Pineapple Delight

Pineapple Delight is a delicious combination of rich cream cheese, velvety Cool Whip, and sweet and tangy pineapple. Layered on top of a buttery graham cracker, dessert doesn’t get much better than this.

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Sweet and creamy, this Pineapple Delight is full of everything we love about dessert! Layers of rich cream cheese, velvety Cool Whip, and tangy pineapple sit atop a buttery graham cracker crust – a delightful end to any meal! We love this dessert so much, we think it makes a great birthday cake, too!

Pineapple Delight Ingredients

You’ll need:

• 1¾ cups graham crackers, crushed (plus 1 tbsp for garnish)
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• 9 tbsp butter, melted
• 1¾ cups powdered sugar
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 8 tbsp butter, softened
• 1 tsp clear vanilla extract
• 1 8-oz container of Cool Whip
• 1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple in heavy syrup, drained

Substitutions and Additions 

COOL WHIP: Swap out Cool Whip for your favorite whipped cream recipe, or make your own!

CRUST: Mix up the flavors in this sweet and fluffy dessert by using different cookies as the base, like chocolate graham crackers or Nilla wafers. 

How to Make This Pineapple Delight Recipe 

STEP ONE: In a small bowl, combine 1¾ cups graham cracker crumbs, 8 tablespoons of melted butter, and granulated sugar.

STEP TWO: Lightly spray an 8 × 8-inch baking pan and press the graham cracker mixture into the bottom of the dish.

PRO TIP: A glass or metal pan works fine in this recipe. 

STEP THREE: Preheat the oven to 325°F and bake the crust for 10 minutes. Allow the crust to cool completely.

PRO TIP: Give the crust plenty of time to cool. The pineapple delight won’t set properly if you start layering the dessert before it’s cool. 

STEP FOUR: Cream the softened butter, cream cheese, and vanilla.

PRO TIP: Use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to ensure everything is smooth and creamy. 

STEP FIVE: Carefully add the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time. Mix until the cream cheese mixture is smooth.

PRO TIP: Fold in the powdered sugar until slightly mixed, so it doesn’t fly out of the bowl when the mixer is turned on. 

STEP SIX: Evenly spread the cream cheese filling over the cooled crust.

STEP SEVEN: Using the same bowl as the one used for the filling, gently fold the pineapple into the whipped topping.

STEP EIGHT: Spread the pineapple mixture over the cream cheese layer.

STEP NINE: Sprinkle the additional 1 tablespoon of crushed graham crackers on the top as garnish.

STEP TEN: Place the baking dish in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours to set.

How To Serve

Serve this rich and creamy dessert at the end of any meal, any time of year. Add a scoop of ice cream to make it extra decadent.

Storage 

IN THE FRIDGE: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. 

IN THE FREEZER: Freeze leftover Pineapple Delight in the freezer uncovered, for about an hour or so. Once frozen, wrap tightly and freeze for up to a month.

Sweet and tangy, this delicious Pineapple Delight is a lovely end to any meal. Bring it to a potluck or the family dinner table, and watch it disappear!  

FAQ:

Question: Can I make this dessert ahead of time?

Answer: We recommend you make it ahead of time to allow the dessert to properly set. 

Question: Do coconut and pineapple taste good together?

Answer: They certainly do! Feel free to sprinkle some coconut on top of a piece of Pineapple Delight. 

Question: Are powdered sugar and icing sugar the same thing?

Answer: Depending on where you are, powdered sugar has a different name. Icing sugar, powdered sugar, and confectioner’s sugar are all the same thing. 

Pineapple Delight

Pineapple Delight is a delicious combination of rich cream cheese, velvety Cool Whip, and sweet and tangy pineapple. Layered on top of a buttery graham cracker, dessert doesn’t get much better than this.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Chill Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Ingredients

  

• 1¾ cup graham crackers crushed plus 1 tablespoon for garnish
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 9 tablespoons butter melted
• 1¾ cup powdered sugar
• 4 ounces cream cheese softened
• 8 tablespoons butter softened
• 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
• 8 ounces Cool Whip
• 20 ounces crushed pineapple in heavy syrup drained

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 325°F.
• Lightly spray an 8×8-inch baking dish (metal or glass is fine).
• In a small bowl combine the 1¾ cups of crushed graham crackers, 8 tablespoons of melted butter, and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
• Press the graham cracker mixture in the bottom of the baking dish.
• Bake for 10 minutes. Allow the crust to completely cool.
• Using either a stand mixer or a handheld mixer, cream together the softened butter, cream cheese, and vanilla. Carefully add the powdered sugar a ½ cup at a time. Mix until the cream cheese mixture is smooth.
• Evenly spread the cream cheese filling over the completely cooled crust.
• Using the same bowl as the one used for the filling, gently fold the pineapple into the whipped topping.
• Gently spread the whipped topping over the cream cheese layer.
• Add the additional 1 tablespoon of crushed graham crackers to the top as garnish.
• Place the baking dish in the refrigerator for 4 hours to ensure the dessert is properly set.
• Keep refrigerated until serving.

Notes

TIP: If you can’t find crushed graham crackers, you can crush them yourself by placing them into a Ziploc and a rolling pin.

TIP: It’s highly recommended to make this dessert a day ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight. This will allow it to thicken and makes it easier to cut into slices.

TIP: Make sure that your crust is completely cool before going on to your second layer. It’s important that the crust is cooled so that the following layers set properly on top of it.

TIP: Make sure your butter and cream cheese are at room temperature so that they blend completely and don’t leave lumps in this layer.

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