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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Julia Copeland says
He recipes look delicious. 8 love this type of dessert in the warmer weather
Heather says
Sooo good! Made it for the second time in a month due to my sister’s request! Thanks for sharing!
K says
Hello, just wanted to ask before making this (it looks delicious) is it supposed to be 1/2 cup butter in the crust and another 1/2 cup butter in the filling? Thanks!
Amanda Formaro says
Yes that’s correct
Lisa says
For those who haven’t made this dessert yet, follow the recipe exactly the first time you make it. I listened to some commenters before I made it & cut down on the sugar. Also made the mistake of buying graham cracker crumbs out of a box instead of crushing my own. Next time I will put the full amount of sugar as I didn’t find it sweet enough, & crush my own graham crackers. Delicious dessert!
Lisa says
Delicious dessert & doesn’t take a lot of time. I did cut down on the xxx sugar by half, but it would be fine either way! I always cut down on the sugar in recipes. Just depends on an individual’s sweet tooth! Thanks so much for sharing. This is going to be a staple dessert this summer! 🙂
Muriel richards says
This is amazing I loved making it and it tastes so good and twas fun & easy to make. Great for kids 9-10+
Lucy Cortez says
This recipe sounds good but it does have too much sugar and I can not eat sugar I wonder if I can make it with honey? I have change a lot of recipes that call for sugar to honey and come out just so good, I use half of honey you would use in sugar and it seem to work for us. Sweet but not over sweet to our taste.
Amanda Formaro says
I have not tried that. I have heard of others using sugar substitute with success.
Margaret says
It does not say how much powdered sugar in the recipe
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Margaret. The printable recipe at the end of the post has all of the measurements.
Carol Lincoln says
I need more than 9×9 how can I make it for 13×9
Amanda Formaro says
You can double everything for a 13×9
Linda OBrien says
Can this be doubled
Amanda Formaro says
Yes in a 13×9 pan
Mary Chenoweth says
TOO SWEET. BEST TO ELIMINATE THE POWDERED SUGAR. YUCK. MADE ME SICK. GAVE ME A HEADACHE AND STOMACK ACHE. EVEN HUBBY SAID TOO SWEET! SORRY
Carrie says
Do you have a low tolerance for sugar? My family thought it was just sweet enough .
Carrie says
I used a whole bar of cream cheese, maybe that balanced it out.
Lena R Hixon says
One of the best desserts I have found on Pinterest. Super easy to make and my whole family loved it ( they are all picky so that’s a feat in itself 😂).
Carol Bast says
Can the pineapple dream vars be frozen
Lera says
One of my families favorite dessert! I hate making it because I can’t refrain myself from eating it😉 very Delicious!!!! I was wondering if it can be made with regular butter instead of unsalted? Thank you so much!
Kathy wilson says
Can this be made in a springform pan?
Amanda Formaro says
I’m sure it could!
Becky says
This was really good..the second time I made this I add toasted coconut to the cream cheese and butter and cut the sugar back to 1 and a third cups.sprinkled top with toasted coconut also. Turned out very well. Thank you
Jessie says
Oh my goodness, this dessert was so easy and SO good! It’s on my go to rotation now!
Trish says
Hi Amanda, I have company coming for Thanksgiving. My mother is coming she loves Pineapple anything lol. But she does not like any kind of cheese. Is there anything I can use in it’s place? I’m making your Pineapple dream cake.
Candace says
So easy t make! My boyfriend had a heart attack a few months ago and is on a very low sodium diet. He’s quite bummed because it’s hard to find something he can eat that he actually likes. I was excited to make this for him because of the low sodium content. The only thing I would change is the amount of confectioners sugar. It was way too sweet and I do like sweet!
Tracy says
Try using Swerve Confectioners Sweetener
Deisha says
Would Marscapone cheese work in place of the cream cheese ? Or maybe a combination of the two? Love this dessert by the way:)
Amanda Formaro says
I have not tried that but if you decide to, would love to hear how it goes!
Debbyanne Southwell says
Thankyou for the yummy recipes and crafts! I am new to your site. I love the crafts as well. Just wandering what Graham crackers are? I live in Australia and hoping you can buy them and the cool whipping cream as I would love to make this recipe.
Amanda Formaro says
For the graham crackers, you can substitute any kind of cookie – like digestive biscuits in your area. Also, for the cool whip, make your own whipped cream. :)
Sandy K says
Can’t wait to receive your recipes!