No-Bake Pineapple Dream Dessert
This no-bake pineapple dream dessert is cool, fluffy, and ridiculously easy to make. It has a buttery graham cracker crust, a pineapple filling, and is a winner when it comes to chilled desserts (btw, those are the ONLY acceptable desserts in summer time!). It also works as a make-ahead treat that's perfect when you want something sweet to serve without turning on the oven.
This dessert is especially popular in the spring and summer when everyone wants something cold, easy, and refreshing. It also works great for Easter, Mother's Day, potlucks, cookouts, baby showers, and summer get-togethers. If you want a similar desserts with peaches instead of pineapple, give my Slovenian layered chocolate cake with peaches a try!
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Quick Look
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes (including chilling time)
- Servings: 8 servings
- Difficulty: Easy
- Baking Method: No-bake (refrigerated dessert)
- Best For: Potlucks, summer gatherings, quick desserts
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- Summarize & Save This Recipe On:
- Quick Look
- Important Ingredients
- Substitutions & Variations
- How to Make No-Bake Pineapple Dream Dessert
- Baking Schedule
- 💭Crucial Success Tips
- Recipe FAQs
- How To Store No-Bake Pineapple Dream Dessert
- Other Delicious Recipes
- No-Bake Pineapple Dream Dessert
- Need Help Tweaking This Recipe?
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Important Ingredients
- Graham Cracker Crumbs used to create a simple buttery crust that holds the dessert together.
- Cream Cheese adds richness and gives the filling a smooth and creamy texture.
- Crushed Pineapple provides a fresh tropical flavor and a light sweetness.
- Whipped Topping helps create a soft, airy filling that becomes light and fluffy after mixing.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- You can replace graham crackers with vanilla wafer crumbs or digestive biscuits.
- Crushed pineapple works best, but small pieces of mango or peaches can also be added.
- You can add toasted coconut, extra graham crumbs, or chopped nuts on top before chilling.
How to Make No-Bake Pineapple Dream Dessert
Step 1: In a medium bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter until evenly combined (Image 1).
Step 2: Press the mixture (Image 2) firmly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking pan to create an even crust layer.
Step 3: Place the crust in the refrigerator and let it chill for about 10 minutes while preparing the filling.
In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and softened butter (Image 3) together.
Step 4: The mixture becomes smooth and creamy (Image 4).
Step 5: Add the powdered sugar (Image 5).
Step 6: Continue mixing until everything is well combined and smooth (Image 6).
Step 7: Gently fold in the drained crushed pineapple (Image 7).
Step 8: Add the whipped topping and fold it in carefully until the filling becomes light and fluffy (Image 8).
Step 9: Spread the pineapple filling evenly over the chilled graham cracker crust (Image 9).
Sprinkle additional graham cracker crumbs over the top if desired.
Cover the pan and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight, so the dessert can set properly.
Step 10: Slice and serve chilled (Image 10).
Hint: drain the crushed pineapple really well before folding it into the filling. Extra liquid can keep the dessert from setting up properly and make the layers too soft.
Baking Schedule
This is a super simple dessert to break up through the day.
Start by making the crust and mixing the filling, which only takes about 15 minutes. After that, spread it into the pan and chill for at least 4 hours so it has time to firm up. If you can make it the night before, even better. It slices more cleanly the next day.
💭Crucial Success Tips
Make sure your cream cheese is fully softened before mixing so the filling turns out smooth instead of lumpy. The other big thing is chilling long enough. This dessert really needs those few hours in the fridge to set properly, so don't rush it if you want neat slices.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, and it's actually even better that way. Making it a day ahead gives the filling more time to set and makes it easier to slice.
A runny filling usually means the pineapple wasn't drained well enough or the dessert didn't chill long enough. Be sure to press out the extra liquid and give it several hours in the fridge.
I don't really recommend it for best texture. The creamy filling can change once thawed and may turn watery or grainy.
How To Store No-Bake Pineapple Dream Dessert
Store the dessert covered in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Because the filling contains whipped topping and cream cheese, it should always be kept chilled.
Freezing is not recommended because the texture of the filling may change after thawing.
Other Delicious Recipes
- Hybrid Sourdough Bread (With Yeast)
- 3-Step Sourdough in Under 4 Hours
- Dinkelbrötchen (Sourdough Spelt Rolls)
- Mediterranean Cheese & Olive Sourdough
If you tried this no-bake pineapple dream dessert or any other recipe on my blog please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below! Happy Baking!
No-Bake Pineapple Dream Dessert
Ingredients
Crust:
- 2½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup butter melted
Filling:
- 1 8 oz cream cheese softened, package
- ½ cup butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 20 oz crushed pineapple drained, can
- 1 8 oz Cool Whip tub
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter until evenly combined.
- Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking pan to create an even crust layer.
- Place the crust in the refrigerator and let it chill for about 10 minutes while preparing the filling.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and softened butter together.
- The mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
- Add the powdered sugar and continue mixing until everything is well combined and smooth.
- Gently fold in the drained crushed pineapple.
- Add the whipped topping and fold it in carefully until the filling becomes light and fluffy.
- Spread the pineapple filling evenly over the chilled graham cracker crust. Sprinkle additional graham cracker crumbs over the top if desired. Cover the pan and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight, so the dessert can set properly.
- Slice and serve chilled.
