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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Sandy Mullins says
This looks like a recipe my son liked years ago, I am going to make it for his 50th birthday tomorrow.
carole says
Hope this will work with real whipping cream. Cool Whip isn’t food – it’s made out of plastic.
Amanda Formaro says
LOL!
Marilyn Snead says
My mother-in-law used to make something vry similiar, but she called it
marshmallow pudding, it was so good, and I have made it.
Julie says
Yum makes me hungry just thinking about it. We made one similar to this but was green look to the cool whip when finished. Wish I could find that recipe. Perfect for spring!
Amanda Formaro says
Are you talking about Watergate Salad that’s made with pistachio pudding and whipped cream? If so, here’s mine if it helps -> https://amandascookin.com/vintage-recipe-watergate-salad/
Coco in the Kitchen says
TOO easy.
TOO dangerous!
Doug Zwicker says
I have diabetes so I look for something that doesn’t require the extra carbs , I make a mixture of plain yogurt and vanilla calorie reduced pudding not using milk for the pudding just the yogurt , add about half a can of crushed pineapple and it makes a fairly low carb tasty treat
Hazel says
I make this recipe but I add a package of fresh coconut. My kids called it Pina Colada Pie. They always froze their piece. I don’t make this as often because we are empty nesters.
Gayle says
I made this the first time and it was really good. In the old days before someone started worrying about the amount of sugar I was getting, you could purchase crushed pineapple in heavy syrup which boosted the taste of the pineapple tenfold. None of that sugary stuff is packaged anymore so the second time we made this we dumped the can of pineapple in a small heavy saucepan and added a scant quarter cup of light brown sugar and cooked until half the liquid was gone. Then we followed your recipe exactly and it was twice as good. It almost gave it that pineapple upside down cake taste.
Debbie Folk says
I made this yummy dessert for a church carry-in. Everyone really liked it. It was easy to prepare also.
Jazmine Horne says
Dear Amanda, I am making this for a grade tomorrow and I need to know the serving size, yield, of this recipe. I only need four servings.
Amanda Formaro says
Sorry I didn’t see this comment in time. Hope you were able to figure it out. I don’t really know how many servings for sure, but I would guess 10-12.
Betty Cloyd says
I was pleased to note that printable ingredient list and instructions were provided, but disappointed that what was pictured was not what was printed. It left out the picture. If that was a copyrighted picture that you got somewhere, why didn’t you just take a picture of your own so we could all print the picture also?
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Betty. That is my picture, I did photograph it myself. It’s not included in the printable version because a printable version is generally all text to save on printer ink. If the photo were included I would have people complaining that I was wasting their ink. So apparently I can’t win.
Julie says
No one can please everyone, so don’t beat yourself up about it. Most of us are happy to save on ink and paper. If anyone wants to print the picture with the recipe all they need to do is copy and paste the picture and the text into a document then print, really no big deal.
Thanks for your patience with everyone. I am actually going to whip my own cream and not add any sugar and see how that turns out.
mereoni valetino says
It looks yummy,will try out this weekend.
nancy dewitt says
I AM COPYING THIS RECIPE AND MAKING IT SOON..I ONLY WANT TO COMMENT ON THE PHOTO OF THE RECIPE… ON THE EDGE OF THE PLATE THERE IS A CHIP BROKEN OUT OF THE PLATE.. THAT CAUGHT MY EYE RIGHT AWAY.. JUST THOUGHT SOME ONE SHOULD KNOW THIS.. THANKS FOR THE RECIPE AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.. NANCY FROM INDIANA….
Amanda Formaro says
Hi nancy. I’m aware of the chip. Thanks for sharing.
Virginia Burton says
I want these recipes especially the pineapple Dream Dessert one.
Portia Pridemore says
looking for low carb and sugar free deserts. Also low carb meals. Would appreciate you sending some my way. Thanks in advance
mary joseph says
going to make for Easter. thank you
Patricia says
I am disgusted because the ad to subscribe to Foodie in
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Patricia. You didn’t have to subscribe. If the box popped up, all you had to do was click the X to close it. No one is required to subscribe in order to get the recipe.
LiZ Cheshier says
I love your recipes. Please send me lots.
Anna Bier says
I hope I can make it to look good and taste great.
Paula Finch says
Sounds amazing