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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Laura says
Here is a twist. Instead of graham crumbles on top. Make a lemon cake and use lemon cake crumbles on top
Laura says
coconut, or both
Michelle says
Coconut was the first thing I thought of, too. Going to make it for the first time tonight, both regular and added coconut versions. My daughter can’t wait!
Sharon says
love to have theses recipes
Judi Bagley says
I leave the juice in the pineapple and add a package of vanilla pudding (dry) to it. Stir well to dissolve the pudding. Add the cool whip to this mixture I sometimes just use this mixture on a cake instead of frosting. It’s really good on a Jell-O cake.
Amanda Formaro says
Sounds delicious!
Laura says
Put that mixture on top of a lemon cake and refrigerate it overnight.its amazing! !!
Rae Dean Johnson says
Very simple, flavorful food without going an finding exotic ingredients. Thanks
Amanda Formaro says
Hope you enjoy it!
Cathy Bradford says
I made this with a few alterations and it was amazing! Thank you!
Amanda Formaro says
Glad to hear it Cathy!
Anne Marsh says
What is powdered sugar? Is it icing sugar?
Amanda Formaro says
Yes, that’s correct!
Deborah says
Thank you for posting this recipe! I was glad to see it, because a few weeks ago, when I was trying to decide what to take to a potluck, I thought of a dessert like this that a neighbor of mine used to make many years ago, and she had given me the recipe. But when I found it, I saw that it called for two eggs — in the unbaked filling! Needless to say, I decided not to risk making that for my friends at church. Happy to find a substitute that I’m sure will taste just as good.
Jennifer says
Delicious!!!!!!! This had a few too many graham cracker crumbs for me – the crust was very thick in a 9×9 and there were TONS left for the top. I would make this in a 11×7 pan next time, or cut the crumbs in half if I did it in a 9×9 again.
Amanda Formaro says
Yes there are quite a few crumbs for the top, but you can certainly reduce them if that suits your tastes :)
Robert Cook says
I remember my Grandma making this a lot growing up. The one recipe I am missing that she made was a cheese cake that had cottage cheese in it she didnt bake it but put it in the fridge to solidify. I lost all my recipes several years ago and that is one that escapes me. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Wanda Golden says
My Mother-in-law made something like this She called it pineapple torte don’t know the exact ingredients but will try to find her recipe and post it She’s gone now and sure do miss her and her pineapple torte It was a family favorite
Dawnete Barriere says
made it using pineapple, was awesome. now going to make it, using strawberry’s instead.
Sally says
My mother made this all the time when we were growing up. My cousin and I would fight over it. Her recipe says Pineapple Loaf, but I remember Pineapple Surprise as the name. It used marshmallows and whipping cream. Delicious. Can’t wait to make this version. Thank you
Sara Moore says
Great recipe! Thanks!
Jerri Kruse says
could this recipe also be used with peaches vice pineapples
Amanda Formaro says
I haven’t made it that way, but if you try it please let us know how it turns out!
Laura Belfiore says
Been wondering what to make for dessert on Easter Sunday…….saw this scrolling through facebook and a decision was made before I even read the recipe!!!!! Looks amazing…..cant wait till Sunday!!!!!
June Rud says
sugar cookie dough spread on bottom of cake pan. Bake like until lightly brown. let
cool. Mix two 8 oz. of cream cheese with desired amount of powdered sugar. Spread over baked cookie mixture. Spread vanilla pudding on top of that then wilderness cherry pie filling on top of that. Top with whipped cream. Chill for 4 + hours.
You can substitute ingredients with the following: peanut butter cookie dough, chocolate pudding. Be creative with chocolate dough and butterscotch pudding. Same other ingredients. Enjoy
SJ says
Do you have recipe for the topping…I really don’t wont to use cool whip…thanks
Amanda Formaro says
You can make your own whipped topping by whipping heavy cream.
Marcy says
i think I will put the mixture in a gram crust and freeze it but I might add some maraschino cherries and freeze it
Mk says
My great grandmother made something similar (which everyone in my family still loves). The filling is exactly the same but the crust is crushed ritz crackers, finely chopped mixed nuts, egg whites and baking powder (which gets cooked before the topping goes on).
She called it “Come On Over!” Cake (which I guess was a thing in the south…everyone had their “Come On Over” Recipe for guests.
I’ll definitely try this version! Looks yummy w/ the crust on the top too:).
Scott says
this looks so yum! was thinking of substituting mashed banana into the cream cheese and adding coconut to the pineapple cool whip mixture. thoughts?