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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DONNA says
Hi Amanda, This sounds great and I’m gonna make it for my camping group in April. I’m always looking for desserts that will please everyone that aren’t chocolate as not all of the group like chocolate. So thanks so much for posting. Also just want to give you kudos for posting and answering all the posts even those who choose to try to remake what you’ve done. Thanks again.
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks so much Donna, what a nice thing to say! Hope you enjoy it :)
Karen says
If substituting whipped cream for the cool whip, will the quantities be the same?
Amanda Formaro says
WHIPPED cream yes :) If you are whipping the heavy cream, one cup of heavy cream will whip up to two cups. The volume doubles once you whip it :)
Susan says
I am allergic to pineapple–is there anything I could substitute for t he pineapple????
Amanda Formaro says
I’m sure that other canned fruits would work, I would imagine that peach would be good :)
Elke Royal says
Okay, it’s me again. I made this just as it said, and mine doesn’t look like yours. When I beat the cream cheese with the butter and powdered sugar, it came out looking like, and the conistency of, vanilla pudding, sort of runny. Not fluffy and white like in your picture. 4oz of cream cheese didn’t seem enough, either, I couldn’t really taste it so I used 8oz. How come your cream is not yellow from the butter either? What did I do wrong?
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Elke. From what you are describing it sounds as if you melted the butter? Or it was much too soft. The butter should be “softened”, meaning it should come from the refrigerator to the counter for approximately 20-30 minutes. When pressure is applied with your finger there will be some give but you finger shouldn’t plunge into the butter. It should still be firm enough to slice.
JoCarol Emling says
I use 8 ounces cream cheese and 12 ounces cool whip. Then top it with cherry pie filling and make it in a 9 x 13 pan.
Joy says
It might be good if it didn’t use cool whip….that is such a FATTY thing to use…might try it with real whipped cream. I can’t believe any one would want to use cool whip in anything they eat!
Amanda Formaro says
You can certainly use whipped cream if you prefer.
Kristi says
Just wondering if you could use whipped cream instead of cool whip. I’m not a fan of using the edible oil.
Amanda Formaro says
Absolutely
Elke Royal says
Is it really necessary to put the butter in the cream cheese? It seems like it would be enough to just mix whip, fruit and cream cheese.
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Elke. That’s the recipe. You are certainly welcome to try it, please let us know how it works without the butter :)
Shirley says
I am looking for a recipe that has crushed pineapple, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries & pecans its frozen & I don’t remember what else is in it. I’ve looked every where for it. My mother made it and you put it in cup cake liners & froze it. I’ve asked all my relatives & no one has it.
Cindy says
My mom made Frozen Fruit Salad that sound similar.
1 large pkg lemon jello dissolved in 2 cups boiling water
Add: 2 (6 oz. each) frozen orange juice concentrate
1 large can crushed pineapple
3 bananas, diced in 1/4″ pieces
2 small cans mandarin oranges w/juice
6-8 maraschino cherrys + 1 tbls cherry juice
Combine ingredients in the above order stirring well. Freeze in double lined muffin tins. Server frozen.
I’m sure you could adjust the ingredients to your tastes.
Isabella Doupe says
This can also be made without the cream cheese layer—-just fold the well drained crushed pineapple into the cool whip or whipped cream and spread over the base. Actually you can get away without baking the base as long as you press the base very well into the pan
Alli says
Oh my, cannot wait to make this as it looks so decadent and sinful.
Ann Taylor says
Can not wait to try this I am a diabetic, but still going to try this
kay says
My girl friend makes this substituting Stevia sweetener for powdered sugar, then uses sugar free store bought cookies to crush for the crust. I’ve eaten it many times and it is still very good this way and safe for her diabetic husband.
kim says
the good thing about this recipe is itcan be made glutenfree and it is so refreshing to have a coolglutenfree desert for a changethat is easy to mak if you have others like this I would really enjoy trying them out it makes an excellent dessert thank you
Sarah says
Is there something I can substitute the cool whip for?
Amanda Formaro says
Whipped cream works great :)
Beverly says
Love this recipe. My great grandmother made it every Thanksgiving and Christmas. Instead of cream cheese, she used 1/2 small can of sweetened condensed milk. Sounds gross, but so yummy! Also she put pecans and a squeeze of lemon juice in hers. This is the best pie ever!
Diane says
This is almost identical to the recipe that my grandmother made for each and every celebration in our family. The only exception is that she used real whip cream. I am 57 and this has been at every holiday meal that I have ever had. We called it Nanny’s pineapple delight.
Brandi says
Or you can just make millionaire pie which is the same thing just so much simpler! Take a Graham cracker crust… mix cool whip, pineapple, coconut if desired and cream cheese. It’s great & simple!
Tammy Smith says
My eldest sister has made this for every family gathering for years. She makes it in a pie plate and adds chopped pecans. It’s called millionaire pie.
Pat Mays says
This sounds yummy and easy. I do like easy. Thanks for sharing the receipe.
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks Pat!
Cindy says
Can I reduce the powdered sugar as I do not like anything very sweet?
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Cindy. I haven’t tried that so I can’t guarantee the results. If you try it, please let us know how it works out!