Alright, so here’s the deal—this no-bake pineapple cream dessert saved my butt last summer. We were hosting a BBQ (you know, one of those last-minute “hey let’s grill tonight” situations), and I totally forgot about dessert. The oven was already off-limits ’cause of the heat, and I needed something sweet, quick, and honestly, kinda impressive.
And boom—this chilled pineapple thing showed up like a hero in a 9×13 pan.
Why You’ll Love This Dessert
It’s creamy. It’s tropical. It’s cold. And yeah, it’s ridiculously easy. You don’t need to fire up the oven, and the whole thing comes together in, like, 15 minutes. Tops.
Here’s why folks keep asking me for this recipe:
- It’s a no-bake dessert (aka summer’s best friend)
- Full of sweet pineapple flavor
- Creamy but light—like a pineapple cloud!
- You only need a handful of ingredients
- Perfect for potlucks, holidays, or straight-up Tuesday night cravings
Ingredients You’ll Need
Nothing fancy here. Just pantry and fridge staples, and you’re golden.
- 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple in juice (don’t drain it!)
- 1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 container (8 oz) whipped topping (like Cool Whip), thawed
- 1 package graham crackers
- 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- Optional: extra crushed pineapple or maraschino cherries for topping
How To Make It (Seriously, It’s Easy)
Step 1: Mix the good stuff.
In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until smooth. Add the instant pudding mix and the full can of pineapple (juice and all). Stir until it thickens up just a bit. Fold in the whipped topping.
Step 2: Layer it up.
In a 9×13 dish, lay down a layer of graham crackers. Spoon half the pineapple cream mixture over it. Repeat with another layer of graham crackers, then the rest of the cream.
Step 3: Chill time.
Pop it in the fridge for at least 4 hours—overnight is even better if you can wait that long (I couldn’t).
Step 4: Top & serve.
Right before serving, add a little crushed pineapple or some cherries on top for that extra wow factor.
My Shortcut Tip
Okay, confession: when I’m in a real rush, I skip the second graham cracker layer. Just do one on the bottom and top it with the pineapple mix. It’s still delish, and nobody notices the missing middle—especially when they’re going back for seconds.
Real Talk: This Stuff Goes Fast
I brought this to a baby shower once, and I’m not even kidding—people were scraping the corners of the dish. My friend actually called me the next day like, “What was that pineapple fluff thing?? I need it.”
So yeah. It’s a crowd-pleaser.
Make It Your Own
Wanna switch it up a bit? Try these:
- Add toasted coconut on top
- Mix in some chopped nuts for crunch
- Use Nilla wafers instead of graham crackers (game changer)
- Try cherry pie filling swirled in for a tropical twist
Final Scoop
This no-bake pineapple cream dessert is a keeper, y’all. It’s the kind of recipe you scribble on a notecard and tape to the inside of your pantry door—easy, cool, and just plain good. You don’t need fancy skills or crazy ingredients. Just a few minutes and a sweet tooth.
Make it once, and I promise—it’ll be your go-to for sunny days, cookouts, or, heck, a Tuesday when you need a bite of something happy.
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