Pineapple Delight
Pineapple Delight is a layered dessert made with graham crackers, cream cheese, pineapple, and whipped topping. (Or you can make your own homemade Cool Whip.) Also known as Pineapple Dream Dessert or Pineapple Lush, this creamy tropical dessert can be made completely no-bake and is perfect for spring or summer potlucks.
Pineapple Delight Layered Dessert
Layered desserts are fun to make and delicious to eat.
You may not be able to see distinct layers in this pineapple dream dessert, but they are there. The layers are:
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- Graham Cracker Crust
- Sweetened Cream Cheese Filling
- Whipped Topping mixed with Crushed Pineapple
- Extra buttery Graham Cracker Crumbs sprinkled on top
What’s not to love?! Ok, maybe you’re not a fan of whipped topping — aka Cool Whip. Just go ahead and make your own whipped cream. No harm, no foul.
The Pineapple Dessert with Many Names
This is one of those nostalgic recipes that everyone has a different name for.
Along with Pineapple Delight, you may have heard this layered dessert called, Pineapple Dream Dessert, Pineapple Lush, or even Pineapple Lasagna. They are all one and the same.
Bake or No-Bake
This quick and easy pineapple delight recipe is light, fruity, and can be made completely no bake if you simply freeze the crust, instead of baking it.
Just know that a quick 8-10 minutes in the oven helps solidify the crust. But, if it’s just too hot to turn the oven on, chilling the crust is satisfactory. It just may not be as sturdy when scooping slices.
Let me show you how to make pineapple delight.
Make the Graham Cracker Crust
First, make the graham cracker crust. You will need two sleeves of graham crackers and some granulated sugar to sweeten the crumbs a little more. Plus butter to bind it all together.
- Blend graham crackers and granulated sugar in a food processor or blender until fine crumbs.
- Melt butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Add the graham cracker crumbs and stir to coat.
- Press 2 cups of the graham cracker mixture into the bottom of a 9×9-inch square pan. Save the remaining crumbs for topping. Bake the crust at 350˚F for 8-10 minutes until crust is lightly browned. Place on a wire rack and cool completely.
NO-BAKE OPTION: Chill the un-baked crust in the fridge for 1 hour or freezer for 30 minutes before topping.
PRO TIP: I like to line my pan with parchment paper overhanging on two-sides so that I can freeze the dessert and use the paper to lift it out of the pan to cut and serve it. Just be careful not to cut the paper.
Make the Cream Cheese Filling
After the crust has cooled completely, make the next layer — the cream cheese filling.
IMPORTANT: Do not add any layers on top of the crust until it is completely cool or the layers may not set properly.
- Place the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl. Beat together with an electric hand mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Mix in the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing until incorporated.
- Drain the crushed pineapple well. Discard or save the juice for something else.
- Add 1 heaping tablespoon of the drained pineapple to the cream cheese mixture and mix until combined. Set aside.
Make the Pineapple Cream Filling
Make the final layer for this simple pineapple delight — the pineapple whipped cream.
- Fold together the remaining crushed pineapple with the whipped topping and set aside.
OPTION: Substitute whipped topping with this Cool Whip recipe. It uses heavy cream, powdered sugar, and gelatin to stabilize it.
Assemble the Layers
After both fillings are made, it’s time to assemble the pineapple dream dessert.
- Make sure the graham cracker crust is completely cool.
- Spread the layer of cream cheese filling evenly over the crust.
- Spread the pineapple cream filling evenly over the top of the cream cheese.
- Sprinkle with the remaining graham cracker crumbs.
Chilling and Serving
CHILL: This pineapple delight recipe must be chilled to set up properly. The fastest way to do this is to freeze it for 1.5-2 hours. Otherwise chill it for 4 hours to overnight in the fridge. Make sure to cover the pan with plastic wrap or foil while chilling. This is a great make-ahead dessert.
SERVE: To serve, cut the dessert with a butter knife into 12 pieces for rectangular slices. Rinse the knife with hot water and dry it off between cuts for clean slices. Use a spatula to scoop slices out of the pan.
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: Cover the pan with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
IN THE FREEZER: Press plastic wrap against the top of the dessert. Then cover the pan with foil and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
More Potluck Desserts
Be sure to try these other flavors of pineapple dream dessert:
- Cherry Delight
- Chocolate Delight Recipe
- Strawberry Delight
- Blueberry Delight Recipe
- Lemon Curd Dessert
- Pineapple Cake
If You Make This Recipe, Please Rate and Review it in the Comments Below. THANKS!
Pineapple Delight
Ingredients
Crust:
- 18 sheets graham crackers, *See NOTES
- 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 10 Tbsp (141 g) unsalted butter
Layers:
- 4 oz (113 g) block-style cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, (1 stick) room temperature – cut into pieces
- 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
- 20 oz (567 g) can crushed pineapple, drained well
- 8 oz (225 g) tub whipped topping, thawed (aka Cool Whip) *See NOTES
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- CRUST: Blend graham crackers and granulated sugar in a food processor or blender until fine crumbs. Melt butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Add the graham cracker crumbs and stir to coat.
- Press 2 cups of the graham cracker mixture into the bottom of a 9×9-inch square pan. Save the remaining crumbs for topping. Bake the crust at 350˚F for 8-10 minutes until crust is lightly browned. Place on a wire rack and cool completely.
- CREAM CHEESE FILLING: Place the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl. Beat together with an electric hand mixer until smooth and creamy. Mix in the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing until incorporated.
- Drain the crushed pineapple well. Discard or save the juice for something else. Add 1 heaping tablespoon of the drained pineapple to the cream cheese mixture and mix until combined. Spread evenly over the cooled graham cracker crust.
- PINEAPPLE CREAM FILLING: Fold together the remaining crushed pineapple with the whipped topping. Spread evenly over the cream cheese layer. Sprinkle the top with the remaining graham cracker crumbs.
- Chill the pineapple delight for 2 hours in the freezer or chill for 4 hours to overnight in the fridge. Make sure to cover the pan with plastic wrap or foil while chilling. This is a great make-ahead dessert.
- To serve, cut the dessert with a butter knife into 12 pieces for rectangular slices. Rinse the knife with hot water and dry it off between cuts for clean slices. Use a spatula to scoop slices out of the pan.
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this?
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Question…instead of pineapple ( I’m the only one who loves pineapple). Could I used canned peaches and dice to a crushed lime consistency? This sounds absolutely delicious I would hate to have to make it with pineapple and eat it all myself. 😀
Crushed like consistency
I bet it would be ok. Just make sure they are drained of all liquid and not super juicy.
What sort of crackers are Graham Crackers? Sweet or Plain? We can’t buy Graham Crackers where I live.
They are sweet, honey flavored crackers.