soften the fruit, which is ideal for this recipe. Fresh pineapple that has been cut and stored in plastic containers found at the store are a good in-between as they typically contain juices at the bottom. Either way, fresh pineapple is fine to use but may be a little tougher than the canned variety.
Just like this Strawberry Jello Pretzel Salad, this is a great recipe for taking to a party, holiday gathering, or a potluck. It’s best to have a place to keep this delicious pineapple whipped cream dessert refrigerated until ready to serve.
Expert Tip
You can purchase graham cracker crumbs, or smash them in a sealed bag with a rolling pin. We like to run them through our food processor!
Ingredients you will need:
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
- 2 1/2 cups graham crumbs (2 sleeves)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (for crust)
- 2 cups of powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (for filling)
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 8 oz container Cool Whip
- 20 oz can crushed pineapple, drained well
NO BAKE VERSION: If it’s too hot to turn on the oven, you can make the crust without baking it. Simply follow the instructions in the recipe, then instead of baking the crust, place it in the refrigerator. Let the crust chill for about 20 minutes. The butter will solidify and hold the crust together. The crust may not hold together as well, especially after sitting out for a while. But it still tastes just as good!
How to Make Pineapple Dream
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Preheat the oven to 300 F. Melt 1/2 cup butter in the microwave and let it cool. Combine the crumbs and butter, then press 2 cups of the crumb mixture firmly into a 9×9 square pan and bake for 8-10 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool.
- Beat the cream cheese and 1/2 cup butter together until creamy. Turn the mixer down to low and add the powdered sugar one cup at a time until incorporated. Turn up and beat well for a minute or so.
- Add a heaping tablespoon of the drained crushed pineapple and stir in with a rubber spatula.
- Spread the cream cheese and pineapple mixture over the crust.
- Fold the remaining pineapple into the Cool Whip and spread on top of the cream cheese mixture.
- Sprinkle the remaining graham cracker crumb mixture on top.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Does your family have a version of this dessert?
How do you make it and what do you call it? These are some of the names I’ve heard:
- Pineapple Cool Whip Dessert
- Pineapple Delight
- Pineapple Dream Squares
- Pineapple Surprise Dessert
- Pineapple Graham Cracker Dessert
- Pineapple Cream Dessert
Whatever you call it, it’s amazing and there are never any leftovers. It’s always a favorite and someone will inevitably ask you for the recipe! So be sure to print a couple extra copies. :)
More one-pan potluck dessert ideas
- If you liked this Pineapple Dream Dessert, you’ll probably like my Cream Puff Chocolate Eclair Cake too. It’s another one of those potluck recipes that everyone wants a slice of! Not only is it creamy and delicious, it’s pretty too. So next time you’re heading to a friend or relatives and need to bring a dessert, try this eclair cake!
- Not everyone approves of the name of this next recipe, so over the years, it has taken on a few different titles. Here it’s called Sex in a Pan, but you may also know it as Chocolate Dream, Robert Redford Dessert or Better Than Anything Dessert. All I know is that three layers including cream cheese, pudding and whipping cream make for a party in your mouth!
- Speaking of potluck favorites, this Strawberry Jello Pretzel Salad is always a big hit! There are some families that absolutely insist it is served at every holiday.
- If you are a banana lover have I got a dessert for you! Make this delicious banana pudding poke cake and I promise you will not be disappointed.
- Though it’s not necessarily a “one-pan” dessert, it’s definitely a potluck favorite! This Ambrosia Salad is a vintage classic. Combining maraschino cherries, mandarin oranges, pineapple tidbits, fruit cocktail and marshmallows this ambrosia salad recipe is one to be reckoned with.
- Try this fabulous looking Lemon Delight from Happy Hooligans, the kids can help make Chessmen Banana Pudding from Kids Activities Blog, and who could resist Chocolate Banana Twinkie Cake from Today’s Creative Life?
- This just added – Pineapple Yogurt Dessert – thank you to Cathy for sharing it with us.
- This irresistible no-bake Eclair Cake is the dessert of your dreams. Your guests will be asking for seconds and thirds!
- This Orange Pineapple Cake is stuffed with sweet mandarin oranges and topped with a fruity pineapple frosting that’s hard to resist.
Watch our quick video showing the simple process of this delicious dessert!
Pineapple Dream Dessert
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Pin It Rate ItIngredients
Crust:
- 2 ½ cups graham crumbs 2 sleeves
- ½ cup unsalted butter
Layers:
- 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 8 oz Cool Whip fat-free
- 20 oz crushed pineapple drained well
Before You Begin
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 F.
- Melt butter in the microwave and allow to cool. Combine the crumbs and butter and toss together until incorporated. Press 2 cups of the crumb mixture firmly into an 9×9 square pan and bake for 8-10 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool.
- Beat the cream cheese and butter together until creamy. Turn the mixer down to low and add the powdered sugar one cup at a time until incorporated. Turn up and beat well for a minute or so. Add a heaping tablespoon of the drained pineapple and stir in with a rubber spatula. Spread the cream cheese and pineapple mixture over the crust.
- Fold the remaining pineapple into the Cool Whip and spread on top of the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle the remaining graham cracker crumb mixture on top. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published here on July 9, 2013.
Amanda Davis
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Davene says
Very good recipe, but you can go from very good to great I prefer to make whipped cream, and I replaced the graham cracker crumbs on the top with toasted sliced almonds and coconut. Turned out excellent.
Amanda Formaro says
Cool Whip is not for everyone, but it is used for convenience making this a quick recipe. Using whipped cream is absolutely an option.
Lisa says
Can you use real whipping cream
Amanda Formaro says
Absolutely
Susan says
This sounds INCREDIBLE! My daughter and I.are HUGE pineapple fans, so this is a no- brainer for us! One question, though: often when I look at the nutritional info for a recipe, it gives the info “per serving”, but then RARELY tells you what constitutes a “serving”…what is a “serving” in this recipe?! Can’t wait to try this, now that I have collected all the ingredients! 😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Susan :) The number of servings are listed in the pink (top) area of the recipe card. :) For this recipe, there are 12 servings.
Rosemary Pastula says
I’d love to make a 9×13 size. Should I double the recipe?
Amanda Formaro says
Yes that will work!
Amanda MacIntire says
For some added texture and color, add about a cup of maraschino cherries cut in half and chopped pecans. Yummy!
Myrna says
can you use becel instead of butter?
Charles Franks says
Here’s another stable topping to replace Cool Whip. You can also fold the mixture with cream cheese.
1 package of Instant Pudding (flavor of choice) plus 1 80z container of Heavy cream. Mix as the mixture thickens and the mixer start to slow down stop. I have had this topping last for more than a week. It’s great.
Thalia Bickford says
this sounds interesting maybe be I will try it maybe.
Debbie ullrich says
Can you freeze this?
Amanda Formaro says
Yes!
Thalia Bickford says
i´m guessing.
Poly says
It was ok, too much butter, i don’t like it when desserts leave a coating of butter in my mouth! Next time I’ll try more cream cheese, more pineapple and less or even zero butter in the filling
rustie says
wonderful
kathleen Huey says
This is a wonderful light dessert . My grandkids loved as did everyone else.
Starla says
Oh my really really sweet. Could only eat a small portion. Going to try again with less sugar. Otherwise it was easy to make and ppl at work loved it
Laura says
Absolutely delicious! I’ve made this twice in 3 days now!
Cheryl says
Thank you for this recipe. It is a awesome way to end a summer time meal. It was so easy. I will be making this often. I was wondering, what do you think about using fresh blueberries instead of pineapple?
Amanda Formaro says
That sounds great! I’ve done it with strawberries, but haven’t tried blueberries :) https://amandascookin.com/strawberry-dream-dessert/
Heidi Blair says
My husband loves this dessert and said it’s better than ice cream. Which is huge for him to say! I think I’ve made it 10 or more times since spring. I also took some to my neighbor and they’ve now requested it about 3 times.
Amanda Formaro says
Thank you Heidi, I’m so glad you guys love it!
Tammy says
My mom used to make something similar to this, but it was called Millionaire pie, so good, and they taste the same. I added vanilla to my filling and toasted coconut on top. It made all the difference in the world!
Amanda Formaro says
Oh I’ve heard of that, doesn’t that have maraschino cherries in it? So good!
Rachel Johnson says
Absolutely delicious!! Perfect for ending any meal or taking to potlucks. My family has said this is one of their favorites. ♥️
Amanda Formaro says
Thank you so much, glad you love it!!
maria says
graet recipes, can’t wait try all!
Sandy Greiner says
I’m pretty sure the reason this recipe is called Pineapple Dream is because in the Pre-Cool Whip days there was a product called Dream Whip. It was a powdered product, you added milk and beat until fluffy. The recipe I remember had about a half pkg of marshmallows melted down in 3/4 cup of milk over low heat. Once cooled the marshmallows were combined with he Dream Whip and drained crushed pineapple. I’m 75 years old. I remember this recipes from family dinners when I was small.